In some regards, film noir was a genre that came full circle, from the darkly brooding French films that inspired American tales of ill-fated, morally corrupt characters and back again to the French who coined the very term “film noir” and celebrated its impact as a genre. Late 1930s French cinema saw an influx of […]
Film Noir
Touch Of Noir: Fritz Lang’s Seduction Of Vengeance In ‘The Big Heat’
The dangers that threaten everyday people and society differ from film noir to film noir, but what unifies them is their insidious nature. Fritz Lang’s The Big Heat (1953) is undeniably a film noir of the 1950s. Its protagonist, Det. Dave Bannion (Glenn Ford), lives the suburban American dream with a good job, a beautiful, […]
Touch Of Noir: The Hitchcockian Suspense Filled And Psychologically-Fueled Drama Of ‘The Wrong Man’
Throughout his career, Hitchcock returned again and again to stories of wrongfully accused men desperately trying to prove their innocence. From The Lodger to The 39 Steps and even Strangers on a Train, this theme is a specialty of Hitchcock’s. In The Wrong Man, Hitchcock would once again return to this theme, but what sets […]
Touch Of Noir: Hatred, Murder, Blackmail, And Humanity Plague Hitchcock’s ‘Strangers On A Train’
In his second film with Warner Bros., Alfred Hitchcock created what is arguably his best contribution to film noir. Dense and dark, Strangers on a Train (1951) was his most expressionistic and germanic picture in years, thanks to the moody, atmospheric cinematography of Robert Burks. Building on his success with psychopath Uncle Charlie in […]
Touch Of Noir: Romance Collides With Film Noir In Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Notorious’
As Alfred Hitchcock explored film noir further into his career, a distinct darkness would overtake his film’s outwardly wholesome Americana, and shadow would engulf his ill-fated characters. Breaking with the idealistic characters of Shadow of a Doubt, Hitchcock weaves a tale of deeply troubled people in Notorious. The film blends elements of melodrama, romance, spy […]
