Photographs from the golden age of Film Noir remain some of the most innovative and striking portraits in film history and were taken by leading studio photographers such as Robert Coburn, Ernest Bachrach and A.L. Whitey. Their remarkable ability to exaggerate the play of shadow & light and turn it to have a dramatic effect is why their work still has the same ability to catch the eye of the viewer, as it did in the 1940s.

Some of these iconic shots have been collected in the book “Film Noir Portraits” by Paul Duncan and Tony Nourmand, published by Reel Art Press. Carefully curated, the photos come from the collection of mptv, one of the most exclusive entertainment photo archives in the world. The book includes many unpublished images from “Night of the Hunter” and “Sweet Smell of Success”, as well as classic film moments from films such as “Gilda”, “Double Indemnity”, “Lady From Shanghai”, and famous B-noir films, such as “Guncrazy” and “The Hitchhiker”. Each page is printed with the exceptional quality of Reel Art Press, which serves to emphasize the timeless power of black and white photography.

Paul Duncan is a film historian, editor and writer and a specialist in Film Noir. He founded Pocket Essentials in 1999 and has edited over 50 film books for Taschen as well as publications on directors, film genres, film stars and film posters.

Tony Nourmand is a world authority on the film image. He has been dealing in vintage film posters in London for over 20 years and has been a long-term consultant to Christie’s on Vintage Movie Posters. He has edited over 20 best-selling books on posters and cinema. He is the founder and editor-in-chief of Reel Art Press.

Photo courtesy of Reel Art Press