Currently reading PANORAMA OF THE AMERICAN FILM NOIR.
Not ready to report back, but one thing that strikes me is the difference between those who would define noir in an exclusionary matter - I've even heard arguments that THE MALTESE FALCON isn't "really noir" - and those who look for even the tiniest trace of noir in film and novel.
The references in the early chapters to NIGHT MUST FALL as being noir prompted this.
