FILM NOIRVictor Hsiao, Stephen Huang, Kevin Wang
What is Film Noir?
Film Noir – Black Film or Cinema Coined by French film critics
Nino Frank (1946) started this term○ Observed the ‘dark’, black, and downbeat
look of American crime and detective films released in France in 1940’sMaltese Falcon (1941); Murder, My Sweet (1944); Double
Indemnity (1944); The Woman in the Window (1944); Laura (1944)
History Emerged from German Expressionism and
Italian Neo-RealismGerman Expressionism (Post WWI)
○ Dark mood and deeper meaning; symbolism
Italian Neo-Realism○ Documenting stories of poor and working class
American Film Noir combines bothDifficult moral/economic conditionShadowing for dark mood
Started in 1940’sStranger on the Third Floor (1940)
History cont.
Hays CodeHeavily affected due to the harsh look it took
on American life Neo-Noir begins in 1950’s
Hays Code evaporatesTribute to Noir
Psycho (1960) – first neo-noir Quinton Tarantino
Reservoir Dogs (1992)
History cont.
Neo noir is everywhere; past or presentEmulation of Citizen Kane (1941)Raging Bull (1980)L.A. Noire (PS3)
Characters Hero/Anti-hero
Corrupt charactersVillains Hard-boiled
detectivesCopsGangstersGovernment agentsSociopaths/killersCrooksWar veteran
Politicians Petty criminalsAverage Joes
Morally ambiguous
Characters (cont.) Women
Dutiful, reliable, trustworthy, loving Femme Fatale
Mysterious, double-crossing, unloving, tough, unreliable, manipulative, desperate○ Phyllis Dietrichson (Double Indemnity)
Characteristics Lighting Deep focus Interior settings
Low-key or single source lightingVenetian blinds
Dark, claustrophobic, gloomy Distorts time
Non-chronological order Usually has a gun Femme Fatale Black and White
Characteristics cont.
Cigarettes/cigars Costumes
Men○ Fedoras, suits and ties
Women○ Floppy hats, low neckline, makeup
Mood Dark Suspenseful Melancholy Alienation Bleakness Pessimism Ambiguity Moral Corruption
Evil Guilt Desperation Paranoia Disillusionment Disenchantment
Types of Film Noir Classic Noir Neo/Post Noir Romance Film Noir Documentary Film Noir Cyber Film Noir Prison Film Noir Menaced – Woman
Noir Hitchcock’s Menaced
Woman Imperiled Children Noir
Corruption/Crime Noir Cross-over Noir Variation
Pseudo Thrillers Animations Horror Westerns Gangster Sci-fi
○ Super hero films Batman; Batman Begins
Musical Documentaries
Romance Noir
Deadly femme fatatles Self-destruction Examples
You Only Live Once (1937)The Letter (1940)Double Indemnity (1944)The Woman in the Window
Test Questions
Film Noir – Dark Film American pulp fiction – source of most
noirs Maltese Falcon – first noir Characteristic of Film Noir – low-key
lighting LA Confidential and Fatal Attraction are
pseudo-noirs
Test Questions cont.
Film Noir breaks narrative linearity Hays Code censored nudity,
homosexuality, and profanity Reflects the cynicism of innocence lost
at war Sharp, witty dialogue coincides with
comedies Women posed a threat to traditional
values
Test Questions cont.
Femme Fatale tries to destroy the male hero
Film Noir borrows from German Expressionism
Noirs emulate visual style of Citizen Kane
Destabilization of sexual relationships is typical of film noirs
FILM HISTORY 1920’S
1920’s
Silent film’s were predominant throughout the decadeBigger, costly, more polished
○ Assembly line process
Organized into genres Easily recognizable characteristicsVarious genres appearing throughout this
time
1920’s cont. Big Five
Warner Bros. Pictures (1923)Paramount Studios (1927)RKO (Radio – Keith - Orpheum) PicturesMetro – Golwyn – Mayer (MGM) (1928)Fox (1912) became 20th Century Fox (1935)
Little ThreeUniversal PicturesUnited ArtistsColumbia Pictures
1920’s cont.
Expressionism flourishes after WWI Silent comedy flourished Charlie Chaplin Don Juan (1926)
First film with synchronized soundtracksNo dialogue
The Jazz Singer (1927) – Warner Bros. Silent film studios went out of business 1930, silent films disappeared
1920’s cont.
Major MusicalsThe Broadway Musical
○ First musical/sound film to win Best PictureOn With the Show
○ First all color sound musicalThe Gold Diggers of Broadway
○ The Gold Diggers (1923) remake
1920’s cont. Academy Awards
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (1927)○ Wings (1927) – Best Picture○ Sunrise (1927) – Best Unique and Artistic Picture
Only silent films to win Academy Awards
○ Jazz Singer (1927) – special award
1920’s cont. Technicolor
Started out with a 2 color process ○ Green and Red
Evolved to a 3 color process in 1932 Technology
Cameras on dolliesMicrophones on booms
Vitaphone Company (1925)Vitaphone – obsolete by 1931Meant to record music and sound effects
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