This document defines and analyzes the film noir genre. It discusses key themes like corruption and justice that are common in film noir. It originated after WWII, influenced by German expressionism and crime novels. Film noir uses iconography like venetian blinds and features morally ambiguous protagonists. It employs techniques like low-key lighting, Dutch angles, and flashbacks to create a mood of pessimism. Settings are usually dark urban areas and costumes reflect the 1940s-50s era. While originally for mature audiences, the genre has evolved over time into neo-noir films and graphic novel adaptations.

1. Film Noir Genre Analysis
By: Caxie Dagupen

2. Definition
 A style or genre of cinematographic film marked by a mood of pessimism, fatalism,
and menace. The term was originally applied (by a group of French critics) to
American thriller or detective films made in the period 1944–54 and to the work of
directors such as Orson Welles, Fritz Lang, and Billy Wilder.
 A film marked by a mood of pessimism, fatalism, and menace.
 Plural noun: films noirs
 French literally meaning ‘black film’
Google definition

3. Themes of Film Noir
 Corruption
 Greed
 Sex
 Murder
 Justice
 Death
 Jealousy
 Lust
 Good vs Evil
 Seduction

4. Origins
Classic Film Noir started after the WW2 as
much of the fear, mistrust, bleakness, loss of
innocence, despair and paranoia were felt by
the masses at the time. Due to poverty and
technology at the time, film makers had to
make films with what they had, therefore the
boom of film noir was born.
On an aesthetic level, film noir was influenced
by German expressionism which affected
lighting and some of the visual components
and symbolism. While the major literary
influence was the American crime, gangster
and detective stories and novels.
Film Noir tended to be gritty and real
compared to Hollywood’s idealistic happy
ever after view of life.

5. The protagonists of film noir are described by many critics
as ‘alienated’ (Silver and Ward) and ‘filled with existential
bitterness’. They are also more flawed and morally
questionable than the norm. For all the characters,
cigarette smoking may seem virtually mandatory.
Other common characters: detectives, femme fatales,
corrupt policemen, jealous husbands, the good wife
Characters

6. Film noir tends to use low-key lighting schemes, producing stark light/dark contrasts
and dramatic shadow patterns. The shadows of Venetial blinds or banister rods, cast
upon an actor, wall or an entire set are now an iconic visual in film noir. Charaters’
faces may be partially or wholly obscured by darkness – which is a contrast to
conventional Hollywood moviemaking.
Film noir is also known for its use of Dutch angles, low angle shots and wide angle
lenses. (something our team needs to learn)Other devices of disorientation are
relatively common in film noir including shots of people reflected in one or more
mirrors. So are shots through curved or frosted glass.
In addition to that, night-for-night shooting as opposed to the Hollywood norm of
day-for-night was often employed. So, from 1940s forward, location shooting
became increasingly frequent. (Another important thing our team needs to take note
of.)
Visual Style Conventions

7. Film Noir editing follows many of the traditional crime
characteristics but they are generally told non linearly.
Non-linear start, then tell the story in flashbacks
Often shot day-for-night using filters which is cheaper.
Use continuity editing generally with some montage
Can and does use jump cuts and jarring juxtaposition
Editing Conventions

8. Sound Conventions
In film noir there are many variations of music that is used, however the most
recognised would be music that contains : Saxophone solos, piano and trumpet,
We would get the tones of jazz and often infused with Latin beats. Often the
music and the tones are suggestive of characteristics of people represented in
the film.
Film noir sound is also used to compliment the feeling of pessimism and
foreboding that was reflected in the films. E.g : Melancholy downbeat music,
heavy breathing, use of quiet and silence, often discordant and grating music,
sudden noises and voice over of protagonists.

9. Iconography
Iconography is the visual images and symbols used in a
work of art or the study or interpretation of these. [Google
definition]
So in film noir, this would be the venetian blinds which is
used often. The usual guns, money and cigars –not drugs
because everyone was classy back then. In addition to that
some films were accustomed to using mirrors to show self-
reflection of characters, which I think is a feature of film noir
that I would definitely want to apply to my teaser trailer. It
would be a little eerie and disorientated I believe.

10. Mise-en-Scene: Settings
Settings are usually in the darker areas of the city such as alley
ways and dark corners that has a lot of shadow and low key
lighting. With this, the creation of contrast hence mystery and
suspense is easier to accomplish with the availability of the street
lights and darkness.
Enclosed spaces also gives the audience a sense of claustrophobia
adding discomfort and uneasiness.

11. Mise-en-Scene: Costume
Costumes and props in Film Noir films are often true to the
time period of the 40s and 50s where males wore suits and
females wore classic dresses.
The female characters in Film Noir –Femme Fatale- either
wore clothes that are seen as very appealing to men. They
normally wore this type of clothing to seduce and represent
sexual desire. While the other type of women in this Film Noir
–the good wife- wore modest clothing.
The male characters would dress in fedoras and suits
suggesting that they are either hard boiled detectives or
notorious gangsters.

12. Mise-en-Scene: Lighting & Colour
As I’ve already mentioned a couple times, film noir normally uses
low key lighting which is a style in the art world called ‘Chiaroscuro’;
an effect of contrasted light and shadow. It creates a sense of depth
and volume not only in paintings but on the screen.
In Film Noir scenes, they wouldn’t use more than three lights: the
key light, filler light and the back light – adding an outline
separating the subject from the background.
In addition to that, hard light is mostly used to create harsh edged
shadows. While soft lighting is normally used for femme fatale
characters to make them look more glamorous.

13. Mise-en-Scene: Positioning in Frame
Film Noir uses a lot of low-angles, wide angle or Dutch angle shots. These are
very disorientating for the audience and gives the audience a sense of
unease; either in empathise with the character and what he/she is feeling or
whether to permit the audience to feel that way towards the character.
Low angle shots are regularly used in film noir to make the subject of the
shot appear more powerful. Specially in a genre like film noir where power
struggle always occurs in characters’ relationships, we would predict a lot of
superior characters versus inferior ones.

14. Potential Audiences
In my own opinion, I believe that the content of film noir films are for mature
audiences that would be able to comprehend the grey areas of life. In addition to
that, some more difficult concepts and/or themes may be too difficult for younger
audiences hence missing the message/point of the film.
Most characters in a film noir are normally older, this gives us as indication of their
main target audience as main characters are normally easier to empathise with if
they are in a similar age bracket as the audience. Also, we’re looking at a setting of
the 40s and 50s, a very classic area where some young people now don’t really
appreciate because they didn’t grow up with it.
It is definitely more of a male audience as most film noir plots are focused on a
male protagonist or male anti-hero.

15. Progression of Film Noir
Some believe that film noir over the years has evolved and progressed to fit
in with today’s modern society. Today, films with features and aspects of film
noir are called neo-noire, which is defined as ‘a film set in contemporary
times, but showing characteristics of a film noir, in plot or style’.
Examples would be:
The Getaway (1972)
Body Heat (1981)
Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Fargo (1996)
Collateral (2004)
Other sub-genres are also
being classified such as the
Graphic Novel Noir where
examples are:
Watchmen(2009)
Sin City(2005)
The Dark Knight (2008)