A list of the 100 greatest films noir compiled by digital dream door. However, films that will usually be allocated this title will share certain characteristics. A movie which at no time misleads you into thinking there is going to be a happy ending. Bmovie classic touch of evil 1958 is generally considered the last film in the. Noir filmmakers used shadowy black and white cinematography and inventive camera angles to make movies filled with crime, lust, betrayal, and the darkness in the human heart.
A life at stake is an american film noir directed by paul guilfoyle. The frantically paced plot revolves around a doomed mans quest to find out who has poisoned him and why. This excellent film noir was a b movie made in six days with only six sets, and although close scrutiny can detect evidence of rush it is a gripping film. A hardworking mother inches towards disaster as she divorces her husband and starts a successful restaurant business to support her spoiled daughter. Nobody knew what to call film noirs when they first started coming out of.
Film noir itself was an important genre for legitimizing cinema as an artform the use of shadows for terror, the seductive placement of limbs, glances. These greatest film noir movies were chosen for their direction, acting, storyline, cinematography, box office success and popularity. Film noir first evolved in the 1940s, became prominent in the postwar era, and. Director john hustons classic stars humphrey bogart as world weary detective sam spade, who battles corrupt cops, a gang of thugs, and one wily femme fatale mary astor to avenge his partners death and solve the mystery of the falcon.
Berke, and stars cesar romero, george brent, raymond burr and audrey totter. The exact parameters of film noir are still up for debate some argue that true noir films were made during a specific period, the postworld war ii 1940s to around 1958, labeling films made before and after proto and neonoir respectively, while others argue film noir is more of a style or mood than a genre. One of the many lures of the film noir genre is its taut, no nonsense dialogue. During and immediately following world war ii, movie audiences responded to this fresh, vivid, adultoriented type of film as did many writers, directors. Definitely, one of the top 10 best filmnoir movies of 2018 to watch. Evolving versions of film noir explore todays uneasy feelings. It translates to black film in french and was referring to hollywood crime dramas made in the 1940s and 1950s. After all, bogart had played that other great hardboiled gumshoe, sam spade, in the maltese falcon 1941, one of film noirs very first shots across the bow. How did the maltese falcon help craft the noir film genre. Thats probably why it didnt fare well when it first released, but has since persevered as a standout in the film noir list. Down the mean streets of film noir walk hardboiled detectives, slinky femme fatales. Though a tricky genre to define, there are the usual telltale signs such as seduction, violence, and loose morals all revolving around a central mystery. Terse yet evocative, dialogue from film noir also rings with the pistol crack of truth. A life at stake free directed by paul guilfoyle, this american noir film stars angela lansbury and keith andes.
The term film noir comes from the french term for black film or dark film. The term film noir, french for black film literal or dark film closer meaning, was first applied to hollywood films by french critic nino frank in 1946, but was unrecognized by most american film industry professionals of that era. The 50sset potboiler received almost unprecedented universal acclaim, and if you were of a certain age then, it very likely introduced you to film noir. Films released after 1959 should generally only be listed in the list of neonoir titles. The first two are on the endangered species list, but noir is undergoing an explosive rebirth of popularity even though the average moviegoer doesnt know quite how to pronounce it, or what it is. Supreme court ruled that film is protected under the first. I havent bought set 3 yet because the films in that set look less interesting to me. Film noir simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The movie that virtually killed off the classic knight errant private eye. Nov 30, 2009 as a genre, film noir is difficult to define. Nov 12, 2018 film noir is a style of american filmmaking from the 1940s and 50s characterized by detective protagonists, seedy settings, shadowy lighting, and a fatalistic tone. The term film noir was first coined by french critic nino frank in 1946. Even the so called womens picture was a movie that featured women prominently. M is considered by many to be the defining film of the thriller genre, and as a piece of film noir its a masterpiece. Out of this creative environment came film noir, a style of movie making that became very popular in the 1940s and 1950s.
Movies of his such as 20,000 years in sing sing 1932 and private detective 62 1933 are among the early. The genre established memorable cinematic elements and tropes that influence filmmakers to this day. Some 70 years after the term film noir was first coined to describe a uniquely american phenomenon, take a trip through the screwedup landscape of the midcentury psyche, with all its sex, lies. Theres a great deal of debate among film scholars about the first true noir, but, theres no argument that the first significant film in the noir style is the maltese falcon. And in noir films its the rapidfire back and forth between characters, usually dames and. To that end, this list is comprised of the best films of noirs classic era. Some critics argue that true noir films must have been made in the postworld war ii 1940s into the 1950s. One of the most prolific writers in this genre was dashiell hammett whose novel the maltese falcon spawned what many considered to be the first mainstream example of film noir related. Latvianborn boris ingster only ever directed three films he later became a tv producer on shows such as the man from u. How did the maltese falcon help craft the noir film.
This film marks the debuts of beverly garland as beverly campbell and laurette luez. I named a new movie megaplex, one which had just opened on the outskirts of town. Film noir is a style of american filmmaking from the 1940s and 50s characterized by detective protagonists, seedy settings, shadowy lighting, and a fatalistic tone. Therefore, the composition of this list may be controversial. Nathan said he knew where it was, so we just made small talk on the way there. Mar 10, 2019 the phrase film noir was first coined in 1946 by a group of french critics to describe the emerging movement of mainly black and white hollywood films with dark, pessimistic themes and signature. Elsa is one of film noirs great fatal women, but she was then also welles. Meaning dark film in french, film noir was named for antiheroic characters, razorsharp dialogue, and bold miseenscene. Film noir is not a clearly defined genre see here for details on the characteristics. Film noir literally black film or black cinema was coined by french film critics first by nino frank in 1946 who noticed the trend of how dark, downbeat and black the looks and themes were of many american crime and detective films released in france to theatres during and following world war ii, such as the maltese falcon 1941. A hardworking mother inches towards disaster as she divorces her.
Film noir refers to a type of movie or a style of filmmaking which shows the world as a dangerous or depressing place where many people suffer, especially because of the greed or cruelty of others. With my purchase of the ultimate film noir collection, i have scored another batch of winners. The scarf 1953, usa john ireland, mercedes mccambridge film noir full movie x264. The 10 greatest femmes fatales in film noir page 2 taste. To minimize dispute the films included here should preferably feature a footnote linking to a reliable, published source which states that the mentioned film is considered to be a film noir by an. Confidential despite being an homage to classic film noir, l. The inspiration of many of the classic film noir features came from the crime novels at the time. Film noir, french for black film, was used to describe a huge backlog of american films that reached a french audience for the first time after world war ii.
Film noir is a genre that has provided audiences with some of the best movies of alltime. During the resurgences early days, most of its examples were modernizations ex. The genre was prevalent mostly in american crime dramas of the post world war ii era. Im a strong, independent woman and i dont have to let the boys take the lead. The 10 best film noir movies of alltime screenrant. The film begins with a scene called perhaps one of cinemas most innovative opening sequences by a bbc. The film noir genre generally refers to mystery and crime dramas produced from the. Its the weirdest great movie ever made, in critic dave kehrs words. Feb 15, 2011 film noir historians trace the roots back to the silent era and the full flowering to the war years, but most tend to agree that the first true american film noir came in the otherwise modest package of an ambitious b movie crime thriller from 1940.
Ever since, critics have lavished praise upon caligari, calling it a model of german expressionist film, the greatest horror film of early cinema, and an important influence on directors later working in the film noir tradition. In 1945, danny kaye starred in what appears to be the first intentional film noir parody, wonder man. The phrase film noir was first coined in 1946 by a group of french critics to describe the emerging movement of mainly black and white hollywood. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the classic period of american film noir. Ride along 3 true, this movie is all about some crazy action and awesome jokes, and that has very little to do with the grimy, sad and intense atmosphere of a true filmnoir. Marsha hunt, john ireland film noir full movie by film noir public domain. Banned in occupied countries during the war, these films became available throughout. Called one of the most accomplished, innovative, and downright twisted entrants to the film noir genre. The 10 greatest femmes fatales in film noir page 2. Top film noir movies notably, many hollywood films of the 1940s and 1950s, including classics like citizen kane and casablanca, have stylistic and narrative similarities to film noir, yet scholars and critics generally consider them outside of film noir.
Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish hollywood crime dramas. While those four items should provide an overview of what constitutes film noir, it is a little difficult to judge whether a film belongs to the. Early examples of the noir style include dark, stylized detective films such as john hustons the maltese falcon 1941, frank tuttles this gun for hire 1942, otto premingers laura 1944, and edward dmytryks murder, my sweet 1944. Film noir is one of hollywoods only organic artistic movements. And, whats more spoiler alert, wienes film introduced the first twist ending to cinema. Film noir, style of filmmaking characterized by such elements as cynical. Theres no room here for flowery speech, not when the bullets and fists are flying. Film noir literally black film or black cinema was coined by french film critics first by nino frank in 1946 who noticed the trend of how dark, downbeat and black the looks and themes were of many american crime and detective films released in france to theatres during and following world war ii, such as the maltese falcon 1941, murder, my sweet 1944, double indemnity 1944, the. A screenwriter develops a dangerous relationship with a faded film star determined to make a triumphant return.
Other storytelling devices common to film noir are flashbacks and voiceovers in order to tell the story from a firstperson perspective. A french term meaning black film, or film of the night, inspired by the series noir, a line of cheap paperbacks that translated hardboiled american crime authors and found a popular audience in france. From the violent, masculine themes to the cast of rising. Dec 17, 2019 this movie which is a blackhearted apotheosis of noir is an essential film of the 50s, which embodies the most profound anxieties of eisenhowers america.
A former police detective juggles wrestling with his personal demons and becoming obsessed with a hauntingly beautiful woman. Aug 15, 20 if you like this movie and our channel, please subscribe. Of the first five sets in this series film noir classic collection, i have sets 1, 2, 4, and 5, and all are excellent. First up was the stranger 1946, and then this delirious oddity in which. Film noir definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 first edition with your subscription. Before the hardboiled world of suspicious private eyes, doublecrossing dames. With joan crawford, jack carson, zachary scott, eve arden. Louis malles first fiction feature, based on noel calefs 1956 novel, occupies a very interesting space. Hawks takes the by now established visual and thematic scenery of noir and uses it to create a screwball romance. Chinatown may bear the hallmarks of a classic film noir but technically speaking, its a neonoir. The golden age of film noir the cinema of the disenchanted. Film noir is a term used to describe crime drama movies from hollywood that are often focused on sex, crime, and corruption film noir movies were mostly made from the early 1940s to the late 1950s in the united states, and they were usually filmed in blackandwhite.
After the occupation and later liberation in 1945, these films made their way into french theaters. Jan 15, 2020 chinatown may bear the hallmarks of a classic film noir but technically speaking, its a neonoir. The maltese falcon introduces elements that later became hallmarks of film noir in particular the alienated and amoral hero, thefemme fatale, and the dark and disturbed urban environment in which they live but it stops short of a purely noir outlook and visual representation. Film noir is a style or genre of cinematographic film marked by a mood of pessimism, fatalism, and menace. The phrase film noir was first coined in 1946 by a group of french critics. Nov 29, 20 louis malles first fiction feature, based on noel calefs 1956 novel, occupies a very interesting space. Simply put, neonoirs were a revival of the classic film noirs of the 40s and 50s. The term was originally applied by a group of french critics to american thriller or detective films. A list of the best filmnoir movies and tv shows, as ranked by imdb users, like you.
A guide to film noir genre roger ebert roger ebert. These films were not chosen for how highly rated they are overall, but how they rate in the subject of film noir movies. Werkers and uncredited anthony mann police procedural film noir he walked by night 1949 was the story of the capture of psychopathic killer erwin machinegun walker. Dirty harry and the long goodbye, with chinatown being the rare period. Edmund gouldings 1947 classic extracts the themes of morality from its urban peers and refocuses them into this bizarre setting. Film noir has been parodied many times in many manners. Cinema historians and critics defined the category retrospectively. Directed by fritz lang, this german classic is a terrifying look at a childmurderer who. Film noir, flourishing in america throughout the 1940s and 1950s, is one of the most disturbing of movie genres is it, in the first place, a disti. Film noir historians trace the roots back to the silent era and the full flowering to the war years, but most tend to agree that the first true american film noir came in the otherwise modest package of an ambitious b movie crime thriller from 1940. By the late 1940s, film noir was pulling in two ways towards stylised abstraction on the one hand, and towards a new streetlevel realism on the other. The film reacts against the dominant ideology of society. That same year, deanna durbin was the singing lead in the comedic noir lady on a train, which makes fun of woolrichbrand wistful miserablism. The first appearance of the term film noir in this magazine is from.
It qualifies as film noir for its appropriation of us. While city streets and other prewwii crime melodramas such as fury 1936 and you only live once 1937, both directed by fritz lang, are categorized as ful. Film noir literally black film or black cinema was coined by french film critics first by nino frank in 1946 who noticed the trend of how dark, downbeat and black the looks and themes were of many american crime and detective films released in france to theatres during and following world war ii, such as the maltese falcon 1941, murder, my sweet 1944, double indemnity 1944, the woman in the window 1944, and laura 1944. Its ending depicts the detonation of a nuclear bomb on malibu beach, which then presumably leads to the end of the world. Starring peter lorre as the stranger of the title, its a short, cheap b movie in which many of the hallmarks of the emerging style are brought together. This movie which is a blackhearted apotheosis of noir is an essential film of the 50s, which embodies the most profound anxieties of eisenhowers america. It qualifies as film noir for its appropriation of us postwar cinema in its tale of lovers. Fbi girl is a 1951 american film noir crime film about a female fbi employee who becomes involved in government plot involving corruption and murder. Sep 19, 2017 film noir itself was an important genre for legitimizing cinema as an artform the use of shadows for terror, the seductive placement of limbs, glances, and the way someone smoked a cigarette. We, too, should keep a closer watch on our children. Because the 1940s and 1950s are universally regarded as the classic period of american film noir, films released prior to 1940 are listed under the caption precursors early noirlike films.