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Is film noir a genre or style?
What are some examples of film noir?
Where did film noir come from?
Why is film noir so difficult to define?
genre. film noir, style of filmmaking characterized by such elements as cynical heroes, stark lighting effects, frequent use of flashbacks, intricate plots, and an underlying existentialist philosophy. The genre was prevalent mostly in American crime dramas of the post- World War II era.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Hirsch, as one who has taken the position that film noir is a genre, argues that these elements are present "in abundance." Hirsch notes that there are unifying features of tone, visual style and narrative sufficient to classify noir as a distinct genre. Others argue that film noir is not a genre.
- United States
- early 1920s – late 1950s
Jun 27, 2021 · Film noir is a stylized genre of film marked by pessimism, fatalism, and cynicism. The term was originally used in France after WWII, to describe American thriller or detective films in the 1940s and 50s. Though, Hollywood’s film noir stretches back to the 1920s.
- The Maltese Falcon (1941) Though two prior adaptations of detective novelist Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon were made before this adaptation, John Huston's 1941 version remains a film noir classic.
- Double Indemnity (1944) Based on the crime novel by James M. Cain, Double Indemnity was directed by Billy Wilder, who also co-wrote the script with famed crime novelist Raymond Chandler.
- Sunset Blvd. (1950) Though Billy Wilder's Sunset Blvd. eschews many of the common narrative elements of film noir, it is unarguably one of the most important works of the genre.
- Sweet Smell of Success (1957) Director Alexander Mackendrick's Sweet Smell of Success follows New York press agent Sidney Falco (Tony Curtis) who is blackmailed by a famous newspaper columnist (Burt Lancaster) into framing a jazz musician for drug possession.
Nov 7, 2023 · Is it a genre, a style, a movement, or just a set of very stylish coincidences? Humphrey Bogart as Philip Marlowe in The Big Sleep, dir. Howard Hawks, 1946, via IMDb. The term Film Noir was coined by French critics in 1946. It translates to dark film.
Oct 6, 2019 · But what exactly is film noir? The answer to that question isn't as straightforward as it would be with science fiction, fantasy, romantic comedies, or other popular movie genres. Film noir is more of a style than it is a genre, and that's why it's not limited to one category of cinema.
What Is Film Noir? Film Noir refers to a cinematic genre known for its dark, moody visuals and complex narratives, often involving crime and morally ambiguous characters. What Are The Visual Characteristics Of Film Noir?
