Film noir: your favourites

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Night of the Fucking Hunter is noir?

― oops (Oops), Thursday, 8 April 2004 22:49 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm gonna have to put my foot down and say no.

― oops (Oops), Thursday, 8 April 2004 22:50 (twenty-two years ago)

I think of almost all of those great 50's Mitchem movies as noir (Out of the Past, Cape Fear, Thunder Road, etc. . .) but my definition of noir is pretty broad.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 8 April 2004 22:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Also Touch of Evil (and Lady From Shanghai) is totally noir.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 8 April 2004 22:57 (twenty-two years ago)

What about The Maltese Falcon ? Ca' maaaahn!

― jazz odysseus, Thursday, 8 April 2004 23:00 (twenty-two years ago)

I love all the San Francisco noir (There was an AWESOME film fest at the Castro last year on local noir: Maltese Falcon, Dark Passage, Lady From Shanghai, Woman On The Run, Sudden Fear, Out Of The Past, Where Danger Lives, Thieves' Highway, Born To Kill, The House On Telegraph Hill, Nora Prentiss, The Woman On Pier 13, Shakedown, The Raging Tide, The Sniper, The Midnight Story, The Lineup and others) but my favorite remains Experiment In Terror, I can't recommend this movie to enough people.

― gygax! (gygax!), Thursday, 8 April 2004 23:26 (twenty-two years ago)

was the "maltese falcon" the first noir?

― J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Thursday, 8 April 2004 23:36 (twenty-two years ago)

I think "The Thin Man" is considered to be the first noir? Anyway, two of my faves are Detour and Blast Of Silence - totally low budget but utterly amoral and extreme.
The Grifters is one of the best colour noir films, probably the only Jim Thompson adaptation I've seen that really worked.
Night And The City is the only noir film I've seen set in the UK, are there any more?

― udu wudu (udu wudu), Thursday, 8 April 2004 23:43 (twenty-two years ago)

After Dark My Sweet would have been great if not for the atrocious presence of Rachel Ward.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 8 April 2004 23:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Night and the City is my favorite these days. I'm obsessed with Richard Widmark.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Thursday, 8 April 2004 23:57 (twenty-two years ago)

He's amazing. I saw the Criterion Pickup on South Street a couple of weeks ago. Great performance (pretty good film.)

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 8 April 2004 23:59 (twenty-two years ago)

This thread is well-timed since I'm going to see basically everything remaining at the American Cinematheque's Film Noir Festival that's going on at the Egyptian Theatre.

I especially recommend the Anthony Mann triple-threat of T-Men, Raw Deal, and He Walked By Night

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Friday, 9 April 2004 00:24 (twenty-two years ago)

i thought 'noir' had been discredited as a category

― g--ff (gcannon), Friday, 9 April 2004 00:26 (twenty-two years ago)

I've seen Pickup on South Street a few times, a few weeks ago most recently, one of those films who's charms grow on you, and you like it more the more you think about it. I was underwhelmed the first time I saw it, perhaps expecting more intensity after seeing the Naked Kiss and Shock Corridor. The scene where the spy beats the girl is still one of the more brutal things on film...

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Friday, 9 April 2004 00:43 (twenty-two years ago)

"pepe le moko" (directed by julien dudivier,starring jean gabin,FR 1936)it's one of the greatest noir movie ever ,I suggest you guys to see it soon :) good easter:))

― claudja, Friday, 9 April 2004 19:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Fritz Lang's "M" deserves a mention

― fcussen (Burger), Friday, 9 April 2004 20:02 (twenty-two years ago)

"Side Street"!!!!! and if it counts as noir "Le Samurai"

― metfigga (metfigga), Friday, 9 April 2004 20:41 (twenty-two years ago)

"M" is probably one of my favourite movies - I hadn't thought of it as a noir film. I've only seen the remake of "Night and the City", but really liked that, especially for the dialogue (which'll be totally different from the original) and Alan King. And the senselessness of "Father Time"'s heart attack.

― jazz odysseus, Friday, 9 April 2004 20:45 (twenty-two years ago)

American - The Man with the Golden Arm

French - Bob le Flambeur
Band of Outsiders

― webcrack (music=crack), Friday, 9 April 2004 20:58 (twenty-two years ago)

The Man with the Golden Arm is great. I love that the main character's name was "Frankie Machine" - i'll say this again - his real name was "Frankie Machine" - and he wanted to change it to "Jack Duvall" for a stage name.

― jazz odysseus, Friday, 9 April 2004 21:02 (twenty-two years ago)

I have a think for french noir/gangster films...Touchez Pas au Grisbi, Rififi, Bob Le Flambour, Le Samurai, Le Cercle Rouge...there's a book on french noir I've been meaning to get, any recommendations, much appreciated. I've definately been meaning to check out Pepe le Moko.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Friday, 9 April 2004 21:27 (twenty-two years ago)

If 'M' is considered noir, wouldn't it be the earliest?

― oops (Oops), Saturday, 10 April 2004 06:34 (twenty-two years ago)

My faves are "Scarlet Street" (Lang); "In a Lonely Place"; and of course "Double Indemnity."

I think the first noir was "Stranger on the Third Floor," 1940, RKO.

― eddie hurt (ddduncan), Saturday, 10 April 2004 17:59 (twenty-two years ago)

one month passes...

Double Indemnity it being re-released on DVD in August. Looks barebones, though, as my price is only $9.

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Monday, 10 May 2004 02:37 (twenty-two years ago)

I think the low price is because you only get one indemnity.

― jazz odysseus (jazz odysseus), Monday, 10 May 2004 02:44 (twenty-two years ago)

shut your yap, bo' or i squirt lead!

― Dave Amos, Monday, 10 May 2004 07:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid.

― Japanese Giraffe (Japanese Giraffe), Monday, 10 May 2004 11:16 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...

Any neo-noir recommendation, then?

― Le Baaderonixx de Benedict Canyon (baaderonixx), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 08:50 (twenty years ago)

'devil in a blue dress'

― the Enrique who acts like some kind of good taste gestapo (Enrique), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 09:02 (twenty years ago)

"Romeo is Bleeding," "The Last Seduction," "Blow Out."

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 09:39 (twenty years ago)

Brick

― LOL Thomas (Chris Barrus), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 13:53 (twenty years ago)

No mention (unless I'm missing it) of Laura, a personal favourite.

― frankiemachine, Tuesday, 2 May 2006 14:16 (twenty years ago)

Brick was amazing, and is as noir as noir gets.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 14:35 (twenty years ago)

From today, actually:
http://www.slantmagazine.com/film/features/bnoir.asp

― C0L1N B... (C0L1N B...), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 16:27 (twenty years ago)

No mention (unless I'm missing it) of Laura, a personal favourite.
I think lauren put it on her list. It should also be mentioned that someone once referred to Dr. Morbius the Waldo Lydecker of ILX.

In any case, frankiemachine, I would have thought you would have mentioned The Man With The Golden Arm, although I guess that's not a noir per se.

― Redd Temple Player (Two Headed Dogg) (Ken L), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 17:36 (twenty years ago)

post-noir:Blood Simple - Cohen bros.

― dont stop go, Tuesday, 2 May 2006 17:40 (twenty years ago)

four weeks pass...

I've been going to a bunch of those Bs Colin linked to, and highly recommend He Walked by Night -- John Alton-photographed, great LA sewer chase finale (year before Third Man), and the closeup on Richard Basehart as he removes a bullet from his side is an all-time masochistic moneyshot.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 13:54 (twenty years ago)

Man, I missed the whole thing, and was this close to going to see He Walked By Night.

― Sons Of The Redd Desert (Ken L), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 14:03 (twenty years ago)

Now that it's finally on DVD, Otto Preminger's Fallen Angel should be recognized as good if not better than Laura.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 14:24 (twenty years ago)

Oh yeah, I saw that on TCM last year during the Mitchum festival.

― Sons Of The Redd Desert (Ken L), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 14:30 (twenty years ago)

There are another few weeks, Ken! (DeForest Kelley -- unrecognizably young -- was in Canon City last night, and is in one of the Fuller pair I'm going to June 14.)

common '50s noir police descrip: "white American male"

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 14:32 (twenty years ago)

I haven't seen it yet, admittedly, but I want to pistol-whip whoever wrote Brick upthread.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 17:09 (twenty years ago)

I'll be at Heather's bar tonight from 8 till 1am, 13th off of A if you happen to be in NYC and have your pistol handy.

Brick was a more accurate translation of just about every Raymond Chandler book I've read then any Film Noir I've seen, including say, The Big Sleep or Murder, My Sweet.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 17:33 (twenty years ago)

Has anyone seen Naked City yet? I have just read that a film was made (after the Weegee book?). I'm intrigued to say the least.

I'm such a dumbass for only now realizing it refers to the shadows in the film.

― Nathalie (stevie nixed), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 17:35 (twenty years ago)

The Big Combo is my favourite. It has all you need: tough-talking hoods, no-good, dime-store molls, flashes of machine-gun fire, cigarette smoke curling in the blinking neon light of a burlesque sign, and inky blackness.

― David Orton (scarlet), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 18:21 (twenty years ago)

Brick was a more accurate translation of just about every Raymond Chandler book I've read then any Film Noir I've seen, including say, The Big Sleep or Murder, My Sweet.

How? Be specific. Give examples.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 18:28 (twenty years ago)

(Bearing in mind that my favorite Chandler adaptation I've seen is the least "faithful": Robert Altman's The Long Goodbye.)

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 18:28 (twenty years ago)

army of shadows, though it stretches the definition of "noir" just a tad

― gear (gear), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 18:30 (twenty years ago)

up until the very last scene, Altman's Long Goodbye is pretty damn faithful to Chandler, or at least the character of Marlowe.

(though similarly, my favorite Hammett adaptation is Miller's Crossing)

Anyone seen The Girl in Lover's Lane? I watched it as an MST3K episode, but it seemed like a really successful small town noir.

― p@reene (Pareene), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 18:39 (twenty years ago)

1. Deadline at Dawn
2. A Bout de Souffle

― JTS (JTS), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 19:36 (twenty years ago)

Skipping 770 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

this guy definitely walks around at night at lot, shocked the title deemphasizes his running ability though!

another great bit is one of the best "wounded man removing a bullet from himself" scenes you'll find, obviously you don't see it but you don't need to, the way it's shot. i was wincing about as much as Basehart. this part has been speculated as one of Anthony Mann's contributions as well.

― omar little, Saturday, 25 January 2025 19:29 (one year ago)

in HD:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfcBuofAJ3E

― Tsar Bombadil (James Morrison), Saturday, 25 January 2025 23:26 (one year ago)

the youtube version is highly compressed. the amazon prime version is slightly better.

― master of the pan (abanana), Sunday, 26 January 2025 23:30 (one year ago)

three weeks pass...

I started UNDER THE SILVER LAKE (2024) w Andrew Garfield last night before I got interrupted but I was enjoying the shit out of it - it FEELS noir so far, and deliberately nodding to all kinds of golden age Hollywood thrillers

― Tracer Hand, Friday, 21 February 2025 18:15 (one year ago)

fun movie - it came out in 2018 though

― na (NA), Friday, 21 February 2025 18:18 (one year ago)

ahh whoops i thought he looked young lol

― Tracer Hand, Friday, 21 February 2025 18:21 (one year ago)

two months pass...

The Sleeping Tiger (1954), the whole thing is on YouTube. Joseph Losey/Dirk Bogarde, how could it be bad? And it isn't! It's a kind of B-movie first stab at The Servant - a psychiatrist takes in a murderous criminal (Bogarde) into his house to try to "cure" him, and said criminal seduces his wife and wreaks general havoc in the household. All kinds of interesting subtexts going on...

― Zelda Zonk, Tuesday, 29 April 2025 11:15 (one year ago)

two months pass...

Just watched Cutter's Way, which is a) hardly mentioned on this board or ii) really hard to search for. What a strange, sad film. It feels like something huge is happening just off screen, and the characters seem as unlikely to find it as we do.

A few things:
- Jeff Bridges is like a dancer in this.
- He also looks like Ian Botham.
- Whither John Heard? He's incredible in this. As is Lisa Eichhorn.
- Vietnam *might* the big thing off-screen but I don't think so.
- Nitzsche's score is great. I could feel the birth of *Deserter's Songs*.
- Could be twinned with *Night Moves*.
- The scenes with Bridges and Eichhorn are beautiful and heartbreaking.

― I would prefer not to. (Chinaski), Saturday, 5 July 2025 22:04 (eleven months ago)

I think it gets discussed a bit over here: jeff bridges poll!

― Lithium Just Madison (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 5 July 2025 22:18 (eleven months ago)

Cutter's Way is amazing, yes.

― cryptosicko, Saturday, 5 July 2025 22:53 (eleven months ago)

Vietnam *might* the big thing off-screen but I don't think so.

Do you mean that the film treats 'Nam as subtext? If so, I would argue that it is not all off-screen. Heard has a memorable speech that addressed it directly.

― cryptosicko, Saturday, 5 July 2025 22:55 (eleven months ago)

Under the Silver Lake (2018) is a really good neo-noir film. It reminds me of Richard Kelly's films. David Robert Mitchell hasn't come out with anything since 2018, so it's time

― Dan S, Saturday, 5 July 2025 23:15 (eleven months ago)

We haven't had a film from Richard Kelly since 2009, I guess we can't expect another one

― Dan S, Saturday, 5 July 2025 23:56 (eleven months ago)

I cannot keep under the silver lake and southland tells apart in my head and always forget which is which.

― dan selzer, Sunday, 6 July 2025 00:27 (eleven months ago)

Also Silverlake Life: The View From Here.

― nickn, Sunday, 6 July 2025 03:23 (eleven months ago)

Do you mean that the film treats 'Nam as subtext? If so, I would argue that it is not all off-screen. Heard has a memorable speech that addressed it directly.

I didn't explain that very well, cryptosicko but yeah, Vietnam is right there in places but there's something else. It's probably that noir trope of the 'world as predator' but it does feel particularly strong here.

― I would prefer not to. (Chinaski), Sunday, 6 July 2025 09:11 (eleven months ago)

A drink? You know, it’s the daily grind that drives me to drink. Tragedy I take straight.

― I would prefer not to. (Chinaski), Sunday, 6 July 2025 10:52 (eleven months ago)

four months pass...

Guilty Bystander (1950) currently on Criterion, is not a great movie, but has enough great bits to recommend it. Zachary Scott is a washed up ex-cop turned to booze, Mary Boland (in her final screen role) is a blowsy flophouse owner, and her dumpy joint, along with seedy bars, waterfront warehouses, and the New York subway, is much better photographed than movies this low-budget generally are. It was thought to be a lost film until its recent restoration, and it looks perfectly shadowy and sleazy.

― Gacy and the Sunshine Band (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 12 November 2025 16:03 (six months ago)

i really liked Deadline at Dawn from the current "Blackout Noir" collection. it's definitely a noir but has more mystery elements and humor than in your typical noir. it was written by Odets and does lots of wandering off to focus on some tangential character for a minute and has some incredibly florid dialogue (including maybe the first filmed use of "what's the diff" as an abbreviation for "what's the difference"). the ostensible lead character is a doofus but he fades into the background as the ensemble grows, and Susan Hayward and Paul Lukas are both great. overall kinda goofy but it worked for me

― na (NA), Wednesday, 12 November 2025 17:51 (six months ago)

Been doing a lot of the 50's French stuff. Diaboliques feels very formative for that genre. They also do a lot of village noirs.

― a ZX spectrum is haunting Europe (Daniel_Rf), Wednesday, 12 November 2025 18:23 (six months ago)

Village Noir should be a Criterion Channel programming theme one of these Noirvembers.

― cryptosicko, Wednesday, 12 November 2025 18:41 (six months ago)

I absolutely love Deadline at Dawn. So happy it’s back for a rewatch.

― Gacy and the Sunshine Band (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 12 November 2025 18:48 (six months ago)

watched “sweet smell of success” recently - so good

― ||||||||, Wednesday, 12 November 2025 20:02 (six months ago)

one month passes...

Witness to Murder (1954) is fun. Not great, but the cinematography is extra-noiry, and I’ll watch pretty much anything Stanwyck.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9Btx0ApKXU

― cinematic hobo hip-hop rock ‘n’ roll blues-jazz soul-review (Dan Peterson), Tuesday, 16 December 2025 15:31 (five months ago)

George Sanders too, it seems.

― Nicholas Raybeat (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 16 December 2025 16:35 (five months ago)

Oh, the cinematographer is John Alton!

― Nicholas Raybeat (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 16 December 2025 16:47 (five months ago)

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