Being there . . .for the arrival of the rapidly approaching first day in the new calendar year,2025, of two recently published titles from matchless, in diversity of topics and subjects,McFarland & Company Publishers – – (1.) “ROOTS OF FILM NOIR – Precursors from the Silent Erato the 1940s”, by Kevin Grant, a highly acknowledged film historian and periodical journalistliving in London, and in brilliant contrast, (2.) “RIGHTING the LONGSTREET RECORD ATGETTYSBURG – – Six Matters of Controversy and Confusion”, by Cory M. Pfarr of the U.S.Department of Defense. So finely conceived and tightly composed, each, in its way, is a skillfulblend of long forgotten historical facts and imaginative use of well-established, knownbiographical-autobiographical traits and characteristics. In every way, each is a thoughtful calm,relaxed read certain to enhance, please, and begin the journey through the following 12months, already predicted and reckoned by some to be both arduously difficult and effulgentspirited.Reviewed and highly recommended by Don DeNevi“ROOTS OF FILM NOIR – Precursors from the Silent Era to the 1940s”, by Kevin Grant.McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, Jefferson, North Carolina: copyright, 2022, republishedin 2024, 244 pages, highly illustrated, PERFECT Chronological List of Precursors, 1923 – 1942,7”x10”, $45. Visit, www.mcfarlandpub.com.“RIGHTING THE LONGSTREET RECORD at GETTYSBURG – – Six Matters of Controversy andConfusion”, by Cory M. Pfarr, Foreword by James A. Hessler. McFarland & Company, Inc.,Publishers, Jefferson, North Carolina: 2023, 204 pages, adequately illustrated with maps,excellent chapter notes per each of six treatises; 7”x10”, $39.95. Visit, www.mcfarlandpub.com.Every cinephile has his or her own definition for “film noir”. For this reviewer, I choose twofavorites that date back more than a hundred plus years – – which may or may not relate to noir,although I argue otherwise. How about, Joseph Conrad’s 1897 quote? “My task which I amtrying to achieve, by the power of the written word, is to make you hear, make you feel, and,above all make you see, think, and hopefully identify.” His, the core of “film noir”? Then there’sD.W. Griffith’s 1912 quote. Love or despise the pioneer moviemaker of “Birth of a Nation”, buttry this one, “The task I’m longing to achieve is, above all, to make you think, make you see, andmake you feel more human.”The bottom line, buy the book for your cinephile-chum, and a copy for yourself, to properlydefine “film noir”. Your definition is just as good as anyone else’s. Should you be satisfied, you’llbe driven to watch, usually for the first time, every feature introduced and discussed in his 244pages. In this reviewer’s opinion, human identity, good or bad, is the key to film noir (I taughtand for an additional 14 years after retirement at California’s Soledad, Salinas Valley, and SanQuentin State Prisons – – here, as ABE 2-3 teacher, in addition to physical education coach for6,000 Level Two-Three inmates, including almost 900 on Death Row. Respect and a bit ofkindness got me past 10,000 inmates without a problem. More than 7/8 th of those guys is theheart of noir. Don’t the tear in the eye, the lump in the throat, the feeling that existence andhope-idealism need not be self-conscious. Don’t most of our moral disquisitions in 2025
deserve as much?
Meanwhile, “Righting the Longstreet Record”, the sequel to Cory’s award-winning“Longstreet at Gettysburg”, is a fabulous collection of new essays addressing some of thepersistent questions regarding Confederate General James Longstreet’s performance at theBattle of Gettysburg. Influential interpretations of his actions are evaluated for historicalaccuracy, drawing on often overlooked primary sources. Points of contention aboutLongstreet’s July 2, 1863, attacks and battles are examined, along with the roots of theLongstreet – Gettysburg Controversy and the merits of second wife Helen Dortch Longstreet’searly 20 th -century attempts to address them.There have been a number of books published on the subject. But Cory Pfarr’s efforts arealways the best, riveting without reservation or qualification, because unlike impressionisticand journalistic writings, each of Cory’s, as well as those six writers he shares his available spacewith, are based upon accurate historical scholarship treating Longstreet in depth and at alltimes projecting his mind and personality against the perspective of Lincoln’s and Ulysses S.
Grant’s. Great, great work, Cory, for 101% pure academic scholarship plus real writing!
