Flim noir

Created by: KJ167
Created on: 08-01-23 13:09

Film noir

Standard histories describe Film Noir as a synthesis of hard-boiled crime fiction and German Expressionism. The term is also associated, as film historian James Naremore writes, “with certain visual and narrative traits, including low-key photography,

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Film Noir and German Expressionism

Many film professionals and artists fled Germany and Austria under Nazi rule during the 1930’s and took up residence in the United States. This brought talent and skills that had developed within the German film industry to Hollywood. This had a prof

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Narrative

Many film noirs were crime novel adaptations. The hard-boiled crime stories of authors such as Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, James M. Cain and Cornell Woolrich provided the narrative
source for many classic film noirs. John Huston began the tr

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Narrative

Many film noirs translate the confessional narrative of crime literature into a first person voice-over from the doomed protagonist. Noir films often begin at the end of the narrative and tell their story in flash-back.

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Visual Style and Iconography

It is the visual style of Film Noir, rather than story or character type that is seen as its defining characteristic. The noir look was created by cinematographers, costume designers, art directors and production designers. Its enduring influence on

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Visual Style and Iconography

characterized by unbalanced and disturbing frame compositions, strong contrasts of light and dark, the prevalence of shadows and areas of darkness within the frame, the visual tension created by curious camera angles.

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Film Noir and German Expressionism

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Flim noir