LA Confidential by James Ellroy

8/8/2019 LA Confidential by James Ellroy

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L.A. ConfidentialL.A. Confidential

hard boiled crime fictionhard boiled crime fiction

(James Ellroy)(James Ellroy)


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L.A. ConfidentialL.A. Confidential(1990) is(1990) is neoneo--noirnoir crime novel by James Ellroy,crime novel by James Ellroy,and the third of hisand the third of his L.A. QuartetL.A. Quartet series.series.

The book was adapted for a 1997 film of the same name, directed andThe book was adapted for a 1997 film of the same name, directed andcowritten by Curtis Hanson and starring Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guycowritten by Curtis Hanson and starring Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, GuyPearce, James Cromwell, Kim Basinger, and Danny DeVito.Pearce, James Cromwell, Kim Basinger, and Danny DeVito.

TheTheL.A. QuartetL.A. Quartetis a sequence of four crime fiction novels by Jamesis a sequence of four crime fiction novels by JamesEllroy. The novels, set in the late 1940s through the late 1950s in LosEllroy. The novels, set in the late 1940s through the late 1950s in Los

Angeles, are:Angeles, are:(1987)(1987) The Black Dahlia;The Black Dahlia;

(1988)(1988) The Big Nowhere;The Big Nowhere;(1990)(1990) L.A. Confidential;L.A. Confidential;(1992)(1992) White Jazz.White Jazz.The third novel,The third novel, L.A. ConfidentialL.A. Confidentialspans the length of about eightspans the length of about eight

yearsyears-- from early 1950 to about April 1958.from early 1950 to about April 1958.The story is about Los Angeles Police Department officers during theThe story is about Los Angeles Police Department officers during the

1950s who are involved with a mixture of lies, sex, corruption, and murder1950s who are involved with a mixture of lies, sex, corruption, and murderfollowing a mass murder at thefollowing a mass murder at the Nite OwlNite Owl coffee shop. The story eventuallycoffee shop. The story eventuallyencompasses organized crime, political corruption, heroin trafficking,encompasses organized crime, political corruption, heroin trafficking,pornography, prostitution, tabloid journalism, institutional racism, plasticpornography, prostitution, tabloid journalism, institutional racism, plasticsurgery, and Hollywood. The novel's title refers to the infamous 1950ssurgery, and Hollywood. The novel's title refers to the infamous 1950sscandal magazinescandal magazine ConfidentialConfidential, which was fictionalized as, which was fictionalized as HushHush--HushHushmagazinemagazine in the novel (although a tabloid magazine calledin the novel (although a tabloid magazine called HushHush--HushHush alsoalsoexisted during 1950s.)existed during 1950s.)


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There are three interesting worlds here:There are three interesting worlds here:1)the "underground" elements of ethnic neighborhoods, prostitutes and1)the "underground" elements of ethnic neighborhoods, prostitutes and

organized crime;organized crime;2)the Hollywood" zone of illegal drugs and sexual deviance;2)the Hollywood" zone of illegal drugs and sexual deviance;3) the "big money boys" building the future dreaming of freeway systems3) the "big money boys" building the future dreaming of freeway systems

and amusement parks.and amusement parks.All three are shown to us by a particular officer, each with his ownAll three are shown to us by a particular officer, each with his own

reason of operating within that world:reason of operating within that world:Wendell WhiteWendell White -- has a vendetta against wifehas a vendetta against wife--beaters and pimps, ends upbeaters and pimps, ends up

becoming a bogeyman who follows orders and administers physical violencebecoming a bogeyman who follows orders and administers physical violencewithout question.without question.Jack VincennesJack Vincennes-- is an advisor for a television show, trades info withis an advisor for a television show, trades info withgossip magazines in return for headlines, and has a history of making druggossip magazines in return for headlines, and has a history of making drugbusts in the jazz world to supply himself with speed.busts in the jazz world to supply himself with speed.Ed ExelyEd Exely -- is the son of a major figure in police work, and is concernedis the son of a major figure in police work, and is concerned

with attaining rank and crushing his enemies within the force by beingwith attaining rank and crushing his enemies within the force by being

haunted by his fathers figure.haunted by his fathers figure.


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Film noirFilm noir

Film noirFilm noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylishis a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylishHollywood crime dramas, particularly those thatemphasize cynicalHollywood crime dramas, particularly thosethatemphasize cynicalattitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir periodattitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir periodis generally regardedas stretching from the early 1940s tothelateis generally regardedas stretching from the early 1940s tothelate1950s. Film noir ofthis erais associated with a1950s. Film noir ofthis erais associated with alowlow--key blackkey black--andand--white visual stylewhite visual stylethathas roots inthathas roots in German Express

ionistGerman Expressionistcinematographycinematography. Many ofthe prototypical stories and much ofthe. Many ofthe prototypical stories and much ofthe

attitudeofclassic noir derivefrom the hardboiled schoolofcrimeattitudeofclassic noir derivefrom the hardboiled schoolofcrimefictionthatemergedinthe United States during the Depression.fictionthatemergedinthe United States during the Depression.NoirNoir, inthe classic and stylistic sense, is, inthe classic and stylistic sense, is visually darkervisually darker thanthan

your average gangster picture,your average gangster picture, playing with lightandlongplaying with lightandlong,, deepdeepshadows insteadofbrightshadows insteadofbright, documentary, documentary--styled camera work.styled camera work.

Scenes areoftenfilmedonlocation, andnightscenes are shotScenes areoftenfilmedonlocation, andnightscenes are shotatnight.atnight. Cameraangles areoften very creativeandunusual,Cameraangles areoften very creativeandunusual,heightening t

he viewers senseofuneaseheightening the viewers senseofunease, adding totheatmosphere., adding totheatmosphere.Th

e contrastbetweenlightanddark is sometimes usedintheThe contrastbetweenlightanddark is sometimes usedinthecinematography to reflectthedifference betweenthe villainandthecinematography to reflectthedifference betweenthe villainandtheprotagonist(s). the combinationofbrooding sets with convolutedprotagonist(s). the combinationofbrooding sets with convolutedplots and you havethe basis ofthe genreplots and you havethe basis ofthe genre--defining works.defining works.


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Frontcover offirsthardcoverFrontcover offirsthardcovereditionofeditionofL.A. ConfidentialL.A. Confidential by Jamesby JamesEllroy, publishedinthe United StatesEllroy, publishedinthe United States

byby The Mysterious PressThe Mysterious Press, 1990., 1990.Jacketdesign by Paul Gamarello.Jacketdesign by Paul Gamarello.

Jacketillustration by Stephen Peringer.Jacketillustration by Stephen Peringer.

The cover exploits theimageofaThe cover exploits theimageofaFammeFatale, being stunninglyFammeFatale, being stunninglybeautifulandalluring; she straddlesbeautifulandalluring; she straddlesbetween goodand evil, confusing thebetween goodand evil, confusing the

hero with her undeniableauraofhero with her undeniableauraofdanger.danger.

Thetitleis inneonThetitleis inneon brightpurple,brightpurple,being slightly diagonally orientated.being slightly diagonally orientated.The shorttelegraphic styleoftheThe shorttelegraphic styleofthepresentation, the pinpresentation, the pin--up girlandtheup girlandthe

review from thenewspaper createareview from thenewspaper createaretrofeelofthe cover; a predictiveretrofeelofthe cover; a predictivefeelthatwouldindicatethetimeandfeelthatwouldindicatethetimeandthe placeofthenovel ( Los Angelesthe placeofthenovel ( Los Angelescity, inthe 1950s).city, inthe 1950s).


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Publisher: Grand Central: Grand Central

Publishing ;Publishing ;

September 1September 1stst, 1997;, 1997;


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PublisherPublisher: Arrow Books Ltd;: Arrow Books Ltd;

New edition edition;New edition edition;

January 3January 3rdrd, 1998;, 1998;

Theoutstanding crimeTheoutstanding crimewriter ofhis generationwriter ofhis generationIndependentIndependent

Theauthors ofthis editiondonotTheauthors ofthis editiondonotfocus anymoreontheidealfemininefocus anymoreontheidealfemininefigurethatis supposedto befigurethatis supposedto be

representedonthe cover. Instead,representedonthe cover. Instead,they usetheimageofanold Americanthey usetheimageofanold Americancar from thattimein which theactioncar from thattimein which theactionis placed, inorder to createtheis placed, inorder to createthegeneralatmosphereofthenovel.generalatmosphereofthenovel.


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The Japanese editionThe Japanese editionPublisherPublisher: Bungeishunju: Bungeishunju(1998)(1998)


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The German editionThe German edition

PublisherPublisher :Ullstein Tb,:Ullstein Tb,May 1May 1stst, 2003;, 2003;

taglinetagline Stadtder TeufelStadtder Teufel TheThe

City ofThe Devil. This book coverCity ofThe Devil. This book coverfollows precisely the noir tradition,follows precisely the noir tradition,consisting mainly ofblack and white,consisting mainly ofblack and white,andtheonly proper color being theandtheonly proper color being theredtitlethatstands outtothe readerredtitlethatstands outtothe readeratafirstglimpse.atafirstglimpse.

Thetaglineis interesting as ithas notThetaglineis interesting as ithas not

been mentionedintheoriginal Englishbeen mentionedintheoriginal Englishedition. Thelady onthe cover has heredition. Thelady onthe cover has hereyebrows risenup, embodying a sorteyebrows risenup, embodying a sortofdevilish figure.ofdevilish figure.


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PublishedPublished by Arrow;by Arrow;

January 3January 3rdrd, 2005;, 2005;

Theimageonthefront cover isTheimageonthefront cover is

changedthrough a postmodern viewchangedthrough a postmodern viewofthe subject. There seems to beaofthe subject. There seems to beamanin painor agony. The red, amanin painor agony. The red, asymbolof blood (crime), is still kept,symbolof blood (crime), is still kept,butinthenameoftheauthor, notinbutinthenameoftheauthor, notinthetitle, as ithas beeninthe previousthetitle, as ithas beeninthe previous

editions.editions.A largeformatis usedfor theA largeformatis usedfor the

nameoftheauthor, a clear evidencenameoftheauthor, a clear evidencethathis persona has becomefamous (thathis persona has becomefamous (the writer had published mostofhisthe writer had published mostofhiswork by thatyear).work by thatyear).

Notto mentionthefactthattheNotto mentionthefactthatthe

titleandthenameoftheauthortitleandthenameoftheauthorresemblea policefile. This is becauseresemblea policefile. This is becauseoftheformatin which theauthorsoftheformatin which theauthorsnameis written: itis shadowed, as ifitnameis written: itis shadowed, as ifitwas typewritten; alsotheletters arewas typewritten; alsotheletters arenoteven, exactly as officialdocumentsnoteven, exactly as officialdocumentshave been writteninthe past.have been writteninthe past.


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The Spanish editionThe Spanish edition

Publisher: Ediciones B;Publisher: Ediciones B;

November 15November 15thth, 2008;, 2008;

This cover was createda year afterThis cover was createda year afterthe movie was produced, sothethe movie was produced, sotheeditors decidedtousethe populareditors decidedtousethe popularfigureofthe mainactress inorder tofigureofthe mainactress inorder toappealto the generalaudience.appealto the generalaudience.


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The screenplayThe screenplay

PublisherPublisher: Replica Books,: Replica Books,

October 1October 1stst, 1997;, 1997;


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The movie poster

The movie poster

Tagline:Tagline:Everything Is SuspectEverything Is Suspect

Everyone Is For SaleEveryone Is For Sale

And Nothing Is What It SeemsAnd Nothing Is What It Seems


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Design by Barry Lane;Design by Barry Lane;This cover follows the goodoldThis cover follows the goodoldclassic noir traditionin which theclassic noir traditionin which the

novel was written. Only afewnovel was written. Only afewbackground elements areneededbackground elements areneededinorder to createan oldiesinorder to createan oldiestouch: the palm trees, theoutlinetouch: the palm trees, theoutlineofthe city andnottoforgettheofthe city andnottoforgetthedrops ofbloodontheleft. Thedrops ofbloodontheleft. Thepowerful contrastbetweenthe redpowerful contrastbetweenthe redandthe whiteinthetitle catchesandthe whiteinthetitle catches

the eyeofthe viewer. Although itthe eyeofthe viewer. Although itis a clich, the white representsis a clich, the white representsthe pure, theuntouched, whereasthe pure, theuntouched, whereasthe red symbolizes death, crimethe red symbolizes death, crimeand guilt. Also, thedrops ofblood,and guilt. Also, thedrops ofblood,thateasily fallfrom thetree, couldthateasily fallfrom thetree, couldas well be pouring from a corpseas well be pouring from a corpse a hintfor the reala hintfor the real--life massacrelife massacrethatwas successfully fictionalizedthatwas successfully fictionalizedinthe movie.inthe movie.

http://www.barrylanedesign.com/lhttp://www.barrylanedesign.com/la.htmla.html

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LA Confidential by James Ellroy