Top 10 BEST Classic Film Noir

Here are my picks for the Top 10 Best Classic Noir Movies!

[washoe]

Sunset Boulevard with William Holden and Gloria Swanson. I love the way it starts with the body in the pool and Holden doing the voice over. It shows the noir side of Hollywood that probably still exists today.

[susanrike]

Film noir without John Garfield? Of course, most people are familiar with "The Postman Always Rings Twice" with Lana Turner. It's a must see. Garfield and Turner's chemistry on screen is off the charts (apparently off-screen as well). Then, there's Garfield's noir "Body and Soul, " his first film by his production company. It's stellar. Other Garfield noirs include: "Force of Evil, " "The Breaking Point, " and "He Ran All the Way." I LOVE John Garfield. Sadly, he was blacklisted and died young (39). He's my hero!

[johnnyquest]

Bogart’s monologue at the end of The Maltese Falcon before he sends Mary Astor up the river was amazing.

[TheEleatic]

Out of The Past, The Postman Always Rings Twice, Force of Evil, In A Lonely Place, Shadow of A Doubt, Double Indemnity, Gilda, The Killers, Touch of Evil, The Big Sleep &……. The Big Heat

[mothman-jzug]

The Maltese Falcon featured not only Bogart and Mary Astor, but Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet. The latter two appeared together in a number of films, including another of my favorite Bogart Movie, Casablanca.
Casablanca and The Maltese Falcon are two of my favorite movies of any genre.

[Marcel_Audubon]

When I hear the title "Queen of Noir" I think of Lizabeth Scott - she was in so many good ones. But I just looked up that title and seems it was used for almost every actress who ever appeared in a any noir! Still, I think Lizabeth Scott can't be thought of as 'unsung' she played both femmes fatales and innocents perfectly and always kept us guessing which she truly was until the very end of the movie. A favorite of mine.

Like you, I absolutely love They Live by Night. Cathy O'Donnell's subtle transformation - transformed by love - is an astonishing piece of acting. It's interesting to see the remake - Thieves Like Us - and find that its equally good! but what's interesting in watching them back to back is how much story telling had changed in movies in just one generation, how truly excellent both tellings of the same story are, and how completely different they are!

My 10 - In no order, except for the first one, I think _Laura_ is the perfect noir

Laura
They Live by Night
Kiss Me Deadly
The Big Sleep
Key Largo
Scarlett Street
Too Late for Tears
Dead Ringer
Notorious
The Night of the Hunter

[dustinturnmyre]

Excellent list that you've compiled. Well-considered and each would be a great addition to any noir collection. Here are my top ten choices. 10. The Woman in the Window. 9. Gun Crazy. 8. The Window. 7. Stranger On the Third Floor. 6. The Prowler. 5. Kiss Me Deadly. 4. Scarlet Street. 3. Murder, My Sweet. 2. Double Indemnity. 1. Out of the Past.

[Ilsabb]

In a Lonely Place and The Sweet Smell of Success - Two of my all time favorite movies. Thanks for the great run down!

[norm]

Film noir without Robert Mitchum? Impossible to imagine.

[taker]

Great list. Some films I'd have up there or close are: Laura, This Gun for Hire, The Asphalt Jungle, Thieve's Highway, Touch of Evil, The Third Man, The Killers and Sunset Blvd.

[thefilmclassic]

Nice to see In A lonely Place on your list. I love this movie and has my favorite Bogart performance!

[tomwellman]

The Big Heat is one of the grittiest movies I've ever seen. If you have not seen this movie, you just don't know how tough a movie tough guy Glen Ford could be. Gun Crazy is also great. Your whole list is quite good. Some of my other favorite Noir classics (in no special order) include Out of the Past (1947) with Robert Mitchum and Kirk Douglas, Quicksand (1950) with Mickey Rooney and Peter Lorre, Brute Force (1947) with Burt Lancaster, Hume Cronyn and the great Whit Bissell, Detour (1945) with Tom Neal, The Third Man (1949) with Joseph Cotton, Orson Wells and Trevor Howard, Odds Against Tomorrow (1959) with Harry Bellafonte, Robert Ryan and Ed Begley and The Asphalt Jungle (1950) with Sterling Hayden, the woefully underrated Jean Hagen and Sam Jaffee.

[robertjewell]

Sorry to get to your vlog so late so this is def out of sync with what is current, but my personal favorites are:

10) Murder, My Sweet
9) Double indemnity
8) The Big Heat
8) Gun Crazy
7) His Kind of Woman
6) Mildred Pierce
5) Kiss Me Deadly
4) The Lady from Shanghai
3) The Big Sleep
2) Out of the Past
1) Touch of Evil

4)

[dbarker]

Good list. 👍
The Killing would probably be #1 for me because it perfectly represents that noir theme of things going wrong no matter how well you plan.
Would suggest:
Out of the Past (starring Mr Noir, Robert Mitchum)
Detour
The Breaking Point (John Garfield!)
Criss Cross
Scarlet Street
This Gun for Hire
They Drive by Night (Ida Lupino!!!)

[rightlyso]

The Dark Corner, This Gun For Hire, Phantom Lady, Deadline At Dawn, The Chase, Black Angel, The Blue Dahlia, Desperate, Killer's Kiss, The Maltese Falcon, Kiss Me Deadly, The Set-Up and Impact.

[Whippets]

Really glad to see The Killing on a Top 10 list. First time I saw this taut thriller I was absolutely mesmerized throughout. No filler or frills, it's a masterpiece. Another great film noir that didn't make the list but also starring Sterling Hayden that should be mentioned, is The Asphalt Jungle. It's easily a Top 10 for me, great cast, great story, and a very emotional ending (this one made me cry).

... and props for listing Gun Crazy, that one really surprised me on first viewing.

[moegreene]

It was nice to hear your take on this and see a list that was a little different than having Out of the Past, The Big Sleep, and Touch of Evil always in the top 3-5 range (as well as Double Indemnity).

Some of the more under the radar classics (in my opinion):
- 99 River Street
- The Window
- The Narrow Margin

It’s also worth mentioning Night and the City with Richard Widmark, although that one isn’t necessarily underrated…

[kevinkoch]

Great Selection. Here's some add on's for fun.
The Breaking Point
Night of the Hunter
Ace in the Hole
Detour
Notorious
The Roaring 20's
Nightmare Alley
Enjoyed your review.

[finslaw]

We have very different tastes, only one of your 10 would make mine:
10) Too Late for Tears - Liz Scott and Dan
9) On Dangerous Ground - Oddly structured film with heart.
8) Woman on the Run - No big names, but the plot is such fun.
7) Sunset Boulevard - Well made with an unusual plot.
6) Out of the Past - Well made with a slightly typical plot.
5) The Red House - A personal favorite, you need to see this rural noir.
4) The Strange Love of Martha Ivers - An amazing cast.
3) Double Indemnity - Classic noir, Stanwyck rules.
2) The Night of the Hunter - Is this noir? A great film, scary and then spiritual.
1) Scarlet Street - My #1 film from my #1 noir director Fritz Lang. This one has a despicable femme fatale, an even worse "boyfriend" and a poor old man getting used. A dark ending too.

Some also rans: Without Warning, The Prowler, Pitfall, Gun Crazy, Leave Her to Heaven, Possessed, The Unsuspected, Tension, Jeopardy, Hollow Triumph, The Chase, Detour, Pickup on South Street, The Naked Kiss, This Gun for Hire.

[Vates]

I love Film Noir. I have seen so many. Never thought to make a top ten list. To do so, I’d have to revisit them.