This is a list of noir films made from noir novels, from the book "Neon Noir" by Woody Haut. The book tries a couple of ways to position novels and films into reflections on the politics of the time; Vietnam and Reaganomics, less than satisfactorily. It then does a better job of showing how noir defines the cityscapes of America, the life breath of the city.
Point Blank (1967)-
Richard StarkFriends of Eddie Coyle (1970)-
George V HigginsChinatown (1974)-
Robert TowneCockfighter (1974)-
Charles WillefordThe American Friend (1977)-
Patricia HighsmithStraight Time (1977)-
Edward BunkerDog Soldier's (1978)-
Robert StoneCutter's Way (1981)-
Newton ThornbergHammett (1982)-
Joe GoresPrizzi's Honor (1985)-
Richard CondonManhunter (1986)-
Thomas HarrisCop (1987)-
James EllroyCat Chaser (1988)-
Elmore LeonardMiami Blues (1990)-
Charles WillefordThe Grifters (1990)-
Jim ThompsonDark Wind (1991)-
Tony HillermanCasino (1995)-
Nicholas PileggiDevil In A Blue Dress (1995)-
Walter MosleyGet Shorty (1995)-
Elmore LeonardThings To Do In Denver When You're Dead (1995)-
Scott RosenbergLA Confidential (1997)-
James EllroyJackie Brown (1998)-
Elmore LeonardA couple of these break the rule, being screenplays (
Chinatown &
Denver), which he justifies by stating that they are so good they could be noir novels....authorial licence.
Given the appearance of films like
Coyle,
Cockfighter,
The American Friend and
Manhunter on the list, I had the feeling he was reading my mind.
Point Blank, a film about the corporatisation of crime, is such an interesting film to be called "the first modern noir". Boorman's stylistic gymnastics are perfect for cinema. This is one of my favourite shots in film;
The book must be an interesting companion piece, and there are a lot of them in the series about Parker, the one man corporate liquidation operation.