American CinemaAmerican Cinema

Today – finish Today – finish Black Hawk DownBlack Hawk Down – – Film Noir notes – time to work on War Film Noir notes – time to work on War reviewsreviews

Tomorrow – War unit dueTomorrow – War unit due– NotesNotes– African QueenAfrican Queen– Tora! Tora! Tora!Tora! Tora! Tora!– Black Hawk DownBlack Hawk Down

Film NoirFilm Noir

““Black FilmBlack Film””OrOr

““Dark FilmDark Film””

The The film noirfilm noir genre was born genre was born from crime films: from crime films:

audiences grew bored with audiences grew bored with the criminal protagonistthe criminal protagonist

wanted more of a hero wanted more of a hero during war timesduring war times

more intelligent: German more intelligent: German Expressionists heavily Expressionists heavily influenced by influenced by mise-en-scenemise-en-scene

Lasted from 1945-ish to Lasted from 1945-ish to 1950-ish1950-ish

Some Some film film noirnoir films films

have have criminals and criminals and private eyes, private eyes,

but not all but not all private eye private eye

or crime films or crime films are are film noirfilm noir..

There is no true definition of a There is no true definition of a film noirfilm noir, yet many contain , yet many contain similar characteristicssimilar characteristics

Darkness represents two ideas:Darkness represents two ideas:

Darkness of settingDarkness of setting

Darkness of humanityDarkness of humanity

Humphrey Bogart in The Maltese Falcon (1941)

Darkness of the Darkness of the SettingSetting

Cities:Cities: Mean, nasty places where anything can Mean, nasty places where anything can

happen at any momenthappen at any moment Violence and crime occur often, usually Violence and crime occur often, usually

randomlyrandomly Sex: strip clubs, bars, sultry women Sex: strip clubs, bars, sultry women

aboundabound Cities are grimy, dirty places with lots of Cities are grimy, dirty places with lots of

shadows.shadows.

Fog:Fog: Fog obscures, makes unclear and Fog obscures, makes unclear and

unknown.unknown. Fate, mystery, future .Fate, mystery, future .

Water:Water: What lies under the water?What lies under the water? Rarely can the audience see below Rarely can the audience see below

the surface of waterthe surface of water Sometimes choppy and tumultuousSometimes choppy and tumultuous

Casablanca (1942)

What Lies Beneath (2000)

Darkness of the Setting

LightingLighting Film noir uses Film noir uses high contrast lightinghigh contrast lighting with with

lots of shadows. lots of shadows. Sometimes props are the only source of Sometimes props are the only source of

lightlight

This is called This is called low key lightinglow key lighting..– Little Little key lightingkey lighting (principle source of light) (principle source of light)– Mostly Mostly fill lightfill light (lights from side or back) (lights from side or back)– Comedies, musicals use Comedies, musicals use high key lightinghigh key lighting to to

create uniform light with little contrastcreate uniform light with little contrast

Notice the Brox Sisters in 1929’s Singing in

the Rain. What do you notice about the

lighting?

What do you see for lighting in this image of Bogart from Casablanca (1942)?

Darkness of Darkness of Humanity:Humanity:

ItIt’’s a world of paranoia and entrapments a world of paranoia and entrapment Male protagonist feels trapped and Male protagonist feels trapped and

overwhelmed by a situationoverwhelmed by a situation Chance plays a larger role than fateChance plays a larger role than fate Heavy use of Heavy use of mise-en-scenemise-en-scene to show to show

craziness and entrapment:craziness and entrapment:– Bars or lines in front or behind characterBars or lines in front or behind character– Tight framingTight framing– Odd anglesOdd angles– Slow tracking shotsSlow tracking shots– Backward tracking shotsBackward tracking shots

Femme FataleFemme Fatale A A ““dangerous womandangerous woman”” who traps or pulls the who traps or pulls the

male protagonist (usually a common, everyday male protagonist (usually a common, everyday Joe) into a world of crime and dangerJoe) into a world of crime and danger

She is sexy, dangerous, often filled with She is sexy, dangerous, often filled with ““mad mad love,love,”” greed, or jealousy greed, or jealousy

Often, one or the other, maybe both, will die.Often, one or the other, maybe both, will die.

AKA – The Spider WomanAKA – The Spider Woman– Ensnares the hero in a web of danger, lies and Ensnares the hero in a web of danger, lies and

deathdeath

Other SymbolsOther Symbols Fog, water, cities, Fog, water, cities,

shadowsshadows– All show obscurity or All show obscurity or

the unknown mysterythe unknown mystery

Transportation:Transportation:– Used as a weapon or Used as a weapon or

a place of isolation a place of isolation and escapeand escape

– Cars, trains, planes, Cars, trains, planes, boatsboats

Double Indemnity (1944)

Clothing:Clothing:– Symbol of status, power, Symbol of status, power,

innocence or guiltinnocence or guilt

Mirrors and glass:Mirrors and glass:– Sharp and dangerous yet Sharp and dangerous yet

fragile, like lifefragile, like life– Shows all people are the Shows all people are the

samesame– Something might be Something might be

hidden behind a mirrorhidden behind a mirror

The Lady from Shanghai (1947)

Other Symbols

Postmodern Film Postmodern Film NoirNoirEven though Even though film noirfilm noir died out, it still died out, it still

exists:exists:– Small details have been taken from the Small details have been taken from the

classics (symbols, lighting, characters)classics (symbols, lighting, characters)

– Some feel Some feel film noirfilm noir must be black and must be black and white, others feel that high contrast can white, others feel that high contrast can be achieved through vivid colorsbe achieved through vivid colors

Examples:Examples: Blade RunnerBlade Runner (1982) (1982), The , The Usual SuspectsUsual Suspects (1995) (1995), Glengarry Glen , Glengarry Glen Ross Ross (1992)(1992)

The Maltese FalconThe Maltese Falcon

19411941 John HustonJohn Huston A private detective takes on a case

that involves him with three eccentric criminals, a gorgeous liar, and their quest for a priceless statuette.

Double IndemnityDouble Indemnity

19441944 Billy WilderBilly Wilder An insurance rep lets himself be talked

into a murder/insurance fraud scheme that arouses an insurance investigator's suspicions.

Double indemnity - Double indemnity - a provision in a life-insurance or accident policy whereby the company agrees to pay twice the face of the contract in case of accidental death