Film Noir
Film Noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood Crime Dramas. First appeared to Hollywood movies by French critic Nino Frank in 1946. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as stretching from the early 1940s to the late 1950s.Movies of this genre were shot in ,black and white and featured stories involving femmes fatales, doomed heroes- anti-heroes, and tough yet cynical detectives. Film Noir is french for 'black film' Some Film Noir films are:
-Double Indemnity
-Strangers on a train
-The Third Man
-Sunset Boulevard
-The Maltese Falcon
-The Big Sheep
Neo Noir
French for 'new film'. is a type of motion picture that prominently utilizes elements of film noir, but with updated themes, content, style or visual elements that were absent in films noir of the 1940s and 1950s. Some Neo Noir films are:
-Sin City
-The Sprit
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis started in 1962. Russia were prepared to use nuclear weapons against the USA. USA had the better weapons than the Russians. The Russians were prepared to use Cuba to fire missiles a USA. Russia's missiles could not reach USA from Russia so it was easier to fire from Cuba because it was closer to USA. USA could have fired all the way to Russia but Kennedy held back and waited for Russia to make the first move.
Kennedy then announced the discovery of The Missile Instutution to the public. He decided to spy around the Cuba island, by using Spy Planes to check on Cuba and see what they were up to. USA then put up a Naval Quarantine so nothing could shoot to USA from Cuba. Every two hours spy planes would go and check on Cuba and report back to Kennedy in the USA. Russia exported missiles to Cuba so they could shoot USA.
Tensions finally began to ease on October 28 when Khrushchev announced that he would dismantle the installations and return the missiles to the Soviet Union, expressing his trust that the United States would not invade Cuba. Further negotiations were held to implement the October 28 agreement, including a United States demand that Soviet light bombers be removed from Cuba, and specifying the exact form and conditions of United States assurances not to invade Cuba.
Conventions
-Heroes
-Corrupt Characters
-Villains
-Detectives or private eyes
-Cops
-Gangsters
-Government agents
-Killers
-Crooks
-War Veterans
-Politians
-Protagonist
-Femme Fatal
-Guns
-Non-linear story
-Low Key Lighting
-Distorted images
-Black/white contrast
Codes and conventions of Film Noir
- Visual Style
- Plot/Story
Chiaroscuro Lighting
Italian for 'black and white' lighting. Chiaroscuro lighting only uses light from one light source. Chiaroscuro is a type of extreme lighting used in film noir to create distinct areas of light and dark. It creates long shadows and a moody atmosphere which often reflect the events of the film.
Dutch-Angle Lighting
Often used to portray the psychological uneasiness or tension in what is being filmed. Achieved by tilting the camera to the side so that the shot has the horizon at n angle to the bottom line of the frame.
Film Noir - Dialogue and Slang
Broad- slang term for a woman
Bump off- to murder
Cooler- Prison or Jail
Can- Prison
Fry- To undergo execution in an electric chair.
Glad Rags- Good Looking Clothes
Goon- A Gangster
Hooch- Alcoholic Liquor
Hood- Bad Boyfriend (Your mother would not approve of)
Ice- To Kill
Rap- blame or punishment, as a prison sentence: usually in beat (or take) the rap, escape (or receive) the blame or punishment
Rat
Rumbled- To get found out
Sing
Shirt
Kisser- Mouth
Kitten- Good looking girl
Knock-off- A copy or immitation of someone
Lid- Head
Marbles- Jewellery
Mitt- Hand
Mob- Gang
Moll- Gangsters girlfriend
Mush- Mouth
Nailed- To arrest or punish for an offence
Noodle- Stupid Person
Patsy
Pen
Pinch
Pop
Pump metal/lead- To shoot
Punk
Snitch
Stiff- Dead Body
Sting
Lucky Number 3
My story is a classic film noir. It contains all the conventions, from black and white with the odd shade of white which can symbolise blood, instead of using red as a colour of blood used white as this makes my film more comic. This story is thrilling and exiting, and all film noir lovers will be in love with this film.
Pickup on South Street
How the law took a chance on a B-girl... and won! A pickpocket unwittingly lifts a message destined for enemy agents and becomes a target for a Communist spy ring. Has a woman and man which seem to be a femme fatale and protagonist. Released 1953.
Notorious
Notorious woman of affairs... Adventurous man of the world! A woman is asked to spy on a group of Nazi friends in South America. How far will she have to go to ingratiate herself with them? Contains man and woman which seem to be femme fatale and protagonist and its is on black & white. Released 1946
The Night of the Hunter
The wedding night, the anticipation, the kiss, the knife, BUT ABOVE ALL... THE SUSPENSE! A religious fanatic marries a gullible widow whose young children are reluctant to tell him where their real daddy hid $10,000 he'd stolen in a robbery. Protagonist that has conventions like he smokes and wears a smart suit. Femme fatale, Released 1955.
Strangers on a Train
A girl in love with young America's idol--and a good-looking stranger in search of sensation--that's how it all began..! A psychotic socialite confronts a pro tennis star with a theory on how two complete strangers can get away with murder...a theory that he plans to implement.
Venetian Blinds
Venetian blinds are used alot in film noir films. They are used to cause the effect of having a shadow reflecting on an actor or actress with horizontal striped pattern. My view on venetian blind is that they make the actors or actresses look trapped like they a in a prison cell, locked up.
