Film+Noir

back to GENRE STUDY ** Film Noir ** Whilst Film-Noir is not, technically, a genre in its own right, it is often referred to as such and is certainly worthy of study. Films that you should watch if you want to get a greater understanding of this film style are:
 * KEY FILMS **
 * Maltese Falcon (1941)
 * Shadow of a Doubt (1943)
 * Murder My Sweet (1944)
 * Double Indemnity (1944)
 * Laura (1944)
 * The Big Sleep (1946)
 * The Postman Always RIngs Twice (1946)
 * Kiss of Death (1947)
 * Lady of Shanghai (1947)
 * The Third Man (1949)
 * The Asphalt Jungle (1950)
 * The Big Heat (1953)
 * The NIght of the Hunter (1955)
 * Touch of Evil (1958) - often referred to as the last film noir from the classic period.



It is very important to understand the key features and styles of film-noir. Remember that not all film-noirs will have all of these features, but they will use most of them.As you watch a film, try to match these aspects of film-making to the film as see how many are present. Also note the influence of German Expressionism and the fact that many of the anti-heroes wear fedoras!
 * STYLE OF NOIR **
 * Crime thriller with detective/investigative plot line
 * Morally ambiguous protagonist - aka anti-hero
 * Private Detective
 * The Femme Fatale
 * Sexually charged relationships
 * Urban Setting, especially high rise buildings
 * Dreary weather
 * Chiaroscuro Lighting style - []
 * Use of voice-over narration
 * Use of flashback as a narrative technique
 * Use of blinds or bars to create zebra lighting effect (as in image above)
 * Banter and Innuendo
 * Red herrings to heighten tension
 * Dark/Tragic ending
 * Smoking/smoke/haze

This website has a great selection of classic film-noir posters. Make sure you check it out. Which is your favourite? Why? []
 * NOIR POSTERS **

'Kiss of Death' is my favourite from the link. It really encapsulates the style of the film-noir, with the use of chiaroscuro, the couple locked in a passionate and, no dount, illicit embrace in the bottom corner and the intelligent use of dead space by doubling the 'I' as a doorway. A great advert for the film, as the style of noir as a whole.

** USEFUL WEBSITES ** The following websites will be useful in your study of Film Noir... [] [] [] [] and of course, good old Wikipedia! []


 * NOIR ARTICLES **

[|Film Noir - An Introduction.pdf] [|Double Indemnity - Images Journal.pdf] [|The Big Sleep - Images Journal.pdf] [|Lady of Shanghai - Images Journal.pdf] [|Shadow of a Doubt - Images Journal.pdf] [|The Big Heat - Images Journal.pdf]

Enjoy these Calvin and Hobbes 'film-noir pastiche' comic strips. Absolutely brilliant. How many classic film-noir devices are being used here?
 * NOIR PASTICHE **













UNIT FILM NOIR