Film noir is all about style, even as much as it is about crime. The poster art from the noir era has a bold look and an iconography all its own. A sizzling marriage of sex and violence -- the sinuous figures of femme fatales alongside the granite features of the era''s tough-guy stars -- made this artwork dynamic and dangerous. During the golden age of noir, studios commissioned these arresting illustrations for even the lowliest B-thriller. The Art of Noir is the first book to present this striking artwork in a lavishly produced, large-format, full-color volume.

The more than 250 dazzling posters, lobby cards, and other promotional material range from the classics Out of the Past, Touch of Evil, and The Big Sleep, to rare archive films such as The Devil Thumbs a Ride and Blonde Kiss. Noir expert Eddie Muller provides background information for the illustrators, most of whom have never received credit for their work. With rare offerings from France, Italy, Spain, Britain, and Russia, as well as the knockout graphics of Hollywood, The Art of Noir is the ultimate companion for movie buffs, collectors, as well as artists and designers.