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Published byDominic Jefferson Modified over 8 years ago
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What is Film Noir? Film Noir – Black Film or Cinema Coined by French film critics Nino Frank (1946) started this term ○ Observed the ‘dark’, black, and downbeat look of American crime and detective films released in France in 1940’s Maltese Falcon (1941); Murder, My Sweet (1944); Double Indemnity (1944); The Woman in the Window (1944); Laura (1944)
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History Emerged from German Expressionism and Italian Neo-Realism German Expressionism (Post WWI) ○ Dark mood and deeper meaning; symbolism Italian Neo-Realism ○ Documenting stories of poor and working class American Film Noir combines both Difficult moral/economic condition Shadowing for dark mood Started in 1940’s Stranger on the Third Floor (1940)
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History cont. Hays Code Heavily affected due to the harsh look it took on American life Neo-Noir begins in 1950’s Hays Code evaporates Tribute to Noir Psycho (1960) – first neo-noir Quinton Tarantino Reservoir Dogs (1992)
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History cont. Neo noir is everywhere; past or present Emulation of Citizen Kane (1941) Raging Bull (1980) L.A. Noire (PS3)
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Characters Hero/Anti-hero Corrupt characters Villains Hard-boiled detectives Cops Gangsters Government agents Sociopaths/killers Crooks War veteran Politicians Petty criminals Average Joes Morally ambiguous
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Characters (cont.) Women Dutiful, reliable, trustworthy, loving Femme Fatale Mysterious, double-crossing, unloving, tough, unreliable, manipulative, desperate ○ Phyllis Dietrichson (Double Indemnity)
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Characteristics Lighting Deep focus Interior settings Low-key or single source lighting Venetian blinds Dark, claustrophobic, gloomy Distorts time Non-chronological order Usually has a gun Femme Fatale Black and White
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Characteristics cont. Cigarettes/cigars Costumes Men ○ Fedoras, suits and ties Women ○ Floppy hats, low neckline, makeup
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Mood Dark Suspenseful Melancholy Alienation Bleakness Pessimism Ambiguity Moral Corruption Evil Guilt Desperation Paranoia Disillusionment Disenchantment
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Types of Film Noir Classic Noir Neo/Post Noir Romance Film Noir Documentary Film Noir Cyber Film Noir Prison Film Noir Menaced – Woman Noir Hitchcock’s Menaced Woman Imperiled Children Noir Corruption/Crime Noir Cross-over Noir Variation Pseudo Thrillers Animations Horror Westerns Gangster Sci-fi ○ Super hero films Batman; Batman Begins Musical Documentaries
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Romance Noir Deadly femme fatatles Self-destruction Examples You Only Live Once (1937) The Letter (1940) Double Indemnity (1944) The Woman in the Window
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Test Questions Film Noir – Dark Film American pulp fiction – source of most noirs Maltese Falcon – first noir Characteristic of Film Noir – low-key lighting LA Confidential and Fatal Attraction are pseudo-noirs
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Test Questions cont. Film Noir breaks narrative linearity Hays Code censored nudity, homosexuality, and profanity Reflects the cynicism of innocence lost at war Sharp, witty dialogue coincides with comedies Women posed a threat to traditional values
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Test Questions cont. Femme Fatale tries to destroy the male hero Film Noir borrows from German Expressionism Noirs emulate visual style of Citizen Kane Destabilization of sexual relationships is typical of film noirs
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1920’s Silent film’s were predominant throughout the decade Bigger, costly, more polished ○ Assembly line process Organized into genres Easily recognizable characteristics Various genres appearing throughout this time
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1920’s cont. Big Five Warner Bros. Pictures (1923) Paramount Studios (1927) RKO (Radio – Keith - Orpheum) Pictures Metro – Golwyn – Mayer (MGM) (1928) Fox (1912) became 20 th Century Fox (1935) Little Three Universal Pictures United Artists Columbia Pictures
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1920’s cont. Expressionism flourishes after WWI Silent comedy flourished Charlie Chaplin Don Juan (1926) First film with synchronized soundtracks No dialogue The Jazz Singer (1927) – Warner Bros. Silent film studios went out of business 1930, silent films disappeared
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1920’s cont. Major Musicals The Broadway Musical ○ First musical/sound film to win Best Picture On With the Show ○ First all color sound musical The Gold Diggers of Broadway ○ The Gold Diggers (1923) remake
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1920’s cont. Academy Awards Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (1927) ○ Wings (1927) – Best Picture ○ Sunrise (1927) – Best Unique and Artistic Picture Only silent films to win Academy Awards ○ Jazz Singer (1927) – special award
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1920’s cont. Technicolor Started out with a 2 color process ○ Green and Red Evolved to a 3 color process in 1932 Technology Cameras on dollies Microphones on booms Vitaphone Company (1925) Vitaphone – obsolete by 1931 Meant to record music and sound effects
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