Explores the development of film noir as a cultural and artistic phenomenon.Following World War II, film noir became the dominant cinematic expression of Cold War angst, influencing new trends in British, French, and Japanese filmmaking to such a degree that it must be considered a global phenomenon. This is the first scholarly, cultural and aesthetic history of film noir and will have a particular focus on its literary and artistic antecedents. It traces the history of film noir through its mid-century popularization to its influence on contemporary global media and discusses the influence of literary and artistic sources on the development of film noir. It also includes guides to further reading and recommended viewing.