Film Noir

Film Noir

Class Lecture

The gangster films of the 1930s began turning very dark beginning in the early 1940s. These films concentrated on crime, crazy antagonists, corrupt policeman, partners who betray each other, and visual images that are consistently shadowy and dark. Film noir was the name given to this genre, many of which were translations of American novels by James Cain, Raymond Chandler, and others.

The style and spirit of these film noirs were unmistakably German. Some American noirs were directed by Germans and Austrians (Billy Wilder, Otto Preminger, Edgar Ulmer and Robert Siodmak). Edward Dmytryk’s Crossfire (1947) is a dark mixture of murder, anti-Semitism, and censored queer representation. As a result, the HUAC targeted almost everyone who worked on the film. The anti-hero and the femme fatale are two iconic character archtypes of the noir genre. The femme fatale is often a seductive woman who is deadly and treacherous (e.g. Barbara Stanwyck in Double Indemnity). The classical films noir period is generally considered to begin in the early 1940s with films such as The Maltese Falcon and end with Orson Welles’s Touch of Evil (1958). Touch of Evil is perhaps most famous for its opening scene. The film opens with a single uninterrupted tracking shot lasting three minutes and twenty seconds; it is widely considered by critics as one of the greatest long takes in cinema history

Touch of Evil (Orson Welles, 1958):

Opening sequence Click Here

Otto Preminger is perhaps best known for his 1940s film noirs that often star Dana Andrews and Gene Tierney. The following clip is the opening scene of Laura (1944) a landmark of the film noir genre. Notice the intricate details of the film's mise-en-scene: the decor of Waldo Lydecker's (Clifton Webb) dwelling says much about the sophistication and cunning of his character. Lydecker's voice-over narration is another characteristic of many noir films of the Classic Hollywood era.

Laura (Otto Preminger, 1944):

Clip for class Click Here

"The gangster films of the 1930s began turning very dark beginning in the early 1940s. These films concentrated on crime, crazy antagonists, corrupt policeman, partners who betray each other, and visual images that are consistently shadowy and dark. Film noir was the name given to this genre, many of which were translations of American novels by James Cain, Raymond Chandler, and others."

Notables of Film Noir:

Billy Wilder, Otto Preminger, Edgar Ulmer and Robert Siodmak were German/Austrian Directors.

Edward Dmytryk - in Crossfire mixes in anti-Semitism and censored queer representation. Which target the staff by HUAC. 

 "The anti-hero and the femme fatale are two iconic character archtypes of the noir genre. The femme fatale is often a seductive woman who is deadly and treacherous"

Classic Femme Fatale was Barbara Stanwyck in Double Indemnity.

"The classical films noir period is generally considered to begin in the early 1940s with films such as The Maltese Falcon and end with Orson Welles’s Touch of Evil (1958). 

"Touch of Evil is perhaps most famous for its opening scene. The film opens with a single uninterrupted tracking shot lasting three minutes and twenty seconds; it is widely considered by critics as one of the greatest long takes in cinema history."

Touch of Evil (Orson Welles, 1958):

Touch of Evil - Opening Sequence -- Click Here

Otto Preminger is perhaps best known for his 1940s film noirs that often star Dana Andrews and Gene Tierney. The following clip is the opening scene of Laura (1944) a landmark of the film noir genre. Notice the intricate details of the film's mise-en-scene: the decor of Waldo Lydecker's (Clifton Webb) dwelling says much about the sophistication and cunning of his character. Lydecker's voice-over narration is another characteristic of many noir films of the Classic Hollywood era.

Laura (Otto Preminger, 1944):

Click Here for clip of - Laura