Film noir is a genre of mystery and crime dramas produced from the 1940s to 1950s that were typically shot in black and white. These films often featured stories of doomed heroes, cynical detectives, and femme fatales. The genre was influenced by German Expressionism in the 1910s-1920s and French poetic realism of the 1930s. Some of the earliest examples include Michael Curtiz's 1932 film 20,000 Years in Sing Sing. John Huston's 1941 film The Maltese Falcon is considered one of the first major film noir classics. Other iconic films noirs include Carol Reed's 1949 film The Third Man and Billy Wilder's 1950 film Sunset Boulevard, starring Gloria Swanson

1. GENRE CASE STUDY Abi Baxter

2. FILM NOIR
The film noir genre refers to mystery and crime dramas that were
produced in the early 1940’s to the last 1950’s. Films of this genre was
shot in black and white and often featured storylines including doomed
heroes, cynical detectives and femmes fatales.
‘Film Noir’ is French for ‘black film’ and was first
applied to Hollywood films by a man called Nico Frank
in 1946..
Before the 1970’s, many of the class film noirs
were referred to as ‘melodramas’

3. FILM NOIR TIMELINE
1910’s and 1920’s
Influences for film noir
genre films come from
German Expressionism
– an artistic movement
of the 1910’s and
1920’s. It involved
theatre, photography,
painting, sculpture,
architecture and
1930’s
The film movement
‘French poetic realism’
was introduced in the
1930’s. These films
usually had a fatalistic
view of life and stared
characters living on the
margins of society.
1932
Michael Curtiz
released a film
called 20,000
Years in Sing Sing
and it was one of
the earliest
Hollywood films to
be classified as
noir.
1941
The Maltese
Falcon (film)
was released
and was
regarded as the
first major film
noir classic of
the era.
Present day
Film noir
remains a
popular
film genre.

4. ICONIC FILMS WITHIN THIS GENRE
The Maltese Falcon (1941) John
Huston
Synopsis:
Classic mystery
about a private
eye who becomes
involved in a
dangerous quest
for a priceless
16th century
statuette. His
partner is
murdered and he
has to take on
angry cops and
villains.
Screenshots from the trailer:
The Maltese
Falcon was
directed by
John Huston.
The Third Man (1949) Carol
Reed Synopsis:
Holly Martins arrives in post-war Vienna
on invitation from his childhood friend
Harry Lime. On arrival he finds out that
Harry was recently killed by a car
crossing the street, whilst in a argument
with his lover Anna. It comes to light
that Harry was a criminal so Martins
decides to stay in town to clear his
friend’s name. Whilst investigating
Harry’s death Martins comes across a
third man at the scene of the accident
who may hold the key to the mystery
surrounding Harry’s death.
The Third
Man was
directed by
Sir Carol
Reed.
Sunset Boulevard (1950) Billy
Wilder
Synopsis:
Norma Desmond is on
a downward curve
who is desperate to
hitch her way back up
to the top. She rests
her hopes upon
William Holden who
narrates the tale from
beyond the grave: he
is seem as dead in the
opening scene.
Sunset Boulevard was
directed by Billy Wilder.
This is a photo of Billy
Wilder and Gloria
Swanson during the
filming of Sunset
Influential film directors within this genre: John Houston, Bill Wilder, Carol Reed, George Stevens,
Alfred Hitchcock and Edmund Goulding.