Bernie Dowling's latest in his award-winning series on film noir traces its evolution from the curse of World War I to German Expressionism, noir prototypes in Hollywood horror and gangster movies, and the rise of noir during World War II.

In six lively pictorial essays, Dowling continues his series on film noir in the public domain.

In the Curse section, Dowling reviews 1940s horror noirs, while Crime examines the 1938 proto-noir Algiers and a 1950s noir directed by Stanley Kubrick. Cringe looks at the noir theme of humiliation in the 1940s and 50s.

Dowling's sly humor offers comic relief along the path to the joyous darkness that is film noir.

Historical photos abound of classic Hollywood, its movies, and their creators.

This is the final volume of this series on film noir in the public domain, and Dowling reveals his 10 favorite film noirs, with a surprise or two on the list.