Film Noir Style: The Killer 1940s – 2021 by Kimberly Truhler

I love Film Noir. But there was a hole in my knowledge big enough to drive a stolen fruit truck through. As a Film Noir lover since my youth, I have always marveled at the sloppily dressed private detective and the alluring fashions of the Femme Fatale. The problem being I couldn’t tell a pencil skirt from a mermaid. That was until I read Film Noir Style: The Killer 1940s by Film historian Kimberly Truhler.

Ms. Truhler’s book is beautifully illustrated with plates showing and explain many of the actors and actresses of the Film Noir era from 1941 to 1950. Truhler digs into the origins of the Film Noir style and the individual costume designers and how they affected fashion. She also put the fashion into the context of greater world events.

The book is organized into four major sections; Before the War 1940-1941, The War Years 1942-1945, The Year of Transition 1946, and The Post-War Years 1947-1950. Within these broad time frames, Truhler used the looks worn by actors and actresses in Film Noir include Humphrey Bogart, Gene Tierney, Rita Hayworth, Lauren Bacall, Barbara Stanwyck, Ava Gardner, and a host of others.

In all, the author used about 20 of more than 900 Film Noirs to illustrate her concepts. If you are interested in learning about Film Noir, this book should definitely be added to your collection. Not to take away from this book’s writing, but the images are worth the purchase price alone. Most of the most famous movie outfits are shown.

The only mistake I made was purchasing the Kindle version of the book before the hardback was released. I now wish I had a hardbound copy, so I fold the pages and make notes. Get this book; you will not be disappointed. “Film Noir Style: The Killer 1940s – 2021” by Kimberly Truhler is available on Amazon.