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Film noir

Film noir. “black film” A genre popular in the 1940s and 1950s. Attributes of film noir. Subject: crime Setting: urban; takes place at night, often in the rain Lighting: Often black and white High contrast/shadows—NOT three-point Called “high key” Venetian blinds Smoky.

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Film noir

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  1. Film noir “black film” A genre popular in the 1940s and 1950s

  2. Attributes of film noir • Subject: crime • Setting: urban; takes place at night, often in the rain • Lighting: • Often black and white • High contrast/shadows—NOT three-point • Called “high key” • Venetian blinds • Smoky

  3. Attributes continued • Characters: • Femme fatale: a woman who may or may not be deadly • Reluctant hero/antihero (heroes who are flawed and morally questionable) • Told through POV of investigator, who often narrates • Witty, slang-filled, rapid-fire dialogue

  4. Attributes continued • Tone: pessimistic; “ the world is corrupt”; Paul Schrader wrote in a seminal 1972 essay that "film noir is defined by tone," a tone he perceives as "hopeless." • Devices: Use devices of disorientation: • Dutch angles • low-angle shots • wide-angle lenses • convoluted story lines • flashbacks, • flash forwards

  5. Female characters • Cigarettes • low necklines • floppy hats • Mascara and lipstick • dressing rooms and boudoirs • calling the doorman by his first name • high heels, red dresses, and elbowlength gloves • mixing drinks • having gangsters as boyfriends • having soft spots for alcoholic private eyes • wanting someone else's men • sprawling dead on the floor with every limb meticulously arranged and every hair in place.

  6. Male characters • Cigarettes • Fedoras • suits and ties • shabby residential hotels with a neon sign blinking through the window • buying yourself a drink out of the office bottle • cars with running boards • all-night diners • protecting kids who shouldn't be playing with the big guys • being on first-name terms with homicide cops, knowing a lot of people whose descriptions end in "ies," such as bookies, newsies, junkies, alkys, jockeys and cabbies.

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