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B>Hardboiled Hollywood: The True Crime Stories That Inspired the Great Noir Films
(Pegasus) by Max Décharné is an in-depth look at the inspiration behind the greatest
crime films ever made. Real-life bank robbers, twisted serial killers, and pulp novels
have all helped shape the world of crime cinema. From Kiss Me Deadly, Bonnie &
Clyde and Psycho, to The Godfather and L.A. Confidential, Max
Décharné uncovers the little-known stories behind each of these classic films and more.
Thanks to Hollywood, failed bank robbers Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow are forever
fixed in popular imagination. Middle-aged Wisconsin serial killer Ed Gein is now forever
embodied in Anthony Perkin’s unforgettable portrayal of Norman Bates in Hitchcock’s
Psycho. The true-life origins of these films are now revealed in Max Décharné’s
revelatory volume — the stories perhaps more fascinating than even their Hollywood
representations. 20 color illustrations.
"Full of ‘unauthorized cash withdrawals’ and people dying of ‘lead poisoning,’ this tome
thankfully eschews the pompous subtext and strained metaphors of most film books,
leaving what any good detective wants: just the facts, ma’am." (The Guardian)
"Anyone with an interest in hardboiled fiction needs this book on his shelf." (Time Out
London)
Hardboiled Hollywood: The True Crime Stories That Inspired the Great Noir Films
will be available in January from bookstores everywhere.
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