Hardcore Film Noir's topics - tribe.net

Anyone read Panorama of American Film Noir?

2008-03-19T04:22:09Z

It is a great read.

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 0 replies

Noirfest2008

2008-02-04T17:52:17Z

http://www.noircity.com/noircity.html

moderator, come to san francisco! 20 films in ten days with no happy endings! and we get to hear eddie muller talk about himself. 'hey, i made a movie!'

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 2 replies

Not Quite Noir

2007-12-15T14:16:50Z

I admit I feel odd trying to quantify what noir is - I know the feel when I see it-but some films have noir elements or are sold to the public as noir - I will post reviews for movies that fit in that category

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 30 replies

The Red House

2007-12-12T05:04:35Z

I loved the movie. Anybody else see it?

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 2 replies

Crime Wave

2007-11-15T17:28:46Z

Crime Wave - Excellent 1952 crime thriller directed by Andre De Toth.This 73 minute movie moves at an excellent pace from beginning to end- with a superb cast of noir stalwarts - starring Sterling Hayden as the toothpick chewing homocide detective,Ted de Corsia,Ned Young(screenwriter of Decoy) & Charles Bronson as a trio of San Quinten escapees and the scenery chewing Timothy Carey providing the hideout for the thugs.Shot on location in Los Angeles this movie has so many great shots and the usage of light and shadow mixed with terse dialogue make this a movie worth owning.The DVD has a 5 minute featurette and a fun commentary by LA Confidential scribe James Ellroy and noir buff Eddie Muller. A

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 2 replies

Act of Violence(1948)

2007-11-15T16:48:37Z

Act of Violence- From director Howard Zinneman(High Noon , From Here To Eternity) we get the story of 2 World War II veterans that have some unresolved issues.Robert Ryan is determined to find Van Heflin.Van Heflin has settled back into civilian life with a family,job and respect of the community-Robert Ryan has traveled cross country to confront Van Heflin.Oodles of suspense,great camera shots and an insistent score ramp up the tension in this superb noir dealing with the after effects of the war.Mary Astor is perfect as a down on her luck lady of the evening that befriends one of the characters during the second act.Look for a young Janet Leigh in her sixth movie.The scholarly commentary track is by Drew Casper. A-

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 2 replies

Decoy (1946)

2007-11-14T23:30:58Z

Decoy - Jean Gillie is the ultimate femme fatale(or gold digging ho or bitch to be very non PC about it) in this 1946 thriller- she wants her boyfriend revived from a state sanctioned cynanide nap so she find the loot he has hidden from a bank robbery.She does everything she can to seduce the men in her life to get her way.An opening on par with D.O.A. and an ending that feels like the evil universe ending to Wizard of Oz- the middle parts of the movie tend to drag some times- but it is all worth it.Sheldon Leonard plays Jo-Jo Portugal the local cop trying to clean up the town.This movie takes no prisoners- it is a brutal world driven by money and Maragaret Shelby intends to get hers.The DVD has a commentary track by the writer of the story and film historian Glen Erickson and a mini featurette- including comments from Dick Cavett.Since this is in a double feature DVD with Crime Wave I would suggest buying it- and if it were on it's own I would still suggest buying it. A-

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 1 reply

Not quite film: Angel Face

2007-08-10T18:51:51Z

if you are in the bay area i highly recommend word for word's production of the cornell woolrich story angel face. they present it as a play, but with every bit of dialogue from the story, down to the 'he said, cynically's. it's very well done. seven in the cast and they all double up and are so good you don't realize until afterwards 'oh, that dude also played the doorman.' and it's a great woolrich story: i have the radio version from suspense, starring claire trevor (and with a totally different ending).

angel face plays through september 2 at project artaud theater, 450 florida street, san francisco.

and tell 'em mad dog sent you.

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 0 replies

“The Smiling Man” World Premiere and DVD Release Party - August 7th

2007-07-24T03:00:24Z

(San Francisco, CA) - Local movie makers Kelp Entertainment are proud to unveil their new detective mystery in a free Noir-themed bash and public screening at 12 Galaxies on the evening of August 7th, 8:00 P.M.

Set in San Francisco, 1948, “The Smiling Man” tells the story of down-on-his-luck private detective Nick Chambers as he tracks down a missing man with only a single lead to work from - a photograph of his grinning quarry. Without even a name to go on, Nick begins a citywide hunt for this mysterious missing person, but finds more questions than answers. Based on the short story written by Keoni Chavez, originally published in the anthology “Fog City Nocturne”, The Smiling Man pays loving homage to the classic detective films of the forties, while adding a decidedly post-modern slant.

The centerpiece of the evening will be two screenings of “The Smiling Man”, each lasting 37 minutes, once in vintage black and white, and again in color. Many members of the cast and crew will be on hand to share anecdotes and answer questions.

Guests can compete in a “Liar’s Dice” tournament for valuable prizes. Refreshments will be available for purchase at 12 Galaxies’ bar, and we may have a surprise musical guest!

1940’s clothing is encouraged, but by no means required.

“The Smiling Man” World Premiere and DVD Release Party
Tuesday, August 7th, 8:00 p.m.
12 Galaxies, 2565 Mission Street @ 22nd St., San Francisco
Open to the public, 21 and over.
http://www.thesmilingman.com>
http://www.12galaxies.com

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 0 replies

Gaslight

2007-07-12T05:51:56Z

Alright, so it's not necessarily a noir, but I caught this movie a while back and really enjoyed it. It has elements of a thriler, and the Charles Boyer character is extremely creepy. Anyone seen it?

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 7 replies

Hangmen Also Die

2007-06-29T19:54:08Z

Hangmen Also Die -1943 bit of anti-nazi propaganda by German ex-patriarch Fritz Lang.Stark and suspenseful this movie mixes the Czech occupation with a fictional story.A great use of shadows and some well played Gestapo and double agents populate this war movie with paranoia.Brian Donleavy does an excellent job(ok it was a little showy- and sometimes it seemed as though Lang was going back to days of silent movies.)At times the movie feels bloated with the "rallying" speeches-but it is worth watching for the interogation scenes and the suspenseful chase scenes.The DVD did not have any extras. A-

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 0 replies

Why Film Noir?

2007-06-13T21:10:07Z

What led you to want to see film noir?
Was there a movie that opened up the pandora's box of discovery?
What attracts you to film noir?

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 2 replies

The Third Man (1949)

2007-06-07T05:56:08Z

The Third Man-Post World War II Vienna is the setting for this thriller.Joseph Cotten is new in town and looking for his good friend Harry Lime.Mixing beautiful black and white composition with a zither soundtrack this UK/US collaboration- directed by Carol Reed and co-produced by David O.Selznick & Alexander Korda-stands the test of time.There is a murder mystery in this movie- a conspiracy-we follow hapless Holly Martins(a writer of western pulps) in his quest to find out what happened to his old pal Harry Lime.Featuring great character actors,a tremendous chase scene and my favorite performance by Orson Welles( less is more-and no this is not a reference to his girth of his later life).The new Criterion Collection edition is chock full of extras- 2 commentary tracks-one by Steven Soderbergh(who payed homage to this movie with his Good German ) & Tony Gilroy and one by film historian Dana Polan-also 2 featurettes on the movie and it's history and a 60 minute documentary on screenwriter Graham Greene.A solid mix of politics,the black market,romantic melodrama & comedy.Worth owning and a must see. A+

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 0 replies

The Silent Partner (1978)

2007-05-16T02:18:10Z

The Silent Partner - Excellent twists and turns suspense thriller from 1978.Elliot Gould is a nebbish bank-teller who collects fish and is the safe date for his boss.Things turn when he catches wind of a potential bank robbery.You can tell screenwriter Curtis Hanson loves film noir- this movie has all the elements- femme fatale,decent fellow making bad decisions and a great bad guy (Christopher Plummer is superb as the Santa robber).Looking for a good heist flick with plenty of suspense rent or own this small classic set in Toronto.No extras on the disc-look for John Candy in a small supporting role. A

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 0 replies

T-Men (1947)

2007-05-12T20:38:47Z

T-Men- excellent procedural noir from 1948 directed by Anthony Mann with crack cinematography by John Alton.We follow a counterfiet sting from the perspective of treasury agents-but that is the half of it.Excellent use of shadows,light and fog surround a suspenseful story and the movie is populated with great supporting actors including the always rugged Charles McGraw as the strong arm of the mob.No extras on the DVD. A

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 0 replies

anyone

2007-04-30T20:42:01Z

seen any good Noir flicks lately?
Or can you suggest a favorite ?

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 3 replies

Film Noir Festivals (Los Angeles & Palm Springs)

2007-04-26T09:23:10Z

http://www.americancinematheque.com/archive1999/2007/Film_Noir_LAvsNY_2007.htm

http://www.palmspringsfilmnoir.com/

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 2 replies

Brute Force (1947)

2007-04-17T07:42:48Z

Brute Force - 1947 Jules Dassin movie about convicts and guards in a prison so unforgiving and dehumanizing that the prisoners decide they must escape.This Mark Hellinger production has a great cast(Burt Lancaster,Hume Cronyn,Yvonne DeCarlo and a ton of familiar faces for fans of film noir like Charles McGraw) and is brilliantly photographed by William S. Daniels.This movie has several violent scenes that are more horrifying by what they don't show.Hume Cronyn steals the show as the sadistic prison guard that is more in love with power than any other person.This Criterion edition looks spectacular ,has a commentary track,essays,letters from the producer to the head of the censorship trying to keep his film intact.This is a very harsh movie -brutal- but well worth seeing. A-

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 0 replies

The Killing/White Heat

2007-03-26T04:25:30Z

rewatched a couple of favorites today- Stanley Kubrick's The Killing- which is populated with the all-stars of noir(Sterling Hayden,Ted Decorsia,Elisha Cook,Marie Windsor,etc.) and has a great caper and twists and turnsand Raoul Walsh's White Heat starring James Cagney as a deranged gangster and Virginia Mayo as his unscrupulous wife- both superb and swell and worth renting or watching or whatever

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 0 replies

The Naked City (1948)

2007-03-20T08:55:10Z

The Naked City (1948) - a post World War 2 crime procedural filmed on location in the Big Apple.A typical murder mystery with a few standard issue good guy homicide detectives working the case- but that is not what merits this film a Criterion re-release.It is the stunning location shots of all different parts of New York city,the flawed villians and a well staged climax.Directed by Jules Dassin this movie is beautiful to look at- even as we follow the police following lead after lead to apprehend to bathtub murderer.The new DVD has a commentary track by the scriptwriter and 2 30 minute featurettes by film historians.On some levels this is imperfect film -but it is worth seeing for the time capsule shots of a Big Apple that does not exist anymore. B+

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 0 replies

Dark Passage

2007-03-16T05:43:52Z

Dark Passage - Humhrey Bogart is a con on the run- he is found by Lauren Bacall- the gimmick in this movie- we don't see Bogie's face til he undergoes plastic surgery from a disgraced surgeon.What makes this movie work is not the stars above the title- but an interesting array of supporting characters.The movie drags a little while the Bogie/Bacall relationship is playing out.It has a strong third act with some great scenery chewing by Agnes Moorehead and some twists.The DVD has a classic Bugs Bunny cartoon(The Slick Hare) and a 10 minute featurette on the movie. B

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 0 replies

This Gun For Hire

2007-02-27T18:06:43Z

This Gun For Hire : Hard boiled 1942 film that follows a a hardened killer(Raven portrayed by Alan Ladd) and his quest for vengance after being double crossed on a payout for a job by a nightclub promoter/chemical executive (played by the excellent Laird Cregar).On the run after getting fingered for passing bad money at a dress shop-Raven hooks up with the ravishing magician-showgirl Ellen Graham(Played by Veronica Lake).Good concise dialogue and a good all around cast make this a worthwhile investment of time. B+

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 5 replies

the Crooked Way

2007-02-27T05:32:05Z

the Crooked Way : 1949 crime thriller about a GI who comes home with amnesia.His only link to the past- he enlisted in L.A. So he ventures back to the city of angels to slowly find out he was gangster and not a nice guy.If you like this premise- seek out Somewhere in the Night- basically the same premise- but with more finesse and a better cast(the 46 version was from Fox).Crooked Way is an ok crime thriller for it's day and age- but it has not aged well and seems like it was re-released to rope in folks like myself that are gobbling up the noir titles.The movie stars John Payne(likeable enough Virginian who also starred in Kansas City Confidential) and Sonny Tufts.It also has Percy Helton(from Crossover and many other movies) as Petey. C

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 1 reply

Lady From Shanghai

2007-02-23T14:29:43Z

Lady from Shanghai - This Orson Welles romance thriller is a wonder.Sure there are mis-steps-Welles Irish accent comes and goes - but this is a brilliant bit of fimmaking and story-telling.From his first encounter with Rita Hayworth in Central Park- Welles character is smitten.He tries to engage her in conversation-and fails- but is given a second chance when she is surrounded by bandits.He charms her so much that she dispatches her husband to hire him as a Boatswain for his yacht.While Welles and Hayworth are the main characters- the real standouts are her husband and his partner George Grimsby(business partner- although at times it seemed like they would be written as homosexual lovers in any other era but the 1940s).Outstanding camera work and visuals are mixed in with a great plot and one of the liveliest courtroom scenes I have encountered.There are several other memorable and stunning scenes shot on location throughout this movie. The DVD had a reverential and informative commentary by Peter Bogdonavich. A

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 0 replies

Kansas City Confidential(1952)

2007-02-21T01:30:01Z

while this movie is billed as a Noir flick- or it is in a noir collection- and it does have elements of noir - it fillms more like a caper pic- nothing wrong with that and I do like the movie

Kansas City Confidential -Well done 1952 low budget heist film.The movie is about a flower delivering ex-con who gets framed for a million dollar bank job.But what makes this movie cook are the swarmy bad guys played Lee Van Cleef,Jack Elam,Preston Foster and Neville Brand.There are plot holes and some of the dialogue is from tough guy 101- but the movie is well paced and populated by thugs and cretins that feel legit. B-

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 0 replies

Behind Locked Doors

2007-02-16T13:55:25Z

Behind Locked Doors -Well made 1948 low budget thriller about a detective who gets himself locked into an asylum to nab a judge on the lamb.Look for pro wrestler Tor Johnson in a cameo as a Pavolovian puglist.A well made 60 minute story. B-

this is on the borderline as far as noir feel and story- but for an extra disc in a compilation that includes Sudden Fear,Railroaded and The Long Night- it is a good look at low budget filmmaking

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 0 replies

The Long Night (1947)

2007-02-16T13:53:19Z

The Long Night -odd suspensful and surrealistic 1947 movie starring Henry Fonda as WW2 veteran and orphan .He works in a factory on subsistent wages- one day he meets the love of his life(Barbara Del Geddes) - a fellow orphan and flower delivery girl.It is obvious they belong together- but the catch is- she already has a suitor.Magician and full time liar(one of my favorite lines-"Why should I pay for having a superior imagination) Vincent Price is a total heel in this movie.The movie is told in flashback during a seige of Fonda's character - who shots Price in the first scene.Look for noir standout Elisha Cook,Jr. as the blind nieghbor.This is a retelling of a 1939 French film- the DVD has clips comparing the 2 versions and a virtual essay on the production design.This was a riveting movie where I was hoping for the best and expecting the worst the whole time.It is imperfect- Fonda is tough and jaded - until he gets around the girl of his dreams- then he becomes a puppy dog- I found it charming-but I could see it annoying some folks.If you are looking for an older movie with a unique feel and compelling story - find this one. A-

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 0 replies

No Way Out (1950)

2007-02-14T02:53:02Z

When rabid bigot Ray Biddle (Richard Widmark) and his brother Johnny (Dick Paxton) are admitted with gunshot wounds to the county hospital's prison ward, they balk at being treated by black physician Luther Brooks (Sidney Poitier, in his film debut). But the racial tension only escalates after the doctor performs a procedure meant to save Johnny's life -- and he dies on the operating table. The supporting cast includes Linda Darnell.

I think we're all pretty familiar with Richard Widmark playing the scum of the earth but he hits a new low with this character. In fact according to the back story by Eddie Muller this character was so unlike Widmark that he was embarrassed by all the nasty racial slurs he had to make so much so that Poitier had to tell him to not worry about offending him and to be true to the character. Honestly you could argue this isn't really noir but the script/story tells me it is even if it doesn't have all the photographic bells and whistles. While it won't take top honors as my favorite noir this is a damn fine film. oh there's some clunky bits but even those don't drag down the excellent acting and heavy duty anti-rascism message. I loved it.

So do you all think this is noir or not?

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 1 reply

Railroaded (1947)

2007-02-13T09:19:27Z

Railroaded - 1947 crime thriller with Hugh Beaumont as a detective seeking out a cop killer.Directed by Anthony Mann this movie has an excellent villian in John Ireland's Duke Martin( a cold-blooded killer who is a jerk) and moves along fine -except for the romance between Beaumont's character and Sheila Ryan that feels shoehorned in.I got this in a Kino collection of noir- this flick had elements of noir- but was more on the police procedural side of things.Well paced and with just enough twists to keep the viewer interested from the opening hold-up on.The DVD's sound was subpar. B-

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 0 replies

On Dangerous Ground(1952)

2007-02-12T16:32:42Z

On Dangerous Ground - Melodramatic 1952 noir flick starring Robert Ryan as a violent cop.A story in 2 parts- this Nicholas Ray directed movie starts out in the city as we follow 3 detectives on their hunt for a couple of cop-killers.Ryan's character is so brutal(although he gets the info he is seeking) that the police commisioner sends him out of town until the publicity dies down.The Second part of the story is in the frozen north- Ryan's character is added to a posse seeking out a vicious killer.The Bernard Hemarn score is great- but almost overwhelming - until we reach the climax -then it all fits together.The movie also stars Ida Lupino.The DVD has an informative commentary track. B

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 1 reply

Sudden Fear

2007-02-08T21:54:37Z

Sudden Fear :1952 movie starring Joan Crawford as an heiress and stageplay writer who gets seduced by an actor (Jack Palance) that she rejected because he did not have classical good looks to be a romantic lead in her latest play.The first third of the movie plays like a typical romance picture with the courtship and marriage of Crawford and Palance.The movie has some terrible plotholes-without giving away anything- the suspense is added to the third act because the lead character ( a smart playwright) made several stupid decisions- instead of reacting logically.Skip it- suspend disbelief and enjoy the fine third act- a griping mix of noirish hallucinations and suspense with one of the best prop shots in any movie.The final payoff is satisfying if a little contrived- but the 15 minute segment before the final scene is engaging and well played out.Not a perfect film noir- but worth the investment of time.The Kino DVD was lacking in any extra features. B

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 1 reply

San Francisco Film Noir Festival Starts tomorrow

2007-02-03T03:38:30Z

back at the castro theatre, let's hear it! lots of good looking double bills. many obscure titles, and the one film i'm familiar with, scarlet street, is one of my all time faves.

if you can stand eddie mueller talking about himself for twenty minutes a night it's lots of fun. still, i miss the old days at the roxie, when it was six bucks and there were about a half dozen old guys in the audience. it's a victim of its own success, or, as yogi berra says, 'no one goes there any more: it's too crowded.'

http://noircity.com/

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 9 replies

Trapped

2007-01-26T15:04:35Z

Trapped :1949 Crime procedural following the treasury department and a counterfeiting sting.Lloyd Bridges plays a con released to be the bait for some missing plates.A lot of this movie is very typical- but the suspense in the end is well done. B-

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 0 replies

He Walked by Night

2007-01-26T14:54:16Z

He Walked By Night :Superb low budget crime procedural from 1948 set in Los Angeles.We follow the cops chasing a cop killer who seems to always be one step ahead of them Look for a young Jack Webb in a supporting role.The movie has one of the best on foot chase sequences I have seen.Some of this seems real basic now- but the superb cinematography sets it apart.Worth renting or buying. A

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 0 replies

pickup on south street

2007-01-26T00:30:18Z

Has anyone seen this movie? I know its film noir but it also isn't. It can't be, we need a new genre to define this film on the paranoia about communist takeover in the 1950's...about pick-pockets and a girl named Candy and a seen-it-all "stoolie". This has the seedy urban environment, but the happy ending, the spider lady without the sticky fingers. Maybe it's just poor film noir, but its a classic. I'm not sure...

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 3 replies

Movie Challenge - The Stranger

2007-01-25T23:46:31Z

OK...so let's try this again. Anyone want to watch The Stranger (1946) in the next two weeks and then talk about it?

Directed by and starring Orson Welles, this Academy Award-nominated film tells the story of Franz Kindler, a Nazi war criminal who has fled to Connecticut and assumed a new identity: Prof. Charles Rankin. While an Allied War Crimes Commission detective (the indomitable Edward G. Robinson) hunts down Kindler without knowing how he looks, Kindler's new wife (Loretta Young) discovers the ugly truth about her husband's evil past.

If not this film then something else? Suggestions?

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 22 replies

The Narrow Margin(1952)

2007-01-19T03:06:15Z

The Narrow Margin - 72 minute film noir flick about a cop escorting a gangster's wife to testify.Will she make it or will she be nabbed by the lurking bad guys.Starring Charles McGraw as the hardboiled cop and Marie Windsor as the witness he must protect.Although this movie never really pauses and has action almost from the opening credits til the end- it mostly takes place on a train bound to LA from Chicago.I liked the movie but it was lacking something- it had tension- but I never really felt any connection to the characters in the flick.The DVD has a dry but loving commentary by William Friedkin(Exorcist,To Live and Die in LA,French Connection) with excerpts by the film's director.The story does has some good twists and turns but it not something I want to revisit. B-

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 3 replies

has anyone...

2007-01-18T06:09:16Z

seen joan crawford's 1947 effort,"possessed"? she and van heflin played two fate crossed lovers and guess which one gets to catch lead? watching her descent into full on madness is delightful. also seeing her anti-star depiction of herself at the film's start is great. viewing her without make-up and in drab,black clothing is worth the price of admission.
give this film a looksee when possible,you will enjoy it.

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 5 replies

Killer Bait (1949)

2007-01-18T05:00:50Z

Watched it last night, and Wow! It packs a wallop.

Stars Lizabeth Scott, Don Defore, Dan Duryea, and Arthur Kennedy.

It's almost nighttime as Lizabeth and Arthur are driving to a get-together and a passing motorist throws something into the back seat of their open convertible. They stop and inspect the thing, which turns out to be a satchel filled with tens of thousands of dollars. From that point, fear, greed, murder and vindication ensues.

I thought it was a splendid example of film noir in terms of (plausible) story plot and twists. But I found the photography and direction pedestrian and unexciting. Since I'd never really seen much of Lizabeth Scott or Don Defore in films, I was pleasantly thrilled by their acting and presence. Defore esp. comes off as rather charming. Duryea and Kennedy put in their usual fine performances.

I highly recommend this movie. It came as part of a 5-DVD set and is entitled, Film Noir Killer Classics.

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 1 reply

Film Noir Casting Call

2007-01-14T19:07:51Z

Do you love Film Noir?
How would you like to be in one?

This is your chance!

Kelp Entertainment is currently shooting “The Smiling Man”, an original one hour long detective story set in San Francisco, shortly after the end of WWII.

We need people of any age, race or sex as secondary characters and extras to fill out the backgrounds of a few key scenes shot around San Francisco. We will mostly be shooting on weekends in January. This is a great chance to get some exposure, dress up in your vintage finest clothes and have some fun!

The catch:
· All applicants must be able to provide their own reasonably authentic period clothing.

· Women must be able to do their own hair and makeup.

· Men must have appropriately short hair, and be willing to slick it back with pomade (available on request) or equivalent.

No one who can meet those requirements will be refused, regardless of background, experience or talent. (Applicants will be required to submit a photo of themselves in their vintage costume for approval.)

We are a tiny, independent company, funding our production out-of-pocket. The only compensation we can offer is screen credit and a copy of the finished DVD, which should be available in spring of 2007.

For more information please call Bryan Tolin at (707) 246-9969
or send an email to piratebryan@msn.com

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 3 replies

The Twilight Zone

2007-01-13T02:24:58Z

yep - the 60s TV show- it is so obvious it literally knocked me out last night- my fondness for this anthology show as a youth and my current obsession with the film noir genre make perfect sense- last night during the Twilight Zone marathon I watched 2 episodes back to back- the first starred Earl Holliman as man in a town all by himself and the second starred Richard Conte as a man afraid to go to sleep- not only did each episode reek of noir with the lighting and paranoia- but Conte has been in several films noir and Holliman and Conte were in the Big Combo together

Sci-Fi usually runs 2 re-runs of the show each night @ 1 A.M. EST- of course not every episode feels like a noir- but many do- the classic Time Enough at Last with Burgess Meredith and the Willoughby episode are 2 of my faves

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 1 reply

Touch of Evil

2007-01-03T21:14:52Z

Touch of Evil :Orson Welles noir classic about a murder mystery in a border town- or one of the best uses of editing,camera work and script in cinema history.From the reknowned tracking shot at the beginning of the film to the use of shadows and flashlights- this fast paced thriller is engaging from the first frame til the end. A+

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 2 replies

Postman Always Rings Twice(1946)

2006-12-30T17:23:30Z

The Postman Always Rings Twice(1946) :1946 adaptation of the James M.Cain(Double Indemnity/Mildred Pierce) novel starring James Garfield and Lana Turner.A mixture of romance and intrigue.I felt like Garfield carried his end- but Turner(while classically good looking ) always feels like she is reading cue cards -while Garfield tears it up with his rough good looks and glowering and well- if it was a fight - it would be a KO- the movie has some famous scenes- like the intro of Turner's character and some great supporting performances including a young Hume Cronyn as an unscrupulous Defense Attorney.The DVD has a 50 minute biography of James Garfield and trailers for both versions of the movie.The movie is flawed- the thrid act is a muddle of twists and turns and conflicting emotions and the score is over obvious and intrusive- but it is worth visting for fans of classic flicks. B-

although this is billed as a noir and by a famed noir writer- and has elements of the genre- it has such an MGM feel to it - that it never felt noir to me - if that makes sense

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 2 replies

San Francisco - Noir City 2007

2006-12-30T17:19:45Z

http://www.noircity.com/noircity.html

Now I'm going to show what an ignoramous I am: The only Marsha Hunt I was aware of is an African-American woman who starred in HAIR and had one of Mick Jagger's babies. I guess there is more than one....

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 1 reply

The Big Combo (1955)

2006-12-28T07:46:50Z

It's a "dark and disturbing look at the battle between Leonard Diamond (Cornel Wilde), a good cop, and Mr. Brown (Richard Conte), a sadistic crime boss...and the cool blonde who gets caught in the middle (Jean Wallace)"

This fim really does have all the Noir bells and whistles.The opening titles are flashed in front of a cold black and white look at city lights with a jazzy striptease tune adding to the thick air of seediness. Richard Conte is "sick" as the crime boss. He is a nasty piece of work. My favorite character is Rita, Diamond's "sometime" gal who is a burlesque dancer.

She hasn't see him for six months when he show up at the stage door.

Rita: What's on your mind as if I didn't know"

and then later at his apartment-

Leonard: You're a beautiful girl Rita (he kisses her) but stupid.

Rita: Can't you say anything nice without spoing it?

Leonard: Why do you waste your time with a cop?

Rita: I could get me a nice rich hoodlum. You should be able to reccommend one to me with your connections.

Leonard: What is there about a hoodlum that appeals to certain women?

Rita: Hoodlums, detectives...a woman doesn't care how a man makes his living only how he makes love. Who is she leonard? I'm stupid leonard about everyhting but men. Them I know. Give me my shoes I'm going home. Put them on for me. When she hurts you again baby don't wait six months.

Anyone else have anything to add? If you've seen it tell us what you thought.

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 4 replies

Ernest Hemingway's The Killers

2006-12-25T01:58:22Z

Ernest Hemingway's The Killers : The Criterion Collection is about as complete a collection as I have encountered- 2 feature length editions of the Killers- the 1946 black and white noir version directed by Robert Siodmak starring Burt Lancaster,Edmond O'Brien & Ava Gardner,the 1964 version starring Lee Marvin with a supporting cast that includes Claude Akins(sheriff Lobo), John Cassavettes, Norman Fell(Mr.Roper), Angie Dickinson & future president Ronald Reagan.Both versions have merit- the 46 version features a great performance by Burt Lancaster as the doomed Boxer Ole Anderson,tons of great Siodmak shots and the lovely Ava Gardner.The 1964 version is very different - it strays far afield from the Hemingway short story( the screenplay is by future Star Trek exec Gene L. Coon)- the athlete is now a race car driver- we see Lee Marvin in a dry run for his future role as cold-blooded killer in Point Blank and we see the oddest group of supporting actors all doing a good job- Ronald Reagen as the plotting and scheming bad guy- with his sidekick Norman Fell- we see Claude Akins loyal to the point of tears- we also get a disturbing opening and a great ending- it is a flawed movie- but worth seeing.I am not going to say the 46 is flawless- but it is gripping from the opening dinette scene to the climax.The DVD also features a student film version of the Killers by Andrei Tarkovsky, an audiobook reading by Stacey Keach and a radio theater version with Lancaster and Shelley Winters.The DVD also has essays on film noir and a video essay by Stuart Kaminsky. A

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 2 replies

Clash by Night

2006-12-25T01:53:36Z

Clash By Night : Fritz Lang's adaptation of a Clifford Odet's play.Set in a small fishing village- Barbara Stanwyck comes back home after a fruitless stab at the Big Apple.Soon she starts to be wooed by Paul Douglas a salt of the earth fella who owns a fishing boat.But then she meets his friend Earl played by Robert Ryan(who once again does a bang up job once again-check out his work in House of Bamboo and The Set Up).Although this is billed as part of the Warner Brothers noir collection- it is a drama -a midlife melodrama with great lines and great performances by Stanwyck and Robert Ryan. Also this movie has a good supporting performance by a young Marilyn Monroe..Probably a bit stodgy for the modern audience- but for my tastes- this flick sizzles when Stanwyck and Ryan are chewing up the scenery .The DVD has the theatrical trailer and a monotone commentary by Peter Bogdonavich. A

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 2 replies

The Strange Love of Barbara Stanwyck

2006-12-21T13:41:33Z

Has anyone seen The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946)? It’s a pretty good little noir. The movie begins when the 3 protagonists are young kids (2 boys and one girl) getting into trouble. The girl accidentally kills her domineering aunt and rather than take the blame for it she accuses someone else of the crime causing an innocent man to receive capitol punishment. Interesting most noirs have a flashback sequence but instead we're first introduced to the main characters as kids right from the beginning, which is pretty cool.

Flash forward and we find that the girl now an adult (Stanwyck) is married to an alcoholic district attorney (Kirk Douglas in his film debut). The DA is worried that he and his wife are going to be blackmailed by their old childhood friend, (Van Heflin) so he uses a sultry female (Lizabeth Scott) to try to get rid of him. It is a very twisted story indeed, written by Robert Rosen and directed by Lewis Milestone.

Stanwyck captures all of the touches of the character from her overblown ego and tough, straightforward manner through her fall into paranoia once she realizes her calculating strategies have gone wrong. Similar to her character in “Double Indemnity,” both are the epitome of femme fatales.

I have this on a cheap DVD Noir compilation from Passport Video but I know that recently Paramount released the film in an amazing new transfer that helped put the noir back in one of the darkest and most wicked crime melodramas of the 1940s

Did anyone find my review or opinion helpful or enlightening? Anyone else see this?

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 7 replies

Big Lebowski/Big Sleep/Long Goodbye

2006-12-14T02:05:24Z

The Big Lebowski :my second time watching this movie- I saw it in the theatre when it came out - and I was disapointed- I guess I wanted another Fargo or Raising Arizona- and in some ways it was- but at the time- it just felt too hip and too smug-like the jokes were for someone cooler than me- or something.This time I was charmed from the opening narration by Sam Eliott and swept right in.A wacky retouching of the Big Sleep/Chandler novels- instead of following a hard-boiled detective - we follow an unemployed stoner bowling fanatic- the Dude played perfectly by Jeff Bridges.The movie is a mix of kidnapping,extortion,rug urination and dream sequences.There is a plot- a mix of intrigue and comedy- but don't get bogged down by it- enjoy the characters- the Dude's rage challenged Nam vet buddy(played by John Goodman),the artistic feminist who wants the Dude for more than laughs(Julianne Moore), the stellar soundtrack and the endless parade of quotable lines.If possible watch this in tandem with The Big Sleep(the 40s Chandler flick with Humphrey Bogart) and Robert Altman's The Long Goodbye -the perspective and the overall impact of watching all 3 is well worth the time invested. A

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 5 replies

I APOLOGIZE!

2006-12-05T02:38:58Z

To all tribe members who joined and have been disappointed with the activity on my part with my tribe.

Things here in the Classic City have been...well, not unlike a Film Noir for the past 6 months or more...go figure right?

Well, I am back and would like to get the tribe back in tip top shape.

Welcome to all the new members who joined over the past months, and to those of you who posted, and showed intererst...hats off to you most of all (I think you know who you are!).

Drop me a line with ideas...or heck, just post 'em and we'll see what takes and what doesn't.

Again, I am sorry if this thing tanked for anyone who was expecting more...I hope you'll check back and we can dig deep this time around.

Hardcore Noir is Life! XOXOXO

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 8 replies

Shock(1945)

2006-12-04T04:20:14Z

although this is part of the Fox noir series- it is borderline- here is my review

Shock(1945) : a young lady checks into a hotel to finally catch up to her hubby- who was missing and presumed dead for 2 years- now finally she can get her life back to normal.But things go awry when she witnesses a grizzly murder and slips into a state of shock.But as luck would have it the hotel has a staff doctor (Vincent Price) and he should be able to help her- well cept he might have alterior motives.This movie is hamstrung by clunky dialogue and some pretty predictable "twists".What helps the movie is the strong femme fatale played by Lynn Bari and some good cinematography.The DVD has a spirited commentary track by a horror film buff who interviewed Vincent Price a couple of times.Nothing spectacular but a good performance by Vincent Price and some well done scenes plus a good transfer make this a good rental for fans of classic suspense. B-

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 1 reply

Night and The City(1950)

2006-11-23T18:27:47Z

Night and The City is the story of ambitous dreamer -Harry Fabian(played the wonderful Richard Widmark) who is one get rich quick scheme away from the good life.In reality Fabian is a nightclub tout who scams anyone he can to get his way.In this flick he figures a way to get into the world of wrestling.Of course there is already a local promoter who is in charge of the London territory.The movie starts with bombast- Fabian is on the run -ducking thru shadows and brick til he finds refuge in his gal's apartment.After a quick pitstop to try to gather some funds from Mary(Gene Tierney) he is back on the make.After a chance meeting with Gregorius the Great(played by wrestler Stanislaus Zbyszko)- Fabian sees a chance to make moolah promoting the mat game.Tons of great quotes,observations and great camera work by Jules Dassin make this a can't miss movie for fans of film noir.Richard Widmark is the lynchpin-charismatic- and chewing up the scenery with his chortling laugh and expressive face- also look for the big galoot Mike Mazurki (Moose Malloy from the classic Murder My Sweet) as the Strangler and Herbert Lom(yes the guy from the Pink Panther movies) in the flick.The Criterion Collection version has a comparison of the British and American versions of the film - with scenes and a score not seen in the American version.The DVD also has a scholarly commentary by Glenn Erickson. A+

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 0 replies

Nightmare Alley (1947)

2006-11-05T13:45:58Z

I rented an excellent noir from the local library, “Nightmare Alley,” starring Tyrone Power. Just the title is enough to provoke images of dark corridors and scary back alleys. And, the title never disappoints. In this absorbing story, based on the novel by William Lindsey Gresham, we have Tyrone Power playing Stanton Carlisle a huckster working in the carnival. He learns the tricks of mind reading from Zeena (Joan Blondell) and then dumps her. He then leaves the carnival and begins working in ritzy nightclubs as “The Great Stanton.” But his elevated status as the darling of society doesn’t last forever as his infamy, built on lies, begins to collapse.

Directed by Edmund Goulding, with the screenplay written by Jules Furthman, this excellent noir is great at portraying both the carnies and high society as corrupt. We see both as Stanton moves into the upper classes. He begins seeing a psychiatrist, Lillith played by Helen Walker who plays a femme fatal who is both unethical and dishonest.

There is a wonderful scene where Stanton visits the psychiatrist in her office and the lighting fixtures cast dark lines on the walls symbolizing the Doctor as a spider woman trapping Stanton in her web of deceit.

Tyrone’s character is both conniving and greedy but still likeable perhaps because he’s not malicious. He is a flawed character whose pride prevents him from avoiding his downfall. His enterprise is doomed to failure as he refuses to listen to those who care about him. When Zeena looks to her Tarot cards to predict Stanton’s future she turns up both The Hanged Man and the Death Card. He blows her off exclaiming the cards are for suckers.

As great as Stanton is at his con his game can’t last forever and exposure eventually sends his world crumbling down around him. And, that possibly is the overall theme of this superb film noir: one can easily fall apart and wind up in despair. Perhaps no one is too far from being the Geek in the carnival.

This is one of the best noirs I've seen lately and I highly recommend it.

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 4 replies

Criss Cross (1948)

2006-10-24T00:39:04Z

Criss Cross -1948 noir flick starring Burt Lancaster,Dan Duryea & Yvonne DeCarlo.Lancaster is the main character- coming back to town and still in love with his ex-wife(the stunning Yvonne DeCarlo)- but everybody thinks she is trouble for him.She is more concerned with money than love and eventually drops Lancaster for the town wiseguy.But the couple has a chance enounter and they rekindle their passions- this leads to a clumsy scheme to explain away their rendezvous to the mobster.Directed by Robert Sidomak The plot is almost given away by the title- the DVD's only extra is the trailer - which also gives away tons of plot points. Some great shots in this flick - using mirrors and light and smoke. A

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 0 replies

The Machinist

2006-10-22T06:46:36Z

I don't know if one could classify this movie as true "noir". But it is pretty cool and edgy. It kind of reminded my of "Fight Club" in its concept and in its dark eerie lighting. Christian Bale plays the main character. He is much more talented than Brad Pitt IMO.
Anyone see it?

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 5 replies

Fallen Angel (1945)

2006-10-18T05:48:24Z

Otto Preminger directs this wonderful thriller with Dana Andrews as Eric Stanton, a grifter. He is thrown off a bus for not having farre and ends up in a small California town and get smore than he bargained for. He falls in love a tough dame named Stella (Linda Darnell). She know the take but wants better for herself. He marries the good girl with money (Alice Faye). But who gets murdered and who did it?

The screen absolutely sizzles with the unbridled lust between Stella and Stanton. All the characters are really interesting and the actors are comitted and focused in their portrayals. Notice Dorthy Adams as Stella's neighbor and once again uncredited. She also played the maid in Laura and Preminger brings her back in this film. Raskin is also back from Laura doing the music for the film. I prefer the score to Laura but it is interesting to see Preminger working with the same people on an entirely different project.

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 4 replies

Whirlpool

2006-10-18T05:47:20Z

Whirlpool -Otto Preminger directs this murder mystery starring Gene Tierney as doctor's wife that is a kleptomanic who is "helped" by a hypnotist played wonderfully by Jose Ferrer who is superb as the conieving villian and con-man.This movie is imperfect - Richard Conte seems out of place as a successful phsyco-analyst and there are huge chunks of the story that the audience has to guess at.The movie is held together by Preminger's direction and the splendid heel work by Ferrer.The DVD has a commentary track by Richard Shickel. B-

not your standard noir- but to repeat myself- worth seeing for Ferrer's villian

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 0 replies

"Where the Sidewalk Ends," (1950)

2006-10-16T00:30:42Z

“Where the Sidewalk Ends,”(1950) is one of the first noirs to feature a “not-so-good” cop. Up until 1950, crime pictures or Noirs had always featured ambiguous characters where the line of good and bad isn’t clearly perceived. But cops were always the authority figures who played it by the book and managed to represent and uphold the correct yet bland way of American life

Enter Dana Andrew as “Mark Dixon” a tough cop who uses street methods such as roughing-up bad guys and bullying informants. While his contemporaries like Lewis (Karl Malden) have played it straight and risen to the rank of lieutenant, Dixon’s brutal behavior has kept him from being promoted beyond a detective sergeant.

The department doesn’t much care for Dixon and his atrocious tactics so the Lieutenant gives him one last chance to straighten up. Dixon, now walking on eggshells, goes to investigate a crime but in the process an accident occurs, and a murder suspect is killed. Dixon panics and tries to cover it up. He sets in motion a series of events that spin out of control.

Dixon tries to frame a local gangster, Tommy Scalise (Gary Merrill) for the killing. To complicate matters, Dixon falls in love with the victim’s wife, (Gene Tierney) and then watches as her father (Tom Tulley), is wrongly accused of causing the accident that Dixon was trying to cover up.

Even though he’s not the nicest guy, the viewer can sympathize with Dana Andrew’s character because he demonstrates remorse and the steps he take to redeem his actions are desperate but also very human. His guilty conscience weighs heavy on his shoulders as he tries to undo what can’t really be undone. He has remorse for his actions but self-preservation is also important.

The film is based on William L. Stuart’s novel, “Night Cry.” Ben Hecht who wrote the screenplay gave the characters some wonderful dialogue that one could only get away with in Film Noir. For instance after a skirmish with gangsters Dixon looks pretty beat up and the Lieutenant tells him, “Look at you, all bunged up like a barrelhouse vag. The first thing you better do is get your head fixed up-inside and out, that’s all.”

Director/Producer, Otto Preminger gave the film a no-nonsense look with simple blocking and long camera takes. Like many great noirs the story takes place in the big city and most of the scenes take place at night. And, there are some homoerotic moments between the gangster, Scalise and his right-hand man, Steve (Neville Brand) who gives him rubdowns. You figure it out.

Although this film reunites Otto Preminger with Gene Tierney, and Dana Andrews who had worked on “Laura” six years earlier, this film is not quite as good. For a noir it could be a bit grittier and have a little more suspense. And, unfortunately, Ms. Tierney’s acting is a little too bland for one to appreciate. She goes from sad to happy with no emotions in between. This aside, the film is worth watching and is noteworthy as one of the first films to feature someone on the police force who isn’t perfect and isn’t always very likeable.

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 5 replies

Mildred Pierce (1945)

2006-07-20T16:47:46Z

I viewed the 1945 flick, MILDRED PIERCE last night and enjoyed it very much, thank you. For those of you who don't know, The gripping and cynical film begins at night in a beach house as we see some guy with a pencil moustache, Monte Beragon (Zachary Scott), on the wrong end of a gun getting blasted to his death. His last words are, "Mildred!"

The next scene we see Mildred Pierce, (Joan Crawford) a hard-working, neurotically-devoted, and ever-determined mother, ready to end it all by jumping off a pier in Santa Monica. She is stopped by cop with as much compassion as a jelly fish. "If you take a swim, I'd have to take a swim. Is that fair?" He reasons, "Because you feel like bumping yourself off, I gotta get pneumonia."

Walking away deterred, she runs into her ex-business partner and horny slime ball, named Wally Fay, (Jack Carson) and manages to coax him back to her beach house. She leads him on and then leaves unobtrusively locking him in with the dead corpse of her husband. Wally breaks out the window panes as a passing squad car shines its glaring searchlight on the house, illuminating the figure of Wally hurriedly running through the sand around the house. The police are suspicious of Wally's motives.

All this action takes place in the first 12 minutes of the movie. The film directed by Michael Curtiz, uses flashback technique to tell the story of the event s that lead up to this incident. This post-war noir is mixed with soap opera-type elements of the women's melodramatic feature with a murder mystery blended in for good measure.

This film, a tremendous box-office hit and critical success, was an adaptation by Ranald MacDougall and Catherine Turney of James M. Cain's 1941 'hard-boiled' novel of the same name. Different from most noirs, the main protagonist in the film is a female - but similar to the genre she is brought down by a femme fatale - her own daughter.

Mildred Pierce is a hard-working,mother who has a status-seeking, spoiled, and mean-spirited, unloving daughter named Veda (Ann Blyth). It is Mildred's desire to keep her daughter happy that leads to her terrible, yet noble downfall. She tells her first husband, "I'd do anything for those kids. Understand? Anything." Those words come back to bite her many times.

In addition to her maternal sacrifice her downfall occurs as the result of poor choices of men (including her dull, middle-class broker husband Bert (Bruce Bennett). Eve Arden plays the wisecracking restaurant manger who Gives Mildred her thoughts on the male gender, "Men, I've never yet met one that didn't have the instincts of a heel,"

As a divorced woman, Mildred proves to be pretty business savvy and starts her own chain of successful restaurants. All of it for Veda, she explains, who was becoming a woman with expensive tastes.

This tale of maternal self-sacrifice for an insufferable child is a good one. It raises questions as to rather the film is depicting Mildred's sacrifice as noble or is her role-switching move from middle-class home-maker to divorced, successful business entrepreneur depicted as bad because it ends in corrupted, destructive disaster?

If the latter is true it only makes the film more realistic about the attitudes towards women in 1945. However, I see the film more as a cautionary comment on parents who try too hard to win their child's affection. If you try to buy their affection you'll ultimately wind up with a spoiled brat, the film seems to warn us. And, perhaps greatest of all is the straight forward manner with which this message is deliverd but at the same time the viewer never gets the feeling they are being preached to. Amen, to that.

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 5 replies

hitchcock*

2006-07-19T21:19:06Z

i just saw Rebecca, what did you think about it? i just love it.

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 1 reply

Mr. Arkadin (1955)

2006-06-15T03:33:21Z

Not too mant posts here. What gives? C'mon folks lets talk! Here's some fodder for ya, my review of Orson Welle's Mr. Arkadin.

Recently The Criterion Collection released an ambitious 3-DVD package of Orson Welles’ 1955 classic film, “Mr. Arkadin” aka “Confidential Report.” The set includes three versions of the film: “Confidential Report” (originally released in Europe), “Mr. Arkadin” (the 1962, US released edition), and a new comprehensive version. The extensive package includes the usual audio commentary from film scholars but not so usual, it also includes the novel “Mr. Arkadin” credited to Orson Welles. Some may say this release is somewhat excessive but to Welles fans such as myself, rejoice in the inclusion of another piece of the puzzle that is the story of Mr. Arkadin.

The tale is based on several combined elements taken from the radio series, “The Adventures of Harry Lime,” which Welles starred in and often wrote. Mr. Arkadin (Orson Welles) is a billionaire who hires a shady grifter, Guy Van Stratten (Robert Arden) to research his past and see what kind of dirt he could come up with. It has been Mr. Arkadin’s obsession to hide the truth of his past from his daughter, Raina (Paola Mori). He has a rather large history to hide as it includes being associated with armaments and war profiteering, as well as white slave rings and other atrocities.

This is a wonderful film to watch even if the premise is somewhat thin and the acting between the main characters weak. For instance, although the protagonist is obsessed with his daughter’s opinion of him, there is not enough emotion conveyed in the scenes between the two to ever get the feeling that they actually care for one another. Mr. Arkadin only seems to convey outrage when he suspects that she may be romantically involved with Van Stratten. The relationship between Van Stratten and his girlfriend, Milly (Patricia Medina), is difficult to believe also, since neither one shows any type of affection towards the other. The film spends the most time with Van Stratten and generally things are from his point of view as he uncovers Mr. Arkadin’s shaded past. Unfortunately, Van Stratten is somewhat of an unlikable prick and builds no empathy or rapport with the viewer. Although this may be intentional, on Welles’ part, it makes it difficult to care much about him. All of the main characters come across as rather hollow and bereft of depth.

The interesting parts are left to the character actors who play people from Arkadin’s past which Van Stratten encounters as he circles the globe in search of details. Colorful characters such as the owner of a flea circus (Mischa Aver), A baroness (Katina Paxinou), and shop keeper (Michael Redgrave) are each strange and eccentric in their own way with the British actors who portray them turning in spectacularly good performances. In addition the weary ex-con, Jacob Zouk (Akim Tamiroff) whom Van Stratten warns and tries to save, is a funny character that isn’t too concerned about being saved and demands to be fed goose liver at any cost. It is these minor characters that make up the real emotional core of the film.

It is the minor characters that capture one’s attention to the film, but also the magnificent way in which Welles films his story. There’s a cavalcade of images that hurry the story along: skewed angels, frequent use of short lenses that compress the space in the frame which gives scenes with even simple dialogue an expressionistic quality. Welles plays with images and shadows to great effect. For example and the beginning of the story we see a figure walking away from the camera but his shadow grows larger as he walks away.

Mr. Arkadin explores the ambiguity of people’s backgrounds: where they come from and whom they turn themselves. Welles himself said of the character when biographer Peter Bogdonovih interviewed him: Arkadin is a profiteer, an opportunist, and a genial parasite who nourishes himself on corruption and doesn’t look for a way to justify himself. He could be Greek, Russian, Georgian, or Yugoslav. Arriving from some old half-savage country he sets himself up in modern western-European civilization using his particular sort of energy and barbaric intelligence. His morality may be hateful but not his spirit.

Orson Welles never did complete a final cut of Mr. Arkadin. The producer fired him from the project after he took too long to edit the film. Unlike, some of his unfinished projects that were completed by others, there are no extensive notes as to his original vision of the film. So what’s left are different edits of the film and speculations and interpretations of what might have been Welles original intentions. As it stands, Mr. Arkadin is a pretty amazing puzzle that has been put together several different ways with or without all the pieces. Each version is valid and a mysteriously unique work of art.

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 0 replies

A Rare Chance to See Baby Face on the Big Screen

2006-05-16T20:51:48Z

If you're in the San Francisco Bay Area you will want to go to the Pacific Film Archive in Berkeley to see Baby Face! OK, OK it's not Film Noir but it is Pre-Code Hollywood and I think that may interest you folks as well.

FRI MAY 26 2006 at 7:00 pm
or
SUN MAY 28 at 5:30 pm

Baby Face
Barbara Stanwyck sleeps her way up the social ladder in this notorious pre-Code melodrama, shown in a fabulous print that reinstates censored scenes. “Even the cut version is a jaw-dropper; with its full five minutes of sleaze restored, it has to be seen to be not quite believed.”-N.Y. Times.

Lily Powers (Barbara Stanwyck) may look innocent, but she's far from naive. From her lowly beginnings serving drinks in her father's basement speakeasy, she uses her looks and charm to hook up with a series of men, dropping each of them after they've helped her advance in the world. Leaving a trail of broken hearts and ruined lives, cynical Lily eventually realizes that she, too, may be vulnerable to love -- and the pain that goes with it.

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 0 replies

Underworld Beauty (1958)

2006-05-07T04:40:43Z

I recently viewed a nice little noir titled “Underworld Beauty.” It is a Japanese homage to the Hollywood gangster flick. The premise is simple: after being released from prison Miyamoto retrieves his diamonds that he hid before being incarcerated. His intent is to give the value of the diamonds to his friend who took a bullet for him and lost his leg because of it. However, it turns out that others want the diamonds too including the boyfriend of his friend’s sister and a mob boss, Oyane.

This movie is one of the first of many production-line Japanese films by director, Seijun Suzuki about a lone wolf’s exaggerated loyalty to a friend and his desire to repay him.

The stark black and white images are very noir-ish with lots of shadows, skewed camera angles, and glistening wet pavement. There are some cool metaphors like all the spooky disassembled mannequins in the art studio that seem to represent the fractured lives of the characters. And the scenes that take place in the sewer a ‘la “The Third Man” are an awesome allegory where the minds of those in the underworld reside.

One complaint would be the rather flat and stagnant characters including the protagonist, Miyamoto played by Michitaro Mizushima who spends most of his time moping around. However, Mari Shiraki as Akiko is brilliant as a spoiled brat who evolves or at least transforms into a femme fatal of-sorts.

Overall, this sleeper is a cool little noir that’s jam-packed with remarkable visuals framed in wide screen format, and loaded with plenty of action. Check it out!

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 0 replies

The Dark Corner (1946)

2006-05-06T05:05:19Z

Just viewed "The Dark Corner, (1946). It stars Mark Stevens, William Bendix, and a pre-I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball. I really liked this one. Classic noir about a private-eye who's being followed by some guy in a white suite, (William Bendix). Lucille Ball plays the secretary of said private eye, (Mark Stevens). They share a budding romance as she helps him uncover the reason someones having him tailed.

Good chemistry between the actors and its great to watch Lucy before she became a ditsy red-headed comedian. She plays it straight in this one, and delivers some wonderful dialogue (written by Jay Dratler & Bernard Schoenfeld) as she tries to get her boss to open up to her.

Great set design. Mostly filmed in a sound stage but mixed with lots of second unit photography of the streets of New York and the Santa Monica Pier. There's even a cool montage of the different Dry Cleaning businesses as the protagonists try to track down a particular suit.

Good photography and lots of hard lighting and deep shadows. And, even the proverbial shadow on the wall cast by blinds from the window in the detective's office.
The shadows resemble prison bars which are a metaphor for his past when he was was doing time.

The music is done with great restraint. No over-bearing, over-dramatic symphony scores here. Other than the opening music and maybe a few other places there is very little music in this film. The music that is in the picture is source music. When the protagonists are at a night club they dance to a real band, courtesy of Eddie Heywood and his band. The scenes that take place at an apartment complex are given an extra touch of reality as one can always faintly hear someone practicing piano in the background.

Film noir aficionado, Henry Hathway directed this one and made sure that there was just the right amount of violence, suspense, and mystery. Check this one out,

That's all folks!

Marky

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 7 replies

Rififi

2006-05-06T05:00:29Z

French noir from 1955. What a fun film. I rented it because there was a podcast about it (see Johnny's previous post). It's got it all - criminals, underworld, a jewel heist, night clubs and it won a Cannes award.

Anyone else seen it?

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 2 replies

Next Film - Strait Jacket (1964)

2006-05-05T20:14:20Z

Doesn't sound like classic Noir but with Joan Crawford and an insane asylum it's bound to be interesting. Anyone else seen it or maybe are interested in watching it?

Lucy Harbin (Joan Crawford) has been in an asylum for 20 years after axing her husband and his mistress during a crime of passion, witnessed by her young daughter, Carol. While trying to renew ties with Carol (Diane Baker), who is now a young woman about to be married, heads begin to roll again.

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 5 replies

The Glass Key (1942)

2006-05-05T20:06:21Z

Paul Madvig (Brian Donlevy) is a shady politician who teams up with a respectable reform candidate Ralph Henry in race for the governor after he gets a look at Henry’s daughter Janet (Veronica Lake). The title, "The Glass Key," (1942), refers to the political boss backing a candidate based on the expectation of being rewarded with the key to the governor's house if all goes according to plan, but is breakable if there's a betrayal.

It so happens that the candidate’s son is dating Madvig’s younger sister Opal ‘Snip' Madvig (Bonita Granville). It is no secret that Paul Madvig doesn’t approve of the relationship and when Madvig’s right hand man, Ed Beaumont (Alan Ladd) discovers the candidate’s son murdered Madvig becomes a prime suspect.

The film, based on a novel by Dashiell Hammett, is somewhat hard to follow but is, none-the-less a high standard noir. A recurrent theme in the film is that the characters of Ladd and Lake are secretly in love with each other. This is one of the films, (they appeared in seven together), where the chemistry between both first ignited. Ladd’s character, Beaumont is an unscrupulous character that is loyal only to his boss and even turns down the sexual advances of Lake’s character out of loyalty to Madvig, who has given her an expensive ring. The sexual tension the characters create causes Ladd to deliver wonderful lines such as, "You think you’re too good for me. Well, sister, as it happens, I think I’m too good for you."

One of the best scenes between the two takes place as Madvig is telling a story, Lake’s character is constantly flirting with Alan Ladd’s as she shoots him glances through the corner of her eye, with her left eye brow arched a few inches. It is a sexy look that will raise the temperature of any man with a pulse and certainly distract the viewer from whatever story Madvig is telling. I’ve seen this film 3 times and I still can’t tell you what his story is about, nor, do I really care.

Overall, this is a film with a somewhat convoluted plot where the story of dirty politics and cover-ups, get confusing and overshadowed by the relationship between the attractive Lake and the pokerfaced Ladd. As long as you don’t get too hung-up on the plot you’ll enjoy this film noir with wonderful photography, lighting, and dialogue. And most of all you’ll appreciate each moment of screen time between two wonderful actors of a bygone era.

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 2 replies

Night Train West - Loaded with Suspense

2006-04-28T17:07:32Z

The Narrow Margin (1952)

When a mobsters wife decides to testify against his evil deeds she goes undercover to avoid being killed. Now that he's coming to trial she has to be escourted across country via train in order to testify. Cop Walter Brown and his partner are assigned the task, but the mob are on their trail.

A fun film! The moll played by Marie Windsor is a "cheap dish" and Cop Walter Brown is the hard boiled sensitive type. He plays fair. Nice camera angles and use of railings as bars in many shots. I especially like that it's mostly set on a train. Some really nice dialogue, executed with a real sense of timing. I love trains...mmmm...it's a thrill!

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 1 reply

The House on 92nd Street (1945)

2006-04-19T03:14:09Z

This week's film.

The FBI's counterespionage activities during World War II -- particularly, the secrecy surrounding the atom bomb and German intelligence efforts to unmask the science of nuclear fission -- are the focus of this docudrama based on true events. A U.S. citizen (William Eythe) is approached by the Germans in hopes that he'll join their spy ranks, but he informs the feds and becomes an effective double agent, keeping the A-bomb a secret.

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 3 replies

New Film Noir Podcast Series - Opinions?

2006-04-18T13:50:16Z

My production company is in pre-production on a new episodic podcast series called Turk Diamond PI (working title). It's about the quintessential hard boiled PI who gets other folks out of trouble while getting into his own. It'll be shot in High Def so that the series can be released on DVD at the end of each season (as soon as HD DVDs are figured out). It is our intention to release one episode per month on iTunes ending in a cliff hanger that is resolved in the next episode. If there is sufficient interest we hope to increase production to four per month. The show will be shot in 1940s film noir style but set in modern times. All story lines will be suitable for prime time audiences.

Is this something you'd watch? Please let me know what you think.

Jeff Babb
LogWagon Productions
"Turk Diamond, PI"

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 0 replies

film noir foundation.org

2006-04-02T01:03:39Z

is a site i wanna investigate. has anyone been there before? i heard about it through the commentary of my dvd of "where the sidewalk ends". they are an advocacy group for the preservation of 35mm films. when i return i hope to have news..

all the best,khambrel

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 3 replies

screenings and where to buy dvds

2006-03-14T00:26:08Z

Are there regular screenings of film noir somewhere in the bay area. I know the Stanford theater shows classics but I really rather not see another musical. By the way Costco has classic movies (including Laura) in stock for $8 - $15.
xoxox

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 3 replies

Choice of Four Movies

2006-02-24T03:48:19Z

So I've got four films that I am going to try and watch over the next week or so. If anyone has seen them and wants to chat...please do. If you haven't seen them, well how about you rent it and we can have a discussion?

Here are my four:

"Sullivan's Travels" 1942
Joel McCrea plays a Hollywood director, tired of churning out comedies, decides to write a serious, socially responsible film about human suffering. After his producers point out that he knows nothing of hardship, he hits the road as a hobo. On his journey he finds the lovely Veronica Lake and more trouble than he ever dreamed of.

"Impact " 1939
Impact tells the story of a man (Brian Donlevy) suffering from amnesia who learns of his own torrid past.

"Second Woman" 1939
Second Woman is the gothic tale of a man (Robert Young) plagued with uncanny bad luck.

"They Made Me a Criminal" 1939
This movie follows a boxer and a murder suspect (John Garfield) who reforms a group of dead-end kids while he's on the lam.

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 9 replies

Members!!!!

2006-02-22T22:34:39Z

Hey, we actually have a few members! Fantastic...Please feel free to introduce yourselves or post a topic.

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 29 replies

Film Noir Portraits...

2006-02-15T15:13:44Z

Thought a few of you might enjoy seeing images from a recent portrait shoot.

http://www.lafterhall.com/trouble_is_always_a_dame.html

Watch your back!
Jim

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 0 replies

i just watched "the driver" again yesterday...

2006-01-27T21:16:39Z

are there tribes concerning neo-noir? if so,please set me up with them as i am a fan and scholar of the genre.

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 2 replies

What Is This Film???????

2006-01-13T20:44:33Z

Hello,

I'm new here. First, I like the idea of weekly film recommendations. Very cool.

The reason for this post is that I started watching a film ~7 years ago then got interupted by housemates. Here are some descriptions of the film in bullet format:

* Black and white film

* The protagonist is drugged and held hostage in an insane asylum.

* A femme fatal constantly drugs him.

* I think - though I could be very wrong - there is hidden loot that only the protagonist knows.

Help. Please help. I'm dying to see the rest of the film. Thank you.

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 8 replies

SF Film Noir Festival

2006-01-13T16:31:36Z

Hey, it's tonight! It's tonight!

http://www.noircity.com/noircity.html

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 0 replies

UNLEASHED

2005-12-08T13:50:26Z

I recently rented UNLEASHED and thought it was pretty good. The picture stars Jet Li and is somewhat different for a marshal arts film. The film, directed by Louis Leterrier, is a blend of Action and Film Noir.

The story is essentially about a young man's journey from a cold, isolated underworld to a place of sensitivity and love. Bob Hoskins plays the smalltime godfather who, by treating him like a dog, raises Jet Li's character to be a human weapon that kills people.

The elements of film that can be considered film noir are the dirty, gritty streets and people of the underworld. It was filmed on location in the city of Glasgow, Scotland where the sight of urban decay helps give the story it's atmosphere and feeling that the city is an evil place.

The fighting scenes, filmed by Master Yuen Wo Ping, are exciting as we see Jet Li fight in a more brutal manner similar to that of a Pit Bull. Very dark, very violent, very cool!

Anybody else see this one?

-Wendy

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 1 reply

Sin City

2005-11-29T17:40:09Z

Noir. Hardcore.

Yet retro, pomo and trivial.

Thoughts?

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 9 replies

HELP WANTED?

2005-11-26T14:58:16Z

Any writers, publishers, editors or researchers in the group?

I have been toying with a book idea for a little over 10 years now, and I think I am getting close to undertaking the task of refining my idea, organizing it, and actually starting to churn out some preliminary pages.

Although I am far from being a writer by trade, this idea haunts me and I feel I must persue it. I tend to work best in collaborative situations, and so...I could use some help.

The book itself is an investigation of what I call "Psy-Fi" (in the past few years terms like "Tech Noir", "Future Noir" among others have been tossed around). Books like Alain Silver & James Ursini's FILM NOIR READER 2 have given some small coverage to the genre but I would like this to be a full blown attempt to trace, define, and structure it start to Ummm....(can't say finish here...because we are getting more and more possible examples each year).

So, anywho...if anyone out there has an interest in exploring this idea with me (instead of outright just stealing it now), I would be interested in hearing from you, and I would be happy to go more indepth with my overall view of the subject.

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 0 replies

Noir Podcast

2005-11-15T05:40:19Z

check it out! Pretty cool!

http://outofthepast.libsyn.com/

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 1 reply

Any John Dahl fan here?

2005-11-15T00:41:56Z

I particularly love "Red Rock West" and "The Last Seduction."

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 2 replies

Music

2005-11-12T15:18:01Z

Check this out:

http://www.moviemusic.com/soundtrack.asp?id=filmnoir

Also if you're in SF check out Border's downtown store window - all film noir - at least it was last weekend.

posted in Hardcore Film Noir - 1 reply