Two Classic Film Noirs:

Film Noir films:

1900s-1920s-

In the Watches of the Night, Through the Breakers, Underworld

1930s-

The Beast of the City, Scarface, Midnight, The thin man, You only live once

1940s-

They Drive by night, The letter, A womens Face, To have and to have not, The big sleep

A classic Noir film: Touch of Evil, 1958

Touch of Evil is an America classic Noir film which was released in 1958, directed by Orson Welles. It’s a crime thriller with a dark mystery plot to it; it involves murder, kidnapping and police corruption in Mexican border. The main theme of this film is a dark twisted thriller. The story line is basically about an American police chief that is investigating a murder that has happened in a Mexican border town. The beginning shot starts with a car blowing up containing a man (mike) and women (Susie) who are kissing. This is a typical classic noir beginning it leaves the audience in insipience making them wonder if what has happened and why the car has been blown up. It gives us the impression there’s going to be betrayal and murder; this is a perfect example of a story line which usual happens in typical classic noir film.

 As I have studied noir film e.g. storylines, sound and characters. As Touch of Evil is a classic thriller Noir it has the typical noir characters for example Susie she’s blonde and is showed to the audience that she’s innocent and users her beauty. She’s on her honey moon with mike and gets kidnapped and drugged and this is where the story becomes a thriller and drama happens and there marriage is destroyed as you see right at the beginning of the film with the car blowing up. Also a typical character in a Noir thriller film is an investigator in this film it’s the Chief who investigates the murder that happens in the Mexican border town.

Laura, 1944

Laura is a stylist, elegant and witty classic film Noir it was released 1944, the producer was Otton Preminger and he also become the director as well. The films main theme is romantic and lust it also says it could be described as kinky obsession, mystery, detective thriller. The story is mainly about the character Laura who is the character everyone’s in love with. This is why the film is called Laura as the film is pretty much about her. Her character is very elegant she’s classed as the upper class society but be hide the beauty she’s dangerous to know. As a quote about the films says “Never has a woman been so beautiful, so exotic, so dangerous to know” She also wears typical clothes to make her look flattering and the men want her for example red lipstick and dresses. Also they have made her look dangerous by using shadowy, dream like and high contrast black and white cinematography.