Classic Film Noir
Here be those darkly vexing offerings one should include in their diet periodically. Film Noir (literally 'black film or cinema') was coined by French film critics (first by Frank Nino in 1946) who noticed the trend of how 'dark' and black the looks and themes were of many American crime and detective films released in France following the war. It was a style of black and white American films that first evolved in the 1940s, became prominent in the post-war era, and lasted in a classic "Golden Age" period until about 1965.
With the list below Alice has included many "Contempory Noirs", making browsing that much more "coloured".....
Right: Orson Wells stars and directs "A Touch Of Evil".
Impact (1949)
7/10
Director: Arthur Lubin
Starring: Charles Coburn, Brian Donlevy, Ella Raines, Tony Barrett
A classic noir plot sees a wealthy industrialist the target of a murder plot hatched by his two-timing wife and her lover. When the plan goes wrong th... Read more
In Cold Blood (1967)
8/10
Director: Richard Brooks
Starring: Robert Blake, John Forsythe, Scott Wilson, Jeff Corey
An engrossing true story, masterfully adapted from the Truman Capote novel, tracing two young killers, their motives and eventual arrest after the mur... Read more
Jamaica Inn (1939)
6.3/10
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Starring: Charles Laughton, Maureen O'Hara, Leslie Banks
Hitchcock's last film in England before moving to Hollywood. With Charles Laughton in a story set in the eighteenth century about a young Irish girl w... Read more
James Cagney: City for Conquest / G Men / Each Dawn I Die / White Heat (1949)
7.7/10
Director: Anatole Litvak, Raoul Walsh, William Keighley
Starring: Ann Dvorak, Ann Sheridan, Edmond O'Brien, George Raft, James Cagney, Margaret Li...
James Cagney Box Set. 'White Heat' (1949) - "Made it, Ma! Top of the world!" James Cagney's Cody Jarrett - a psychotic thug devoted to his tough-as-na... Read more
James Mason Collection: 5 Fingers / The Man Between / The Man In Grey / Odd Man Out / The Bells Go Down (1943)
Director: Basil Dearden, Carol Reed, Joseph L Mankiewicz, Leslie Arliss
Starring: James Mason, Stewart Granger, Margaret Lockwood, Robert Newton, Kathleen Ryan, F...
This box set collection contains five classic films starring the iconic James Mason. Titles include: '5 Fingers' (1952) - Based on the memoirs of L.C... Read more
Japanese Crime Noir Classics ( Tokyo Drifter / A Tattooed Life / Branded to Kill / Youth of the Beast ) (1966)
Director: Seijun Suzuki
Starring: Chieko Matsubara, Hideaki Nitani, Tetsuya Watari, Joe Shishido, Mariko Ogawa, An...
A collection of four Japanese crime noir classics from maverick director Seijun Suzuki. "Tokyo Drifter" (1966) - Warned by studio bosses to play it sa... Read more
Just Another Love Story (2007)
7.2/10
Director: Ole Bornedal
Starring: Anders W Berthelsen, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Charlotte Fich, Dejan Cukic, Rebecka Hems...
After Jonas (Anders W. Berthelsen) causes a car accident that leaves Julia (Rebecka Hemse), a mysterious stranger, crippled with amnesia, he's compell... Read more
Key Largo (1948)
7.9/10
Director: John Huston
Starring: Lauren Bacall, Humphrey Bogart, Edward G Robinson, Jay Silverheels, Lionel Barry...
Gangster Edward G. Robinson takes the inhabitants of a Florida coast hotel hostage as a storm sweeps in, and engages in a battle of wills with world-w... Read more
Killer's Kiss (1955)
6.7/10
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Starring: Frank Silvera, Jamie Smith, Irene Kane
Killer's Kiss is a 1955 movie produced, directed and written by a 27 year old Stanley Kubrick. Coming off the heels of a poorly received first effort,... Read more
Kiss Me Deadly (1955)
7.7/10
Director: Robert Aldrich
Starring: Ralph Meeker, Albert Dekker, Paul Stewart
Mickey Spillane's pugnacious private eye, Mike Hammer, becomes involved with femmes fatale, diabolical doctors and, perhaps, the end of the world cour... Read more