Noir - Film Review

Back in the 1940's there was an influential film movement genre, it is known today as film noir. Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as stretching from the early 1940s to the late 1950s. Film noir of this era is associated with a low-key black-and-white visual style that has roots in German Expressionist cinematography. Many of the prototypical stories and much of the attitude of classic noir derive from the hard boiled school of crime fiction that emerged in the United States during the Depression. I would describe film noir as genre, style and movement, in encompasses all three attributes in my opinion. Film noir feeds on the dark side of society. People are always fascinated by the society's evils, moral conflict, greed, death, etc. This type of film would get the attention of many people, they might not want to admit that this would "tweak" their dark side curiosity, but every living being has been in their own way intrigued with death and despair. It is just human nature. It has been this way ever since mankind existed. For example, riding past a car accident, you cannot just drive by; you drive by slowly to see what happened and what you could possible see, no matter how grizzly it may be. Film noir as given this name in my opinion because of how the acts, locations, people on the screen are seen , it is usually dark and black, hence the name of "film noir" noir meaning black in French. Typically the genre of the film noir was a place set in an urban setting, cheap hotels and motels, underground bars and clubs, small obscure towns, desolate rural areas or even on the open road.

Film noir often dealt with common themes: corruption, deceit, mystery, etc In the Maltese Falcon, Humphrey Bogart who played Sam Space was in pursuit of a crook that was greedy for a jewel-encrusted statue, the Maltese Falcon. The other star of the film Mary Astor was the femme fatale. A femme fatale is an alluring and seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers in bonds of irresistible desire, often leading them into compromising, dangerous, and deadly situations. She is an archetype or stock character of literature and art. Her ability to entrance and hypnotize her male victim was in the earliest stories seen as being literally super natural. Femme fatale today is still described as having a power to an enchantress, vampire, female monster or demon. This type of character intrigues both men and women.

The Maltese Falcon is a story of dark and deceptive people who often cannot be trusted. This is very fitting in film noir. This priceless statue is greedily desired, for different reasons, by all the characters. The film is a mixture of mystery, romance, and thriller. It is mostly known for a number of memorable portrayals of corrupt, deceitful, hard-nosed villains, low-life crooks and heroes that are two faced, one time acting for the good of man and the other just fulfilling their own greed. The Maltese Falcon would be the epic in the film noir style by encompassing many themes. Sam Spade is not a true film noir hero, because he is able to control himself, his destiny, and his obsessions, so he is two faced which is very appealing to this type of film.

The characters in The Maltese Falcon depicted the film noir style. Sam Spade fits the image of the noir protagonist

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