German expressionism and the portrayal of heroes in film noir

1. German expressionism
and the portrayal of
heroes in film noir

2. German expressionism; a brief
history
German expressionism as a school of cinema began in Germany in the first quarter
of the 20th century. The era of German expressionism typically begins in a big way
with the production of the film ‘’Der student von Prag’’ in 1913 , but the 1st world
war in Europe cut off Germany from the rest of the world, and so from innovative
techniques being developed in other places, such as Hollywood. During this time,
German cinema was developing under it’s own influence, and by the time the
1916 ban on importation was lifted in 1922, German cinema experienced a boom
in the era known commonly as the Weimar period, even to become a sizeable
competitor to American cinema. Unfortunately, after the era of German
enlightenment came to an end with the rise of the Nazis, german expressionism as
an art form was pushed out and adopted in countries like the US, where it was
used to influence the creation of genres like film noir.

3. Features of German expressionism
German expressionism more often than not relies on et design and
cinematography than story and the processes that are part of this, as
said by Hermann Warm: “the film image must become graphic art”.
Within this is the ideas around Chiaroscuro, or the use of heavy clashes
between light and dark to encapsulate the socio-political situation of
the time. Furthermore, the heavy use of abstract patterns and
architecture, albeit with form and grace which was one of the heavy
influences behind art-deco architecture (organised form within abstract
patterns).

4. German expressionism examples
This still from ‘’The cabinet of Dr. Caligari’’ exhibits some of the key
characteristics of German expressionism; clear sharp lines in the scenery
accompanied with curves and unnatural angles to create a sense of
chaos within order, and a clear use of strange lighting patterns that are
not quite chiaroscuro, but are effective nonetheless.
This still from ‘Nosferatu’ (Possibly one of the most well-known examples of German
expressionism ever created) exhibits a clear use of shadow in place of an actual image of the
character. Furthermore, as in the above still, there is a clear use of straight lines that are not
quite parallel with each other (take the walls adjacent to the door frame). Furthermore it is
interesting to note that the rule of thirds has been applied here; the stairwell shadow has
been placed on the left-side partition and the shadow of the man has been placed on the
right hand side partition.

5. Portrayal of heroes in film noir
Heroes in the film noir genre are often fundamentally flawed characters who have
proverbial ‘skeletons in their closets’, or simply just a fundamentally dark past.
These individuals (often portraying the protagonist) are not necessarily bad people,
per-se, but are simply good people who have more often than not been forced to
do questionable things. Often the hero in a film noir piece has a fundamental
weakness; the Femme fatale. These Femme fatales are often responsible for
bringing the hero down towards the end of a film, by blackmailing them, betraying
them etc.

6. Film noir hero examples
Officer bud White from LA confidential (a modern, colour film noir) is a fairly good
example of a hero in film noir; he is a morally grey character who has a fairly dark past
and is often brash and unprofessional. His main downfall in the film LA confidential is
his involvement with a femme fatale who so happens to be involved with the main
villain by proxy, only this does not result in her downfall as is the result in so many film
noirs.
Another good example – from the golden age of film noir in America – is Humphrey
Bogart in the fil ‘Casablanca’, wherein his character – a US expatriate in Morocco
accidentally meets up with his former lover (in this case represented as the film’s
femme fatale). His ownership of a café and by extension his questionable business
practices within the aforementioned café give his character a grey morality.