This document analyzes and summarizes several film noir posters from 1941 to 2006. It discusses key elements of each poster like the color schemes, images featured, placement and size of text, and how they are designed to capture audiences' attention and encourage them to see the films. Common techniques included featuring femme fatales or important characters prominently through positioning, sizing, and wardrobe choices to follow the "Male Gaze Theory". Simplistic posters were also analyzed for their ability to intrigue audiences through symbolic images and text.

1. Film Noir Poster Research
Bethany Welch

2. The Maltese Falcon (1941)
This poster is generally quite simple with
the two main characters being the key focus
to encourage people to want to see the film.
The title is in red which stands out against
the blue/white background. Whilst the
picture of Humphrey Bogart is a mid shot of
him holding guns, the image of Mary Astor
is more of a long shot allowing her to be
seen in full and highlighting her role as a
femme fatale. The tag line is used to make
people want to see the film and is the only
writing in white, separating it from the rest
of the writing on the poster.

3. Double Indemnity (1944)
This poster is another simple poster with just
the three main characters being shown to
encourage audiences to want to see the film.
The pink background is more of a light-
hearted colour and so juxtaposes with the
films dark plot. Both men are wearing black
suits in contrast to Barbara Stanwyck’s
yellow dress highlighting her importance in
the film and making her stand out. The yellow
dress with her blonde hair also makes her
seem innocent whilst the black suits on the
men make them seem to be the bad
characters. The tag line is considerably small
compared to the rest of the text on the poster
but is used to try and interest people in seeing
the film.

4. Detour (1945)
This poster is more detailed, with multiple
pictures of different characters. Each image
represents a different part of the film and so
gives the audience the general idea of what
the film is about and encourages them to
want to see it. The crowded poster can be
seen as being eye-catching as there is so
much to look and the black and white frame
can make the poster seem more crowded.
Once again, the tagline is considerably
smaller and harder to read than the rest of the
text and is used to interest the audience. This
poster could, to some extent, be seen as being
unappealing due to the many pictures on it
and for there being so much to look at.

5. L. A. Confidential (1997)
The colour scheme in this poster is primarily dark
except for Kim Basinger who is at the front of the
poster. Not only does her position on the poster
make her seem more important than the other
characters but her white dress, blonde hair, and
red lips (key features of a femme fatale) make
her stand out more. This poster therefore follows
Mulvey’s Male Gaze Theory, showing her to be
an object to encourage male audiences to see the
film. The other characters are in darker clothing
and are further away making them seem less
significant in comparison. The title of the film
and the surname’s of the actors are in red making
both stand out and making it appealing to the
audience. The rest of the text is in white making
it harder to read and seem less important.

6. Brick (2005)
This poster is simplistic, especially compared to
other posters yet can still be viewed as being eye-
catching. The background is dark, making the
hand, the white sleeve and the blue bracelets
stand out. Anyone who has seen the film
understands that the blue bracelets are an
important reoccurring feature of the film and so
makes this image more significant. This image
can also be used to make the audience want to
find out more and so whilst simplistic, can be
powerful. All of the text is white making it stand
out against the darker background and being a
semiotic for innocence. This poster also features
a web address at the bottom, encouraging an
active audience to get people more involved with
the film.

7. The Black Dahlia (2006)
Once again, this is a simplistic poster with just
one image being used yet it can still be
powerful in capturing an audience’s attention.
The background goes from black to white
suggesting the film follows the theme of good
against evil. The image of the woman is eye-
catching because the audience wants to know
more about her. Her red lips are a main point
of focus and the perfect line falling from them
can be captivating and interesting for an
audience. The flower in her hair makes her
seem innocent and pure. The title of the film is
simple and small in comparison to the image,
making the image the main focus point of the
poster.