jamesjazzguitar Posted December 31, 2014 Well, that goes to my point. The parameters of film noir for most people is much too vague and amorphous. For me, a film noir has to have a corrosive thread of existential fatalism running through it. Pickup on South Street violates this rule because of its insistence of dancing itself offstage with a fake happy ending. Not that it isn't a good movie; it is. It's very good, but as film noir, it's deficient. The Big Sleep, because of the nature of the characters and the core relationship it focuses on, can't, to my mind, be film noir. You need a Brigid O'Shaugnessy or a Jeff Bailey for that. And it's just not moody enough. It's an upbeat movie, whatever the tangential topics it includes. A film noir is a subgenre of tragedy. At this forum you will find that most people define noir in very specific terms. e.g. the movie can NOT be color. So a film like Leave Her to Heaven isn't 'noir' because it is in color (as well as having too many outdoor scenes). While Pickup on South Street does have an imposed happy ending the film is full of tragedy. e.g. the killing of the Ritter character. I don't agree that for a film to be noir it can't have a non tragic ending. Not all noirs need to end like Out of the Past or Angel Face. So I find that POV too limiting but of course it all relates to the quest for a 'true' noir (a fun by needless quest in my view). While I do find discussing 'what is noir' interesting, at the end what is important is if I enjoy a film or not and find the film interesting. I enjoy all of the films you listed since it is one fine list of noir movies. But I'm surprised you didn't include Sunset Boulevard. That film has a tragic beginning as well as ending and for two different characters! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
traceyk65 Posted January 3, 2015 Sorry, can;t do just 10... Sunset Boulevard The Killers The Lady from Shanghai The Third Man Murder My Sweet Martin Roumagnac (I don't know if it's classified as a noir, but that's what it is, even though it takes place in a rural french village and not the big city and it's much better than rumor has it) The Big Sleep In a Lonely Place The Letter (another that doesn;t take place in the city, but is no less a noir than any on this list) The Big Heat The Maltese Falcon Scarlet Street Double Indemnity Leave Her to Heaven And as a bonus, this is my favorite tribute video ever... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cinemaspeak59 Posted March 29, 2016 In no particular order: The Maltese Falcon Out of the Past Double Indemnity Murder, My Sweet The Killers Dead Reckoning Phantom Lady The Lady from Shanghai The Letter (Bette Davis one) This Gun for Hire Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
timberic Posted November 18 No particular order, although KMD is my favorite! 1. Kiss Me Deadly 2. Murder My Sweet 3. T-Men 4. The Line-Up 5. DOA 6. The Big Sleep 7. His Kind of Woman 8. Vertigo 9. Notorious 10. Breathless 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
