Femmes fatales, hardboiled heroines and the poor saps that fall for them are the focus of the Humboldt County Library’s latest “Based on the Book” movie series, Dark City Dames: the Women of Film Noir. “Based on the Book” is a quarterly series, offering classic film screenings every Tuesday night in July at the Main library branch in Eureka.

“Film noir perfected a character rarely seen in movies up to that point—the powerful, complicated, formidable woman,” said Michael Logan, Humboldt County Library employee and series co-organizer. “And this being film noir, they turn out to be tempted by the same things their male counterparts are: power, lust, greed, revenge. Throw in a little smoldering attraction, some snappy dialogue, and a fair amount of action, and you’ve got some very interesting and entertaining films.”

July’s movies will be hosted by Wynston Jones, former film instructor, actor and screenwriter; Bob Doran, Arts & Entertainment Editor for the North Coast Journal; and Charlie Myers, former HSU film instructor and current film critic for the North Coast Journal.

July 14: Raw Deal (1948)— Hosted by Bob Doran

A taut revenge noir directed by Anthony Mann and starring Dennis O’Keefe, Marsha Hunt, Claire Trevor and Raymond Burr. An escaped convict bent on revenge goes on the lam with his hardboiled girlfriend and a young social worker he takes hostage. Along the way, the two women vie for his heart—and his soul.