Film Noir

Is film noir a significant subgenre?
By William Mbagwu
What is a sub genre?

A sub genre is a genre within a larger more
typically well known genre. Film noir would
be an ideal example of this as it itself is a sub
genre within the genre crime. Film noir is
significant to us still after so many years due
to the fact that a lot of techniques used in film
movies are still being used today, such as
chiaroscuro lighting, the use of contrast,
chase scenes stairwells and many more.
Conventions of film noir
These are some of the main conventions of film noir Shadows
To create an illusion and mysterious image over a characters or setting.
Weird camera angle
Camera angle filmed from the floor to make people taller, bigger and more powerful.
Blues music
In the era of jazz music so music in bars were quite common and jazzy. Pace of music would get quicker if
something was going to happen in the scene.
Voice over - A narrative for a film noir was very common. They would narrate in the car scenes to show they were
thinking or planning something.
Film colour
All the film noir film could be in colour but it would be a vivid
sharp colour which wouldnt reflect the crime genre, whereas black and
white suited the crime genre more.
Smoking- The smoke used should create a cloud or a weird shape which would reflect the person smoking the
cigarette or cigar.
Rainy streets- Pathetic fallacy is used to reflect someone motions though the weather.
Film noir narratives
Crooks
Amnesia
Black widow
Psychological
Heists
Double Crosses
Gangsters
Sin and punishment
Downward spiral
One wrong decision
Murder
Drugs
Whodunit
Sexual obsession
Messages and meanings
There are many messages conveyed in Film Noir

The main few being:
The world is not as good a place as it may seem
Despite their looks and appearances everybody has
flaws
The American dream does not exist and things are not
what theyre made out to be.
Chiaroscuro
Chiaroscuro is defined as the technique of using light and shade in
pictorial representation and/or the arrangement of light and dark
elements in a pictorial work of art.
Chiaroscuro is used in cinematography to indicate extreme low-key
and high contrast lighting to create distinct areas of light and

darkness in films, especially in black and white films. Classic
examples are The cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920), Nosferatu (1922),
the hunchback of Notre Dame (1939), The devil and Daniel Webster
(1941) ande the black and white scenes in Andrei Tarkovskys
Stalker (1979)
Cinematography
The cinematography in film noir is often
skewed and distorted. Theyre also often
uncomfortable to look at in order to make
the viewer feel uneasy.
The hays code

The hays code (created in the 1930s) was put in order to stop film
noir productions from screening violent or sexual scenes. Although

they were aloud to show them in a subtle way, so they could still
have violent and sexual scenes but not be displayed in the way they
are used today. This was partly put in place because back then
there were no age restrictions on movies, and this meant that
people of any age could have access to watching film noir meaning
they had to make it suitable for all
viewers. A perfect example of the hays code is when Phylliss
husband is getting choked to next to her in Double Indemnity
because even though we cant see it happening we can tell its
happening just by looking.
Sound
Film noir uses sound to compliment the
feeling of foreboding and pessimism
presented in the film. Sound effects are
often used to reflect the atmosphere of the
location.
Examples of Sounds Used

Heavy breathing
Sudden noises
Use of quiet and silence
Voice over (of the protagonist)
Discordant and grating music, used to
make the viewer feel uneasy.
Editing
Film Noir editing follows many of the traditional crime

characteristics but they are generally told non linearly.
Non linear start at the end, then tell story in flashbacks
Often shot day for night using filters. Cheaper
Use continuity editing generally. Some montage
Can and did use jump cuts and jarring juxtaposition
Occasional use of CU then move out to reveal action
Different camera angles

Camera angles used within film noir to create a sense of massiveness,
power and mysterious presents.
Low Angle Shots - these are regularly used in these films, largely due to the fact that they make
the subject of the shot appear more powerful. This is a technique used for both the 'Femme
Fatale' and the male lead to interpret to the audience when they are at the heights and lows of
their power during the progression of the film.
Dutch Angle Shots - These are often used in these films to portray to the audience a sense of
unease or 'madness' the character is feeling psychologically. It's when the camera is tilted
instead of being vertical or horizontal.
Mirror reflections - One or more characters are usually shot in the reflection of a mirror. This
can signify the development of a relationship, or reflect the two common sides of a femme fatale;
the one she knows and the one the protagonist (main male character) knows.
Popular film noir characters

Popular Film Noirs characters that appear
with regularity are the down at heel Private
Eye and the deadly Femme Fetale.
Film noir examples
The Big Gamble

Blonde Crazy
City Streets
Five Star Final
Little Caesar
The Maltese Falcon (aka Dangerous Female)
Quick Millions The Maltese Falcon (aka Dangerous Female)
Bordertown
The Florentine Dagger
G Men
The Glass Key
The Scoundrel

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Is film noir a significant subgenre?

What is a sub genre?

Conventions of film noir

These are some of the main conventions of film noir Shadows

To create an illusion and mysterious image over a characters or setting.

Weird camera angle

Film noir narratives

Messages and meanings

There are many messages conveyed in Film Noir

Chiaroscuro is used in cinematography to indicate extreme low-key

and high contrast lighting to create distinct areas of light and

The hays code

noir productions from screening violent or sexual scenes. Although

Examples of Sounds Used

Film Noir editing follows many of the traditional crime

Different camera angles

Popular film noir characters

Film noir examples

The Big Gamble

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