Hardboiled Hollywood: The True Crime Stories that Inspired the Great Noir Films

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 Decharne 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