Victor Hsiao Stephen Huang Kevin Wang FILM NOIR

Victor Hsiao, Stephen Huang, Kevin Wang FILM NOIR

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)

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)

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)

History cont. Neo noir is everywhere; past or present Emulation of Citizen Kane (1941) Raging Bull (1980) L. A. Noire (PS 3)

Characters Hero/Anti-hero Politicians Corrupt characters Petty criminals Villains Average Joes Hard-boiled detectives Cops Gangsters Government agents Sociopaths/killers Crooks War veteran Morally ambiguous

Characters (cont. ) � Women � � Dutiful, reliable, trustworthy, loving Femme Fatale �Mysterious, double-crossing, unloving, tough, unreliable, manipulative, desperate ○ Phyllis Dietrichson (Double Indemnity)

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 �

Characteristics cont. Cigarettes/cigars Costumes Men ○ Fedoras, suits and ties Women ○ Floppy hats, low neckline, makeup

Mood Dark Suspenseful Melancholy Alienation Bleakness Pessimism Ambiguity Moral Corruption Evil Guilt Desperation Paranoia Disillusionment Disenchantment

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

Romance Noir Deadly femme fatatles Self-destruction Examples You Only Live Once (1937) The Letter (1940) Double Indemnity (1944) The Woman in the Window

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

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

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

FILM HISTORY 1920’S

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

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

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

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

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

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