Expert: Mel - 12/13/2004

Question
What can you tell me about the "film noir" genre?  I have been told this includes movies such as "The Maltese Falcon" and "Double Indemnity" but would like more information if you could give it to me.

Answer
Hello Morgan,

Film Noir is an expression used to group a certain style of films together. During the late 1940's/early 1950's their were many black & white gangster/detective films coming out of Hollywood that had a very dark attitude about them. Their themes and style, the camera angles and lighting, were of a much starker and stronger type than had existed before.

This style of film, which had its origins in the French and German cinema of the 1930's, became known as "Film Noir" (literally "Black Film").

Have a look at the following sites for more information:

http://www.filmsite.org/filmnoir.html

http://www.imagesjournal.com/issue02/infocus.htm

http://www.crimeculture.com/Contents/Film%20Noir.html


Glad to be of help. Cheers.........Mel.