Baby names drawn from film noir or black film, the genre of hollywood crime dramas that capture the suspenseful happenings of private eyes in distinct black and white form, tend to be dramatic and rooted in an earlier era. American film noir went through a relatively fallow period from the late 1950s to the early 1970s, when the first wave of neonoirs began cropping up in theaters. A french term meaning black film, or film of the night, inspired by the series noir, a line of cheap paperbacks that translated hardboiled american crime authors and found a popular audience in france. It was popularised in the 1940s50s widely in hollywood, with the early black and white films such as the maltese falcon 1941 and double indemnity 1944. Film noir is a genre of bad guys and worse guys, where soothing notions like justice, love, and family hold no sway over a hopelessly jaded cast of characters. Cine freaks and professionals alike, cant seem to decide. To this day the debate goes on as to whether noir is a film genre, circumscribed by its content, or a style of storytelling, identified by its visual attributes. After the occupation and later liberation in 1945, these films made their way into french theaters. This was inspired by the serious noir, this was a line of cheap paperbacks that translated hardboiled american crime authors and found. Another definition describes it as later noir that often synthesizes diverse genres while foregrounding the scaffolding of film noir. These decisions are characteristics that distinguish it as film noir. In the literature about film noir, you will have as many descriptions about the topic as there are critics and film historians writing about it. A well meaning crack shot husband is pressured by his beautiful.
The term was originally applied by a group of french critics to american thriller or detective films made in the period 194454 and to the work of directors such as orson welles, fritz lang, and billy wilder. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. Film noir refers to a type of film or a style of filmmaking which shows the world as a. Out of the past investigating film noir podcasts of interviews and discussions led by clute. In traditional noir, black american communities featured as an exotic place of inscrutable deviance. A crime film of of 30s50s period, typically with a dark atmosphere, cynical protagonist, mysterious female character, dramatic irony and unhappy ending. Strictly speaking, film noir is not a genre, but rather the mood, style, pointofview, or tone of a film. Film noir, french for black film, was used to describe a huge backlog of american films that reached a french audience for the first time after world war ii. This was inspired by the serious noir, this was a line of cheap paperbacks that translated hardboiled american crime authors and found a. But this exercise in revamped noir lacks the emotional penetration of the other films in this package. Film noir, and the literature from which it is drawn, is clearly the. A french term meaning black film, or film of the night, inspired by the series noir, a line of cheap paperbacks that translated hard. A dark entry that shows the beginnings of the noir genre, this film ought to be a good transition into the classical period. Film noir synonyms, film noir pronunciation, film noir translation, english dictionary definition of film noir.
Noir of the week steveos blog features weekly explorations of film noir. Of or relating to a genre of crime literature featuring tough, cynical characters and bleak settings. Definition of filmnoir noun in oxford advanced learners dictionary. It also marks the use of literary genre elements in the real world. This genre of film saw the opening of dark, disturbing visual and thematic content to stir the thoughts of the consumers. Film noir is a genre of dark detective films made primarily during the 1940s and 1950s. Whether works since then can be accurately classed as noir is a subject of much debate among film critics. The film lacks much of the stylistic visual character of such films, but other components push it firmly in noirs direction. Noir fiction essay on the history of the style, including a selected and annotated list of significant works, by george tuttle. Variously argued as both a style and genre, noir can now be viewed as one of hollywoods most creative and expressive periods of filmmaking, predominate between 1941 and 1955. Some argue that it is a genre, while others contend that film noir is more of a tone or.
It was applied to crime films of the 1940s and 1950s, mostly produced in the united states, which adopted a 1920s1930s art deco visual environment. The dark stocks lowered production costs but also established the conventions of lighting, sound, and composition that defined the genre. Cain is regarded as an american pioneer of the hardboiled and noir genres. The film noir genre from bmovie melodrama to film noir attempting to define the genre of film noir sparks heated debate even today, more than fifty years after this. Noir genre definition whats the best definition for the noir genre. Apr 05, 2020 while a lot of the hollywood classics that define the genre were quite dark in terms of lighting and cinematography, the meaning of film noir has more to do with mood and premise. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the classic period of american film noir. Noir city complete coverage of the film noir festival, merchandise and morez. The genres could be crime, science fiction, or drama but the cinematography is dark, gritty, and symbolic, similar in many respects to film noir.
Film noir literally black film or black cinema was coined by french film critics first by nino frank in 1946 who noticed the trend of how dark, downbeat and black the looks and themes were of many american crime and detective films released in france to theatres during and following world. A french term meaning black film, or film of the night, inspired by the. Filmnoir definition of filmnoir by the free dictionary. Nunnally johnsons the man in the gray flannel suit 1956 examined a businessmans attempt to find meaning in his work and home life. Controversy exists as to whether film noir can be classified as a genre or subgenre, or if the term merely refers to stylistic elements common to various genres. Film noir is often associated with an urban setting, but many classic noirs take place in small towns, suburbia, rural areas, or on the open road. A movie which at no time misleads you into thinking there is going to be a happy ending. Nov 29, 20 kiss me deadly is the blackhearted apotheosis of film noir, and a key film of the 50s, embodying the profoundest anxieties of eisenhowers america. Mar 08, 2015 the french were the first to recognize film noir as a legitimate genre. The maltese falcon humphrey bogart stars in the quintessential noir film as flawed detective sam spade, a private eye investigating his partners murder and a mysterious bird figurine. A film genre is a motionpicture category based for example on similarities either in the narrative elements or in the emotional response to the film namely. By christie hoerneman film noir is not easily defined.
The dark themes of film noir, and why they matter today. Nunnally johnsons the man in the gray flannel suit 1956 examined a businessmans attempt to. Film noir refers to a type of film or a style of film making which shows the world as a. But this exercise in revamped noir lacks the emotional penetration of the. The french term film noir translates into english as new film. A guide to film noir genre roger ebert roger ebert.
Noir definition in the cambridge english dictionary. Classic examples include the maltese falcon and chinatown. Books in the noir genre are made up of stories that contain elements of crime, eroticism, cynicism, moral ambiguity, cruelty, strangeness, and fatalism. Jan 12, 2017 the term film noir, french for black film literal or dark film closer meaning, first applied to hollywood films by french critic nino frank in 1946, was unrecognized by most american film. During the 1950s film noir continued to deal with the disillusionment of the outsider, often presenting him as a confused member of a repressive society. The meaning film noir is a french term meaning black film, or film of the night. Film noir definition is a type of crime film featuring cynical malevolent characters in a sleazy setting and an ominous atmosphere that is conveyed by shadowy. Film noir itself was an important genre for legitimizing cinema as an artform the use of shadows for terror, the seductive placement of limbs, glances. In addition, film noir cannot be defined only by characteristics in the film, because while there are certain traits that are present in many films, they are not necessarily. Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples log in dictionary. Nov 12, 2018 film noir is a genre of dark detective films made primarily during the 1940s and 1950s. The debate in which there is no right answer is only one of the things that keeps noir fresh for succeessive generations of movie lovers. Film noir definition, a motion picture with an often grim urban setting, photographed in somber tones and permeated by a feeling of disillusionment, pessimism, and despair.
Because the category emerged after many film noir movies had been created, there is no universally agreed upon definition of film noir. Film noir meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. Film noir definition of film noir by the free dictionary. Notable examples of film noir include the maltese falcon, double indemnity, sweet smell of success, and touch of evil. The philosophy of film noir issue 69 philosophy now. The term film noir, french for black film literal or dark film closer meaning, was first applied to hollywood films by french. List of ten essential neo noir authors, by richard thomas at flavorwire. Film noir is a genre of stylish crime dramas, difficult to define, but the 1940s and 50s were the classic period. Film noir movies include many different genres of movies, such as gangster movies, police movies, and detective movies. The film has been highly praised by modern critics, and is viewed as an important example of the film noir genre. Firn annual festival of noir fiction held in frontignan, france.
Noir is considered also to be a style as well as a feeling. Books the philosophy of film noir les reid sees through a lens darkly with mark conard film noir represents a dark night of the soul in american cinema. Neo noir is the new noir for the later 20th and 21st centuries when most movies are made in color. Nov 05, 2012 film noir originated from the french, meaning black cinema. A guide to film noir genre roger eberts journal roger ebert. To this day the debate goes on as to whether noir is a film genre, circumscribed by its content, or a style of storytelling.
In the 1920s and 30s the most popular genre was the western, with its tales of courage, selfreliance, male toughness and female sweetness. Some argue that it is a genre, while others contend that film noir is more of a tone or mood in the film, and some contend that film noir is more of a visual style. Ive added some pictures to help illustrate his points. Information and translations of film noir in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions. Were talking tommy guns, private detectives, and women you could still call broads. Beginning in the early 1940s, numerous screenplays inspired by hardboiled american crime fiction were brought to the screen, primarily by european emigre directors who shared a certain storytelling sensibility. Film noir movies were mostly made from the early 1940s to the late 1950s in the united states, and they were usually filmed in blackandwhite.
Film noir is one of hollywoods only organic artistic movements. Literally meaning black film, the term was coined by french critics in the 40s. Noir is more than simply a genre, and it is certainly not just a part of the crime genre. Film noir simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Stylistically, noir films are associated with lowkey black and white visuals that spawned from the cinematography of german expressionism, despite the terms french name meaning black film. Noir definition is crime fiction featuring hardboiled cynical characters and bleak sleazy settings. Noir genre definition complete list of book genres.
Noir is french for black and is a type of fiction or a film that has tough characters and is cynical, bleak and pessimistic in nature. The genre was prevalent mostly in american crime dramas of the post world war ii era. An explicit meaning that lies below the surface of a movies story is closest to our everyday sense of the word meaning. The french word noir translates to black or dark, and film noir describes a style of filmmaking rather than an actual film genre. Film noir is not really a genre in any sense, rather it reflects a tendency in certain american films of the 40s and 50s where crime and gangster stories are infused with an excessive visual style, a modern urban sensibility and a powerful sense of moral ambiguity.
Film noir refers to cinematic works based on novels of both the hardboiled and noir traditions, exhibiting realism and postwar disillusionment as influenced by german expressionism. The term film noir comes from the french term for black film or dark film. The genre is known for using lowbudget filmmaking tricks to create striking visual effects, particularly with regard to lighting. A list of the best filmnoir movies and tv shows, as ranked by imdb users, like you. Film noir, and the literature from which it is drawn, is clearly the progenitor of later genres, particularly cyberpunk. The term film noir, french for black film literal or dark film closer meaning, first applied to hollywood films by french critic nino frank in 1946, was unrecognized by. Film noir definition is a type of crime film featuring cynical malevolent characters in a sleazy setting and an ominous atmosphere that is conveyed by shadowy photography and foreboding background music.
Film noir definition of film noir by merriamwebster. French critics were deeply impressed by the wave of films coming out of america in the 1940s and 1950s that had dark themes and pessimistic views of the world. Roger ebert, the famed movie critic, has it pinned down best in his a guide to film noir genre. Film noir is a term introduced in the 1940s by french critics nino frank and jeanpierre chartier. Film noir french for black film is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Film genre characteristic of the years between with 20s and late 40s.
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