The Rules of Film Noir (BBC Documentary, 2009)

Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of American film noir. Film noir of this era is associated with a low-key, black-and-white visual style that has roots in German Expressionist cinematography. Many of the prototypical stories and much of the attitude of classic noir derive from the hardboiled school of crime fiction that emerged in the United States during the Great Depression.

The term film noir, French for 'black film' (literal) or 'dark film' (closer meaning), was first applied to Hollywood films by French critic Nino Frank in 1946, but was unrecognized by most American film industry professionals of that era. Frank is believed to have been inspired by the French literary publishing imprint Série noire, founded in 1945.

Film noir encompasses a range of plots: the central figure may be a private investigator (The Big Sleep), a plainclothes police officer (The Big Heat), an aging boxer (The Set-Up), a hapless grifter (Night and the City), a law-abiding citizen lured into a life of crime (Gun Crazy), a femme fatale (Gilda) or simply a victim of circumstance (D.O.A.). Although film noir was originally associated with American productions, the term has been used to describe films from around the world. Many films released from the 1960s onward share attributes with films noir of the classical period, and often treat its conventions self-referentially. Some refer to such latter-day works as neo-noir. The clichés of film noir have inspired parody since the mid-1940s.

[stevensica]

A survey of [German expressionism] sets up the examination of film noir. You will have to be patent, it takes appx 13 minutes for noir to really get underway here.

Hang in, it is worth the wait.

[caseyodell]

On dangerous grounds is my favorite noir

[gj]

Why is the sound off in parts of the BBC documentary?

[deepcosmiclove]

This is really well thought out and presented. Very informative. Nice job! ty

[noopy]

I would definitely have to say that film noir and especially A Touch of Evil was a precursor of Donald Trump, who most likely took most of his lessons about life from this genre and now we're all paying for it.