FILM NOIR
Genre

Means “type” or “category”.
FILM NOIR

Comes into prominence during the
post modern era.
FILM NOIR

Means literally “Black Film”
Existentialism

The individual is alone in the
universe.
Fatalism

Submission to fate

FATE = everything is pre-ordained.
Film Noir

Usually associated with Crime,
Dective and thriller films.
FILM NOIR

Heavily influenced by German
Expressionism.
Pessimism

The worst will always happen.
Menace

Danger all around.
Cynicism

Skeptical of other’s motives,
institutions or beliefs.


Question: “Why is this happening to
me?”
Answer: “Because”
Elements of Film Noir

Seemingly innocent hero destroyed
by outside forces

Black and White environment

Usually occurs in a urban setting
THE WOLF MAN (1941)


Directed by George Waggoner
Written by Curt Siodmack (Jewish
immigrant, escapee from Germany)
Lon Chaney Jr. (Lawrence Talbot)




“Even a man who is pure at heart,
And says his prayers at night;
May become a wolf when the wolf bane
blooms,
And the autumn moon is bright.”
Femme Fatal

Arguably THE key element of film noir . . .
Lady Macbeth –
an original
“Femme Fatal”
Femme Fatal

= “Deadly Woman”

Leads men to their destruction . . .

Feminists appreciate Film Noir as it views
women not as victims but instead in
positions of power.
OUT OF THE PAST (1947)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039689/
Directed by Jacques Tourneur




Starring
Robert Mitchum
Jane Greer
Kirk Douglas
Kirk Douglas (above)
Robert Mitchum (above)
Jane Greer (left)
The Set-Up (1949)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041859/

Directed by Robert Wise

Robert Ryan as
“Stoker”