Home #Hwoodtimes A Conversation with TCM Host of Noir Alley Eddie Muller Who Talks...

A Conversation with TCM Host of Noir Alley Eddie Muller Who Talks About His Newest Book “Noir Bar” on Sale NOW

By  Judy Shields

Los Angeles, California (The Hollywood Times) 06/01/2023 – “My favorite cocktail is a Martini and my wife enjoys a Manhattan. We enjoy a cocktail during our daily talks.” Eddie Muller told The Hollywood Times while talking about his latest book EDDIE MULLER’S NOIR BAR: Cocktails Inspired by the World of Film Noir

The Hollywood Times had the opportunity to catch up with Eddie Muller to talk about his newest book.  Enjoy the conversation:

Eddie told me that you can order his new book through Larry Edmunds Bookshop located in Hollywood and it will be an autographed copy.  Here is the link so you can get your copy today.

https://www.larryedmunds.com/product-page/eddie-muller-s-noir-bar-cocktails-inspired-by-the-world-of-film-noir

Larry Edmunds bookshop neon sign

REVIEW

I love to read books, not e-books, but the actual hard cover book. There is nothing like actually turning the page and discovering in person what is waiting for you on the next page.  Eddie Muller’s new book Noir Bar is definitely a hardcopy you should add to your collection for two reasons. One, being that Eddie brings us those amazing classic noir movies with some great black and white photos of the actor/actresses and even the movie posters with written facts of those movies and cocktails seen in them. Second, great cocktail recipes with the type of glass to be used, ice cubes, shaker type and some beautiful photos of the cocktail.  This book will be kept with all your kitchen books no doubt! Don’t forget to get a few copies because they will make great wedding gifts and as Eddie mentioned in our conversation, a great gift for every 21 year old’s birthday! This book will make a treasured gift for any occasion.  It truly is a beautiful book with outstanding photos of these classic drinks and classic movies with recipes and the type of chilled glass that should be used.  I sure did learn a great deal about making cocktails and you will too!

Noir Bar Pearl Diver cocktail (Photo take from book by THT)

I can’t wait to try a few of the cocktails in Eddie’s book, like the Pearl Diver and even try to find the movie that is featured in the book with the cocktails to enjoy the movie and the cocktail, how cool will that be!  I should be able to find them on TCM’s website or even check out the Los Angeles Central Library, which has a great Classic Movie section of DVDs.  My new weekend activity thanks to Eddie Muller’s Noir Bar book. Judy Shields, The Hollywood Times

Eddie Muller, host of TCM’s Noir Alley and one of the world’s leading authorities on film noir, takes film buffs and drink enthusiasts alike on a spirited tour through the “dark city” of film noir in EDDIE MULLER’S NOIR BAR (TCM/Running Press) on sale Now! Muller began in working life as a bartender, so he has combined his two great loves into a sleek new book that’s packed with equal parts great cocktail recipes and noir lore, imparting this “Barroom, Not Classroom” approach to discussing films. While some cocktails are drawn directly from the featured films, others taken inspiration from them, and all delve into the wonderful world that is Film Noir.

Muller includes anecdotes throughout:

  • Find out what director Sam Fuller’s favorite drink was, and why it should definitely be served during a screening of his 1953 Cold War noir Pickup on South Street (see page 139 in book)
  • Didn’t know that Nightmare Alley‘s Joan Blondell inspired a cocktail? “The Zeena” may become a new favorite (see page 120 in book)
  • Rita Hayworth is toasted with a “Sailor Beware,” an original concoction of Muller’s which, like the film that inspired it (Orson Welles’s The Lady From Shanghai), is unique, complex, and sure to pack a wallop (see page 104 in book)
  • Why the “Brooklyn” is the best cocktail to salute “The Queen of Film Noir,” Barbara Stanwyck, while viewing one of her best noirs: The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (see page 190)
  • And while we can’t turn back the clock, as Norma Desmond knew only too well in Billy Wilder’s classic Sunset Blvd, we can ring in the New Year with a “Champagne Cocktail” (see page 196)
Champagne Cocktail (Photo from the book taken by THT)

Featuring dozens of movie stills, poster art, behind-the-scenes imagery, and stunning cocktail photography, EDDIE MULLER’S NOIR BAR pairs carefully curated classic cocktails and modern noir-inspired libations with tales and insights on 50 film noir favorites.  If you’ve ever seen Nicholas Ray’s In a Lonely Place and wondered what the heck is in a “Horse’s Neck” – now, you’ll finally know.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 16: TCM host Eddie Muller attends his book sale/signing of “Noir Bar: Cocktails Inspired by the World of Film Noir” during the 2023 TCM Classic Film Festival on April 16, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for TCM)

About the Author:

TCM Host Eddie Muller (Photographed at the Warner Bros Studio Lot on Tue. Jan. 17, 2023 in Burbank, CA.)

Eddie Muller, aka the “Czar of Noir” is the host of TCM’s Noir Alley franchise, and the prolific author of movie histories (such as DARK CITY, Running Press), novels, biographies, plays, and films. He also programs and hosts the NOIR CITY film festivals throughout the US, curates museum displays, and provides commentary for television, radio, and Blu-ray/DVDs.  As the founder and president of the non-profit Film Noir Foundation, Muller has been instrumental since 2005 in restoring and preserving more than thirty lost noir classics. He resides in the San Francisco Bay Area.  Visit http://eddiemuller.com/

About the Book:

My copy of Eddie Muller’s new book Noir Bar with pages tagged with colored post-its! (Photo THT)

EDDIE MULLER’S NOIR BAR: Cocktails Inspired by the World of Film Noir

By Eddie Muller
Running Press/Tuner Classic Movies

Publication date: May 23, 2023
Hardcover: 7 x 8 inches; 248 pages; $26.00 US / $33 CAN

ISBN: 9780762480623

Also available as an e-book

Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is a two-time Peabody Award-winning network that presents classic films, uncut and commercial-free, from the largest film libraries in the world highlighting “where then meets now.” TCM features the insights from Primetime host Ben Mankiewicz along with hosts Alicia Malone, Dave Karger, Jacqueline Stewart and Eddie Muller, plus interviews with a wide range of special guests and serves as the ultimate movie lover destination. With more than two decades as a leading authority in classic film, TCM offers critically acclaimed series like The Essentials, along with annual programming events like 31 Days of Oscar® and Summer Under the Stars. TCM also directly connects with movie fans through popular events such as the annual TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood, the TCM Big Screen Classics screening series, and the TCM Classic Cruise. In addition, TCM produces the wildly successful podcast “The Plot Thickens,” which has had more than 7 million downloads to date. TCM hosts a wealth of material online at tcm.com and through the Watch TCM mobile app. Fans can also enjoy a classic movie experience on the TCM hub on HBO Max.