If you consider movies a high level of entertainment and spend a lot of time in this venue it is certain that you have seen a lot of movies of the 1930’s through the 1950’s called film noir. If you haven’t then you are yet to reach the pinnacle of your movie enjoyment and you are missing out on a part of hollywood history that is unique and will never disappear. These movies, most filmed in dreary black and white, have solidified a permanent place in the history of cinema and will always exist as an era of film making brilliance. They have a history of their own, and though many low budget ones had cheap sets, shadows either intentional or unintentional, there is a love affair between these movies and the public that continues today.
There is nothing like a day of nothing more important than watching several of these old murder dramas. I like the right settings and even the right weather to intensify the mood of this experience and this includes a overcast day, dark and cloudy outside and even a drizzle of rain to make the setting perfect. You can then snuggle up on the couch or prop some pillows behind your head while watching under the cover from your bedroom and enjoy the brilliance that is film noir. If you watch enough of these movies some of the plots may seem the same and certainly they are, but it does not affect the enjoyment or entertainment so thrilling that with a lot of these films you will be spellbound by every moment. I’ve had a lot of great days enjoying these films and intend to have many more in the future. You just can’t beat the the fun and excitement of a film noir day and watching one, especially for me, certainly would never do. I like to watch at least five when I plan this adventure and making the selections is really a very important part of overall days planning. I like to choose a variety that will test all the emotions and film noir certainly delivers. Every human emotion and the fatal weaknesses we all posses are exposed in these great films. The thing that makes them great is that they touch on reality and we can relate to the flaws that the characters exhibit. We can understand the intense fear, jealousy, hate, and other emotions they relate in our own hearts and minds and this makes us a part of their lives as the story unfolds. No wonder that many of these films are considered classics and exist on almost any list of the top 100 films ever made. Some of the actors are legends for all time and some of their roles in these films live in ones mind forever. Let’s look at the generally considered top ten in this film category.
The list usually starts with Sunset Boulevard which starred William Holden. This drama is about a starlet past her prime and the younger man taking advantage of her and the murder that follows. Gloria Swanson is wonderful as Norma Desmond and Nancy Olson, her biggest role by far, as the other woman. In second place on most lists would be M which is a German noir with English subtitles. Even though it is a foreign language film the quality of this movie cannot be ignored. Peter Lorre is sensational in the role of a child murderer who can’t stop killing and his realism is effective. Even though this movie was made in 1931 it really holds up well today and one you shouldn’t miss this one and should always be a part of anyone’s film noir library. Next The Third Man 1949 is a movie about a man offered a job only to arrive and find that the man has been killed in a peculiar car accident. The teaming of Joseph Cotten with Orson Welles makes for some brilliant acting which both deliver every minute of this intense drama. Number four is Double Indemnity which stars Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck as unintentional partners in a frameup to take out a huge insurance policy and then kill the victim the husband of Stanwyck’s character. The next two noirs on the list probably star the man considered one of the greatest actors, If not the greatest, of all time Humphrey Bogart. The Maltese Falcon 1941 and then The Big Sleep with Lauren Bacall 1946 are excellent mystery thrillers unsurpassed in quality and excitement. Up next Notorius 1946 is a drama with Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, and magnificent supporting actor Claude Raines. A edge of the seat thriller is one of my all time favorites. A movie that has everything suspense, romance, and thrilling drama and a must see for any noir fan. The movie was directed by Alfred Hitchcock a maker of many brilliant films including number eight Strangers on a Train 1951 crime drama which stars Farley Granger. Number nine is The Big Carnival starring Kirk Douglas and ten Touch of Evil 1958 with Charlton Heston.
This group is by most film experts considered the top ten in the noir group. From this ten there are hundreds of films that are almost as good though lesser known and one could watch hundreds of noirs before he actually found any that would be considered bad movies. Phantom Lady 1944 with Ella Raines and Franchot Tone, They Live By Night 1948 with Farley Granger and Kathy O’Donnel, The Devil Thumbs a Ride with Lawrence Tierney as a hitchhiking psychopath is brilliant. White Heat 1949 with James Cagney as a mother complexed psycopath is another you shouldn’t miss. The scene where he is in jail and goes berserk is absolutely classic. Then there is Kiss the Blood off My hands with Burt Lancaster a lesser known film well worth watching. These five noir films would make for a great day of viewing. Matter of fact these are my five selections for my next noir marathon. I’m certainly ready to enjoy and so what am I waiting for? I’m waiting for the next dark cloudy overcast day to set the mood right. Soon it will happen, and I can hardly wait, as I venture once again into the fascinating world of film noir.
