Laura Written by Jay Dratler, Samuel Hoffenstein and Elizabeth Reinhardt Directed by Otto Preminger U.S.A., 1944 A detective’s work is challenging enough already without the complications that arise when he or she is involved with one of the suspects of a crime. Determining the innocence or guilt of an individual or party would be a …
The Friday Noir column has been tugging along at a steady pace for well over a year at this point. After being privy to so many double-crosses, back stabbings, bleak outlooks and cynical one-liners, it feels like the right time to shine some proverbial light on the sinister world of film noir. What follows is …
The Chase Written by Philip Yordan Directed by Arthur Ripley U.S.A., 1946 *A fair warning to readers: those sensitive to spoilers had best watch the film under review before reading the article. To properly dive into its themes and story, major plot points will be revealed. Surprises in movies are a great gift the storytellers …
Out of the Past Directed by Jacques Tourneur Written by Daniel Mainwaring Starring Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, and Kirk Douglas USA, 97 min – 1947. “I never saw her in the daytime. We seemed to live by night. What was left of the day went away like a pack of cigarettes you smoked. I didn’t …
The Man Who Cheated Himself Written by Seton I. Miller and Philip MacDonald Directed by Felix E. Feist U.S.A. 1950 Underestimation is arguably one of Man’s greatest flaws. Once an individual has settled into a false sense of security, or is perhaps convinced of his or her own superiority against all possible odds, the lone …
Touch of Evil Directed by Orson Welles Written by Orson Welles, from the novel by Whit Masterson U.S.A., 1958 Touted as one of the greatest films of all time, let alone one of the greatest American films of all time, Touch of Evil has had the misfortune of being bastardized by the studio system, in …
Forty 1940s Films: ‘Detour’ Directed by Edgar G. Ulmer Starring Tom Neal, Ann Savage, and Edmund MacDonald USA, 67 min – 1945. “Money. You know what that is. It’s the stuff, you never have enough of. Little green things with George Washington’s picture that men slave for, commit crimes for, die for. It’s the stuff …
The Postman Always Rings Twice Directed by Tay Garnett Written by Harry Ruskin and Niven Busch (screenplay), based on James M. Cain’s novel U.S.A., 1946 Movies provide escapism in most cases, save perhaps for the most ardent art house devotees. They can operate as complete fantasies or slightly heightened extensions of our own reality. In …
Gun Crazy (also known as Deadly is the Female) Directed by Joseph H. Lewis Written by MacKinlay Kantor, Dalton Trumbo and co. U.S.A., 1950 An argument can be made that almost every movie made is, in some fashion or another, about obsession. Individuals are always obsessing over some things, namely their top interests. However stimulating …
The Big Combo Directed by Joseph H. Lewis Written by Philip Yordon U.S.A., 1955 A detective is obsessed with a case, tracking down either a killer or a thief which has eluded him for long enough for frustration to sink in. An antagonist who always has the perfect alibi to reinforce whatever fabricated story …
Kiss Me Deadly Directed by Robert Aldrich Written by A.I. Bezzerides U.S.A., 1955 Fear and danger frequently go hand in hand all to easily, be it in the world of the movies or in real life, the latter which serves a superb inspiration on the former as many already know. One person can be fearful …
Backfire Directed by Vincent Sherman Written by Larry Marcus, Ben Roberts and Ivan Goff U.S.A., 1950 Reviewing movies with the benefit of hindsight offers ample opportunity to discover, analyze and extrapolate the several issues of the day their stories were concerned with. It puts such films into historical context, awarding them a sense of worth …
I looked for him, but he was gone. I checked the boozy dives and the greasy spoons and the street corners where the not-nice girls hang out. Nothing. He was gone. Tall guy, fedora, trench coat. You must’ve seen him. Usually smoking. He was always hanging around, poking his nose where it didn’t belong and …
Deadline at Dawn Directed by Harold Clurman Written by Clifford Odets U.S.A, 1946 Believability is a funny thing in movies. When two film fans enter a debate surrounding the merits of a picture, with one party claiming the story stretched the limits of credibility, a natural reply might be that the film requires one …
Lady in the Lake Directed by Robert Montgomery Screenplay by Steve Fisher, novel by Raymond Chandler U.S.A., 1947 In the history of film noir, only so many entries stands a good chance of taking the crown for ‘most original concept.’ Many efforts of the noir genre function as detective stories (although they should not be …
Armored Car Robbery Directed by Richard Fleischer Written by Earl Felton, Gerald Drayson Adams et al. U.S.A., 1950 The subject of a common argument amongst film lovers pertains to a given movie’s length. Was the movie too short, too long or just the right length? The easy answer is, naturally, that it depends on the …
Brick Directed by Rian Johnson Written by Rian Johnson U.S.A., 2005 It speaks to a director’s qualities as a storyteller that even before his or her third film is released, their every word and hint and what may be to come has film aficionados exuberant with gleeful anticipation. Rian Johnson is one such director, having …
Body Heat Directed Lawrence Kasdan Written by Lawrence Kasdan U.S.A., 1981 The Friday Noir column has written a great deal about the seedy side of characters, plot, settings and themes that make up the genre. The one aspect that, up until now, has maybe not been overlooked but certainly not observed with thorough depth is …
L.A. Confidential Directed by Curtis Hanson Written by Curtis Hanson and Brian Helgeland U.S.A., 1997 There can be such a thing as a fantastic ensemble piece in hindsight. Granted, the idea comes across as a little unorthodox since any film, provide the casting is right and the subsequent careers of the actors flourish, can look …
Blade Runner Directed by Ridley Scott Written by Hampton Fancher and David Webb Peoples U.S.A, 1982 Every Friday during the month of June, the Friday Film Noir column will be taking a slightly offbeat look at noir in film. More specifically, films that embrace noir elements in their own fashion yet are not from the …
Sin City Directed by Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller Written by Frank Miller U.S.A, 2005 Every Friday during the month of June, the Friday Film Noir column will be taking a slightly offbeat look at noir in film. More specifically, films that embrace noir elements in their own fashion yet are not from the traditionally …
Joshua Tree, 1951: A Portrait of James Dean Written and directed by Matthew Mishory USA, 2012 Let’s posit a hypothetical – what if the iconic James Dean was gay? Well, let’s answer one hypothetical question with another – what if Fellini made a Dolce & Gabbana commercial instead of La Dolce Vita? What does one …
The Third Man Directed by Carol Reed Written by Graham Green U.K, U.S.A., 1949 *This review will avoid some of the story’s major details In the years immediately following the second World War, many of Europe’s countries were left in a pile of rubble, their economies destroyed, and their people still reeling from the all …