A guide to the crime films of the 40s and 50s, this volume focuses on the major events that shaped and moulded the genre: war, alienation, drugs and organised crime. The body of the work offers over 1200 entries that feature concise summaries, analyses and credits. The volume is a continuation of the author's earlier work, "A Guide to American Crime Films of the Thirties" (Greenwood, 1995). The book includes those stars that the public had already embraced as gangsters in the 30s such as James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart and Edward G. Robinson, and brings them into a new era in which they are transformed into enforcers of the law. This work should be of interest to scholars, students and film buffs alike. The work demonstrates the shift from the simpler gangster modes of the 1930s as it takes the reader forward to the more sophisticated films of the late 50s. Although the book is organised alphabetically, the introduction alerts the reader to the major social phenomena that influenced the genre of these decades. Also offered are credits that cover titles, release dates, distributors, directors, screenwriters and major players. The 1200 entries include detailed plot summaries and thematic analyses as well as relevant information on sources, remakes and sequels.