Key Features of Noir

Ellen Kenrick

CINEMATOGRAPHY Low camera angle shows

inferior characters (usually the femme fatale).

Camera follows the eye line of characters (i.e. detective looking at femme fatale because of their attraction to her).

Wide-angle deep focus shots High angle long shots Choker close-ups Absence of establishing

shots

MISE-EN-SCENE

Cigarettes Rainy Streets Black Shadows (Angle of lighting) Lipstick Jewels Guns Torch Money Low-key black-and-white

lighting

EDITING

One very well known film noir editing technique is ‘flashbacks’ which are often presented by the main character (usually the detective) explaining what has happened.

Jarring editing from close up to long shot.

SOUND

Macabre non-diegetic music (usually representing 1940s - 1950s).

Flirtatious language/narrative from the femme fatale to demonstrate her seductive and powerful nature over men.

Amplified diegetic sound, often heard from the gun, punches/hits, etc.

Diegetic voice overs are often found in film noirs such as in ‘Double Indemnity’ where Walter Neff talks about Mrs Dietrichson’s ankle bracelet.

THEMES

Mournful Tragedy Deception/Lies Love Crime Corruption Sexual obsession Money Greed Power

CHARACTERISATION

Femme Fatale (acts like heroin but is a sinner)

Hero/detective (troubled by femme fatale).

Victim (usually disliked or victimised by the femme fatale, who uses the detective to help her).

Women in Noir› The redeemer offers the male protagonist

the potential at domesticity or normality.› The destroyer places the male protagonist

in a deadly situation, often leading to his violent death.

NARRATIVE

Film noir is often set out in a first person narrative where one character tells the story, and this links in really well with the flash backs and voice overs.

A man meets a woman who persuades him to commit a crime through sexual manipulation. The crime is plotted and committed. As a consequence the man and the woman are often killed or imprisoned.

A dame with a past and a hero with no future.