Eucalyptus P. Millstone Posted March 20 Share Posted March 20 6 hours ago, ElCid said: Another Saturday Night and No Noir Alley. Don't you mean, Another Saturday night and I ain't got Noir Alley? 2 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thompson Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 With heist movies there is little time for angst. Asphalt Jungle, The Killing, it’s about survival, no moral judgments or corny acting. In order to be considered a true film noir the film must be free of corny acting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dargo Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 41 minutes ago, Thompson said: With heist movies there is little time for angst. Asphalt Jungle, The Killing, it’s about survival, no moral judgments or corny acting. In order to be considered a true film noir the film must be free of corny acting. AND, which of course ALSO makes it SO very fitting that so very very few film noirs are ever set in the state of Nebraska. GET IT?! (...oh never mind) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thompson Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 Iowa grows the best corn. Next time you are in the grocery go for Iowa corn. Illinois grows some corn too but they are more famous for the Mississippi River. At any rate, there is a lot of corn out there. We, as dedicated film noir viewers, must separate the corn from the shaft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unwatchable Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 1 hour ago, Thompson said: With heist movies there is little time for angst. Asphalt Jungle, The Killing, it’s about survival, no moral judgments or corny acting. In order to be considered a true film noir the film must be free of corny acting. I don't think that's true. Look at the Jean Gillie clip from Decoy I posted on the previous page of this thread. She does everything but get down and gnaw on the shrubbery. Waaaay over the top. And then, there's Edmond O'Brien in D.O.A. Much of noir consists of what amounts to nightmares for adults. For example, look at Fear in the Night, based on Cornell Woolrich's Nightmare. Much of the pulpy stuff like that had a lot of histrionics when it reached the screen. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dargo Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 11 minutes ago, unwatchable said: I don't think that's true. Look at the Jean Gillie clip from Decoy I posted on the previous page of this thread. She does everything but get down and gnaw on the shrubbery. Waaaay over the top. And then, there's Edmond O'Brien in D.O.A. Much of noir consists of what amounts to nightmares for adults. For example, look at Fear in the Night, based on Cornell Woolrich's Nightmare. Much of the pulpy stuff like that had a lot of histrionics when it reached the screen. Good point, unwatchable. Well, that is IF what Thomson means by "corny acting" can mean "hammy" or "over-the-top" acting as well. And so in this regard, I'll now suggest a few other performers whom I've seen acting in this manner in film noirs, BUT who I've never found diminishing my enjoyment of the films, and in fact their hammy-ness might often even add to my enjoyment of them. Here's a sample of them: Vincent Price, in His Kind of Woman and in Leave Her To Heaven Lee J. Cobb, in...well, in just about everything I've ever seen him in, to be honest with ya here. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unwatchable Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 Yes, we should define "corny". The word leaves room for interpretation. Lee J. Cobb. Yeah, he usually was in "Raaaaawr" mode, but in The Dark Past, 1948 he played a psychiatrist trying to solve the puzzle that was William Holden, and in that film, Cobb was as calm and subdued as ever I've seen him. I wish he would have been like that more often. His screen presence alone was enough to carry him, in my opinion. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dargo Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 12 minutes ago, unwatchable said: Yes, we should define "corny". The word leaves room for interpretation. Lee J. Cobb. Yeah, he usually was in "Raaaaawr" mode, but in The Dark Past, 1948 he played a psychiatrist trying to solve the puzzle that was William Holden, and in that film, Cobb was as calm and subdued as ever I've seen him. I wish he would have been like that more often. His screen presence alone was enough to carry him, in my opinion. Yep, but think how much easier it was for Henry Fonda's character to contrast opposite Cobb with the latter almost bouncin' off the walls inside that one jury room, although with 12 Angry Men not really being a noir, of course. (...truth be know here though, I've always enjoyed watching Cobb in his "Raaaawr mode", and maybe because that big booming voice of his when he IS in that mode still feels somehow "natural" and believable to me) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unwatchable Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 Yes, to be sure, Cobb was perfectly cast in some of his films- 12 Angry Men, as you mentioned. On the Waterfront comes to mind as well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElCid Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 20 hours ago, Eucalpytus P. Millstone said: Don't you mean, Another Saturday night and I ain't got Noir Alley? Actually I thought of that after I posted it and meant to change it, but got busy doing other things. It is what I was thinking though so I will change it now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElCid Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 15 hours ago, Dargo said: Good point, unwatchable. Well, that is IF what Thomson means by "corny acting" can mean "hammy" or "over-the-top" acting as well. And so in this regard, I'll now suggest a few other performers whom I've seen acting in this manner in film noirs, BUT who I've never found diminishing my enjoyment of the films, and in fact their hammy-ness might often even add to my enjoyment of them. Here's a sample of them: Vincent Price, in His Kind of Woman and in Leave Her To Heaven Lee J. Cobb, in...well, in just about everything I've ever seen him in, to be honest with ya here. I like Price in His Kind of Woman, but I am not sure it can be classified as Noir. From my several viewings of the movie, I think Price was acting as the script and director wanted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesJazGuitar Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 8 minutes ago, ElCid said: I like Price in His Kind of Woman, but I am not sure it can be classified as Noir. From my several viewings of the movie, I think Price was acting as the script and director wanted. Price's performance in the film isn't "noir" but clearly the film is since it has a few noir themes, one being alienation of the protagonist (Mitchum). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElCid Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 Just now, JamesJazGuitar said: Price's performance in the film isn't "noir" but clearly the film is since it has a few noir themes, one being alienation of the protagonist (Mitchum). Will take your word for it, but to me always just seemed another mystery from the period with a bit of humor. Same as Macao and The Big Steal. Why do you say Mitchum is alienated? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesJazGuitar Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 1 hour ago, ElCid said: Will take your word for it, but to me always just seemed another mystery from the period with a bit of humor. Same as Macao and The Big Steal. Why do you say Mitchum is alienated? The best scene that explains this is when Mitchum is at a small cafe being served by a black man. Mitchum knows something (someone), is dogging him but he doesn't know who and even the server will not look him directly in the eye. I find the Charles McGraw character to me a classic noir hired-gun. He has some great lines in the film; when Mitchum tries to explain to McGraw what is happening, McGraw comes back with "I'm ignorant,,,,, happy to be that way". 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thompson Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 17 hours ago, unwatchable said: I don't think that's true. Look at the Jean Gillie clip from Decoy I posted on the previous page of this thread. She does everything but get down and gnaw on the shrubbery. Waaaay over the top. And then, there's Edmond O'Brien in D.O.A. Much of noir consists of what amounts to nightmares for adults. For example, look at Fear in the Night, based on Cornell Woolrich's Nightmare. Much of the pulpy stuff like that had a lot of histrionics when it reached the screen. D.O.A. is brilliant all the way around, and I’m a man of constant angst. I was trying to say that noir heist movies generally leave out the angst. The emotion is more like desperation, fear, and the life or death thing. But anyway, these Oscar movies that we’ve all seen before aren’t near as interesting or exciting as Saturday night / Sunday morning Noir Alley. I love Eddie’s intros and outros. He has a way of building the suspense before the fact. I’m looking forward to his return and his picks of the week. You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misswonderly3 Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 Guess there aren't any Nick Lowe fans here on Noir Alley. Except of course for Vautrin. One of his fellow musicians, Elvis Costello, did a few noir-ish songs, including "Shot with His Own Gun" and "Complicated Shadows". 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katie_G Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 I love Eddie's intros and outros, and his more intimate set. He's the only host who gets it right. The others stand up in their suits under bright lights and cheap ugly sets like they're lecturing a class instead of hosting movies. I wish they'd lower the lights, hang some old movie posters and relax in a comfy chair. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misswonderly3 Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 I enjoy so-called hammy acting, I find it entertaining, and for me it does not interfere with the flow of the film. In fact, years ago I started a thread on these here boards, called "Favourite Hammy Actors" ( or something like that.) Yes, Vincent Price ( so enjoyable to watch, ham and all) in anything , but yes, His Kind of Woman is a great example. And also Lee J. Cobb, as mentioned. A few others: Rod Steiger, Joan Crawford, John Barrymore ( the latter of course not a noir actor.) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElCid Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 1 hour ago, JamesJazGuitar said: The best scene that explains this is when Mitchum is at a small cafe being served by a black man. Mitchum knows something (someone), is dogging him but he doesn't know who and even the server will not look him directly in the eye. I find the Charles McGraw character to me a classic noir hired-gun. He has some great lines in the film; when Mitchum tries to explain to McGraw what is happening, McGraw comes back with "I'm ignorant,,,,, happy to be that way". Still don't understand the "alienated." Definition: experiencing or inducing feelings of isolation or estrangement. Example: "an alienated, angst-ridden twenty-two-year-old" To me, he is just having his livelihood taken away by the underworld characters so he will be influenced to do what they want. Regardless, still not sure His Kind of Woman is Noir, anymore than The Big Steal or Macao are. But then I am no expert and have not consulted a list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomJH Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 5 minutes ago, ElCid said: Regardless, still not sure His Kind of Woman is Noir, anymore than The Big Steal or Macao are. But then I am no expert and have not consulted a list. As long as you like 'em, that's the thing. To heck with labels. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thompson Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 https://youtu.be/1gX1EP6mG-E Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thompson Posted March 22 Share Posted March 22 22 hours ago, TomJH said: As long as you like 'em, that's the thing. To heck with labels. Boy ain’t that the truth! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thompson Posted March 22 Share Posted March 22 22 hours ago, TomJH said: As long as you like 'em, that's the thing. To heck with labels. Boy ain’t that the truth! Willing suspension of disbelief is key to the enjoyment of art. We can’t help but be prisoners of our perspective, but when we know we are prisoners, then we can block out our biases and take it from the beginning (sorry, just smoked a reefer with the landlord). 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomJH Posted March 22 Share Posted March 22 14 minutes ago, Thompson said: Boy ain’t that the truth! Willing suspension of disbelief is key to the enjoyment of art. We can’t help but be prisoners of our perspective, but when we know we are prisoners, then we can block out our biases and take it from the beginning (sorry, just smoked a reefer with the landlord). So does you landlord indulge in a suspension of disbelief when you give him half the rent but tell him it's the full thing? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thompson Posted March 22 Share Posted March 22 No he certainly doesn’t. He’s the landlord. Once in a while we discuss movies. But let me tell ya ladies and gents that was a willing suspension of disbelief reefer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts