Film Noir research

Film noir

Film noir is one of Hollywood's only organic artistic movements.

A style or genre of cinematic film. The term was originally applied (by a group of French critics) to American thriller or detective films made in the period 1944–54. This is a film marked by a mood of pessimism, fatalism, and menace. Hollywood's classical film noir period is generally regarded as extending from the early 1940s to the late 1950s.

During WWII, audiences responded to this as fresh, vivid, adult-oriented film.  This trend was viewed as visibly darker and more cynical crime dramas.

Film Noir of this period is associated with low-key, black and white visual style that has roots in German expressionist cinematography.

Film Noir contains specific characters. One is a Femme Fatale. This is an appealing and seductive women who's charms often trap the protagonist which makes him face dangerous situations.

Another main character is the protagonist. This is the male character and usually gets trapped by the femme fatale, which makes himself face dangerous situations due to the trapping of femme fatale.

Chiaroscuro is a type of extreme lighting used in Film Noir to create distinct areas of light and dark which therefore helps create tension and moreover indicates the two sides of a character which is represented by the lighting on the characters faces. This lighting technique makes the Film Noir genre seem more dark and tense eg the shadows created.

PUSHOVER (1954) Clip

This is a movie clip from Pushover (1954). It is a Film Noir movie. The main lighting featured here is low key lighting. This is because a lot of shadows are created. This is a key convention used in Film Noir movies. Also, we can see that this is a typical Film Noir because of the characters. This clip features the protagonist and a femme fatale. We can see that the femme fatale is seductive by the use of her clothing and her make up. Also her actions are very feminine and she looks quite charming. At the end of the scene we can see that she is seductive him further as she moves closer to him and wants a kiss. He is "trapped" by her seductive demeanour and therefore becomes trapped. Additionally, the fact that they are discussing money, further reinforces how this genre is dark and creates tension. It is also in black and white. This movie is made at the peak of the Film Noir time-1954.