Film noir meaning The Maltese Falcon is an example of a film noir. Tales of murder set in Old Hollywood, hardened gumshoe types, femme fatales, and all Noir or film noir, is more than just a French term. They also exhibit an existential acceptance of random, arbitrary occurrences as being the determining factors in life. Noir is used to describe a period of American films. The term was coined by French critics in 1946, but the films date from the 1930s to the present, and include various genres and influences. . Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as stretching from the early 1940s to the late 1950s. Whether film noir is a genre, an era, a tone, or a movement is hotly debated. There is no commonly accepted definition of film noir because the term originated after several film noir movies had been made. A movie which at no time misleads you into thinking there is going to be a happy ending. Cain’s pulp novella and co-written by legendary crime novelist Raymond Chandler, it delivers the holy trinity of film noir: a doomed antihero, a sultry femme fatale, and a murder plot that unravels like a ticking time bomb. FILM NOIR definition: 1. Film noir was a collaborative endeavor by visionary directors, writers, and cinematographers. A mood of pessimism, fatalism, and menace marks films of this genre. Unlike Film Noir films, which often had black-and-white visuals, stark lighting, and post-war disillusionment themes, neo-noir includes contemporary issues (such as corporate corruption), color visuals, and more complex characters. Originating in the early 1940s, this genre has continued to captivate audiences with its complex narratives, stylistic visuals, and the moral ambiguity of its chara Apr 29, 2024 · A Brief History of Film Noir. film noirs or films noirs 1. Click for English pronunciations, examples sentences, video. Learn about its origins, influences, characteristics, and legacy in global cinema. 3, pp. See examples of FILM NOIR used in a sentence. The Noir film genre, a term coined from the French word for "black," represents a distinctive category of crime dramas or thrillers noted for their pessimistic, moody atmosphere and a visual style that emphasizes shadows and stark lighting contrasts. In this article, we will look at some tips for film noir photography. 1. Learn about the origin, elements, and classic movies of film noir, as well as its influence on modern cinema. First published: Reflections, 1999, vol. This darkness was a reflection of the social and cultural uncertainty that pervaded WWII era America. See full list on britannica. What is noir? Film Noir is one of Hollywood’s only organic artistic movements. Film Noir is a French word meaning “black film. Learn more about the history, usage, and examples of film noir from Merriam-Webster dictionary. ” In these films, characters go through the ringer. With its stark shadows, moral ambiguity, and psychological complexity, this distinctively American cinematic movement continues to fascinate film enthusiasts more than seven decades after its emergence. Learn more. ” The term was coined by French film critics who identified a new style emerging in American cinema. Among the most distinguished figures in this genre is John Huston, whose film “The Maltese Falcon” (1941) is considered one of the first major noirs, setting the standard for the genre with its complex plot and dark atmosphere. Adapted from James M. Mar 28, 2025 · a movie that is marked by a mood of pessimism, fatalism, menace, and cynical characters Define film noir. Dec 2, 2024 · Film noir is a stylized genre of film marked by pessimism, fatalism, and cynicism. Jan 15, 2024 · Film noir is a genre of films that emerged in the 1940s and 1950s, featuring dark and moody themes and visual style. Some will argue that noir is and only is, a period in American film. Film noir (“Black Film”) is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. The term "film noir" comes from the French term for "black film" or "dark film". Film noir definition: . [43] As Porfirio says: “This sense of meaninglessness is…not the result of any sort of discursive reasoning. Some argue film noir is a full-fledged cinematic genre, like the western or screwball comedy. The term film noir, French for "black film" (literal) or "dark film" (closer meaning), [2] was first applied to Hollywood films by French critic Nino Frank in 1946, but was unrecognized by most American film industry professionals of that era. Film Noirs Characteristics and Trops Nov 7, 2023 · ロバート・ウィーネ、ドイツ、1924年、Film-Grab経由 ノワール アメリカとヨーロッパのスタイルと感性の魅力的な出会いの場を表しています。 フィルム ノワールで最も多作な映画製作者の多くは、ナチズムと戦争から逃れてきたヨーロッパからの移住者でした。 What is noir? Film Noir is one of Hollywood’s only organic artistic movements. a style of film, usually about crime, that presents the world as being unpleasant, strange, or…. A movie characterized by low-key lighting, a bleak urban setting, and corrupt, cynical characters. 1 no. Nov 12, 2018 · After defining much of the film noir style with Citizen Kane (1941) and starring in the film noir classic The Third Man (1949), Orson Welles wrote and directed Touch of Evil, considered by many critics to be one of the final film noir movies ever made. Check it out: By these standards, film noir isn't necessarily something that exists in the modern filmmaking landscape (although the latest season of True Detective checks off a lot of boxes 黑色電影（法語： Film noir ）是電影界用語，多指好萊塢 偵探片，特別是強調善惡劃分不明確的道德觀與來自於性的動機的題材。一般認為，好萊塢經典黑色電影時期從1940年代持續至1950年代末。 Meaning of film noir. Although the “hard-boiled detective” is the stereotypical noir hero, the central male characters Ironically, perhaps the single film with the greatest influence on the film noir aesthetic was not a noir at all: Citizen Kane. Nov 24, 2022 · Film noir is a 20th century descendent of the grim romanticism of the 1800s. Jun 23, 2024 · What is Film Noir? Film Noir is a term used to describe a genre of dark and gritty crime films that emerged in the United States during the 1940s and 1950s. Borde and Chaumeton called the mood an ever-present “malaise” and wrote that “film noir is a film of death, in all senses of the word,” but even their early treatise on the emerging style aimed to move “toward a definition” rather than concretizing one. Techniques include low-key lighting, complex storytelling Dec 19, 2012 · Film noir is . It was a Frenchman, Nino Frank, who coined the term “film noir,” meaning a “black or dark film,” in 1946, and it was the French who popularised the term, often retrospectively applying it to films that were originally thought of as “melodramas. Feb 2, 2024 · Noir refers to a film genre of the 1940s-50s characterized by pessimism and moral ambiguity, while Neo-Noir is a modern continuation of Noir themes, updated with contemporary content and style. film noir synonyms, film noir pronunciation, film noir translation, English dictionary definition of film noir. Film Noir describes a genre or style of movies that enjoyed their heyday during from the 1940s and 1950s. We break down the characteristics of film noir, and the most famous examples. Feb 21, 2021 · Baptisé ainsi par Todd Erickson et analysé pour la première fois dans la deuxième édition de son ouvrage Film Noir : An Encyclopedie Reference to the American Style (1987), le néo-noir est né avec des films comme Chinatown de Polanski (1974), The Conversation (Conversation secrète de Coppola, 1974), Taxi Driver de Scorsese (1976) et Body Heat (La Fièvre au corps de Kasdan, 1981). [3] The neologism neo-noir, using the Greek prefix for the word new, is defined by Mark Conard as "any film coming after the classic noir period that contains noir themes and noir sensibility". Cain) were crime films that began to take the place of Westerns in Hollywood. Beginning in the early 1940s, numerous screenplays inspired by hardboiled American crime fiction were brought to the screen, primarily by European émigré directors who shared a certain storytelling sensibility: highly stylized, overtly theatrical, with imagery often drawn from an earlier era of German May 29, 2018 · The term film noir, meaning "dark cinema," was coined by French film critics to describe the American films that arrived in Europe in the years after World War II (1939–45). Apr 19, 2025 · Double Indemnity (1944). Film noir is a style of Hollywood crime dramas that emphasizes cynical attitudes and motivations, often with a low-key, black-and-white visual style. 25. But, this should not be thought of as entirely for that genre of film but as a photography style that can be used for a specific type of story telling. To my mind Film Noir is characterised by its use of shapes, shadows, chiaroscuro lighting Oct 6, 2020 · The word 'Film Noir' gives us a feeling of moody, dramatic and dark cinematic scenes that usually crime and thriller movies make use of. Learn about its origins in German Expressionism and hard-boiled fiction, its key characteristics of chiaroscuro lighting and morally ambiguous characters, and its impact and influence on cinema and modern media. At that time, the term signified an unexpected strain of maturity in contemporary American film, marking the end of a creatively ossified era and the beginning of a bold new one. Therefore, nothing after this period can be considered noir. Influences on Film Noir. Dashiell Hammett, a former Pinkerton detective, is credited with having invented the genre with the appearance of his story "Fly Paper" in Black Mask magazine. Tales of murder set in Old Hollywood, hardened gumshoe types, femme fatales, and all Sep 10, 2021 · What is noir exactly? For some, images of black-and-white films from the ’40s and ’50s might come to mind. 96–106. Characteristics of Film Noir. ” It was a popular genre in the 1940s that consisted of dark subject matter, downbeat tones, and low-key lighting. pl. Apr 19, 2024 · Film noir Definition & Meaning. n. . What does film noir mean? Information and translations of film noir in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize moral ambiguity and sexual motivation. What is Film Noir? – We look at film noir's history, characteristics, and long-lasting legacy. These films were characterized by their moody black-and-white cinematography, morally ambiguous characters, and complex, labyrinthine plots. German Expressionism: The visual style of Film Noir was heavily influenced by German Expressionist films of the 1920s, which used distorted angles, dramatic lighting, and exaggerated sets to create a sense of unease and disorientation. In 1946, French film critics coined the term film noir , meaning black or dark film, to describe a newly emergent quality in wartime Hollywood films. ly/wi-fnStudioBinder Blog h 4 days ago · By utilizing the films “Out of the Past” (1947), “The Killers” (1946), and “Chinatown” (1974) as examples, the paper will explore the similarities and differences between classic noir and neo-noir films, highlighting the key conventions that define the genre, look closer at the significance and impact of specific conventions as well Sep 10, 2021 · What is noir exactly? For some, images of black-and-white films from the ’40s and ’50s might come to mind. Film noir movies were mostly made from the early 1940s to the late 1950s in the United States, and they were usually filmed in black-and-white. There are, nevertheless, several fundamental elements that may be found in the majority of instances of the genre. Dec 9, 2015 · Film Noir literally meaning dark film is the term coined by French critics to describe the creeping darkness that they saw in a cycle of American films beginning in the 1940s. Emerging in the 1940s as an alternative to "classical" Hollywood cinema, film noir is a curious blend of violent crime, national identity crisis, and budget moviemaking. They were often suspense films that required the directors to convey tension and drama which was achieved through the characteristics of film noir. Film Noir was influenced by a variety of sources, including: 1. A French term meaning “black film,” or film of the night, inspired by the Series Noir, a line of cheap paperbacks that translated hard-boiled American crime authors and found a popular audience in France. American film noir went through a relatively fallow period from the late 1950s to the early 1970s, when the first wave of “neo-noirs” began cropping up in theaters. Dec 18, 2021 · Film noir is a French term that literally translates to “black film” or “black cinema” and was coined by the early French critic, Nino Frank in 1946 as an attempt to classify the dark and downbeat Hollywood films being produced post World War II. May 12, 2025 · Exploring Film Noir: Characteristics and Influence - Quizlet Neo-noir is a genre of films that use the visual style and themes of classic film noir (French: ‘dark film’) but add a modern sensibility. What is Film Noir https://bit. May 7, 2012 · Film noir is a French term for black film, a type of crime film with cynical and malevolent characters, shadowy photography, and foreboding music. Sep 8, 2023 · Noir is “technically the French word for ‘black,’ but it’s used to mean darkness,” says Muller, who has written 11 books on the subject, including Eddie Muller’s Noir Bar, with Noir or film noir, is more than just a French term. Some of the great classics of film noir were adapted from 1930s hard-boiled fiction. Why it’s essential: Billy Wilder’s Double Indemnity isn’t just a noir classic—it is the blueprint. [3] Another definition describes it as later noir that often synthesizes diverse genres while foregrounding the scaffolding of film noir . Often, the protagonist was an anti-hero or private detective. ” A gangster thriller, made esp in the 1940s in Hollywood characterized by contrasty lighting. Film noir - Noir Hero, Noir Style, Noir Genre: The heroes of noir generally share certain qualities, such as moral ambiguity, a fatalistic outlook, and alienation from society. For those curious about the essential noir viewing guide, classic femme fatales, […] Film Noir, a term that evokes the mystery and seductive shadows of the cinematic world, remains one of the most fascinating and enduring genres in the history of film. Sep 28, 2014 · In film noir “Good and evil go hand in hand to the point of being indistinguishable,” say Borde and Chaumeton, “Towards a Definition of Film Noir,” p. Is film noir a mood then? To an extent, yes. Emerging primarily in the United States during the 1940s and 1950s, Noir films are characterized by their exploration of themes such as moral Oct 16, 2024 · Film Noir and the Hard-Boiled Fiction Tradition. May 5, 2025 · In the world of cinema, few styles are as instantly recognisable and deeply influential as film noir. My favorite definition comes from the czar of Noir himself, Eddie Muller (host of TCM’s weekly program Noir Alley, and the Film Noir Foundation president) who refers to noir as “suffering with style. Released in 1941 by RKO, the studio that went on to have the most consistently noir look, Orson Welles’ film, considered by many to be the greatest ever made, is the perfect showcase of the noir style; in fact, watching Citizen Kane may be the single most Film noir films were marked visually by expressionistic lighting, deep-focus or depth of field camera work, disorienting visual schemes, jarring editing or juxtaposition of elements, ominous shadows, skewed camera angles (usually vertical or diagonal rather than horizontal), circling cigarette smoke, existential sensibilities, and unbalanced or FILM NOIR meaning: 1. Noir film is very much of the American urban 1940s — mid 1950 The origins of noir can be traced back to the French term “film noir,” meaning “black film. Aug 18, 2015 · And as an added bonus, they even created a rubric in order to score the greatest noir films ever made and determine which one is the "noir-est" of all. Neo-noir is a modern version of the classic film noir genre, popular in the 1940s and 1950s. The term “film noir,” meaning “black film” in French, was coined by French film critics who noticed a particular trend in American crime dramas that featured a bleak and cynical outlook, echoing the dark underbelly of post-World War II society. It was an artistic movement, a historical era in American film. Charlton Heston stars as a Mexican drug enforcement agent who witnesses a car bomb and In spite of its importance, film noir remains a broad term applied in many ways. From 1944 through the late 1950s, movies like The Maltese Falcon (based on a novel by Dashiell Hammett), Laura (based on a novel by Vera Caspary), Murder, My Sweet (based on a novel by Raymond Chandler), and Double Indemnity (based on a novel by James M. Apr 17, 2024 · After all, when we think of noir, we automatically think of film noir, not noir literature. Jul 2, 2024 · IV. They also usually contain more graphic depictions of violence and sexuality. The term “Film Noir” is French for “black film,” which reflects the dark and pessimistic tone of these movies. Oct 6, 2019 · Film noir is one of the darkest and most fascinating genres in cinema. Film Noir is the sultry, shadow-laced genre that revolutionized cinema with its moody aesthetics and morally ambiguous characters. 2. ; It is very much linked to a specific era in film, like German Expressionism or French New Wave. Abstract: Noting that there is disagreement amongst critics both as to the definition of “film noir” and over which films may be regarded as examples of the genre, the authors propose a strategy for increasing precision in critical discussion of this topic. Beginning in the early 1940s, numerous screenplays inspired by hardboiled American crime fiction were brought to the screen, primarily by European émigré directors who shared a certain storytelling sensibility: highly stylized, overtly theatrical, with imagery often drawn from an earlier era of German Dec 16, 2019 · The Long Goodbye. Jan 2, 2025 · Film Analysis Terms Film Noir. It’s a world where the line between right and wrong is as blurred as the foggy streets its anti-heroes wander. com Sep 10, 2024 · Film Noir is a term for dark, stylized crime thrillers that emerged in 1940s Hollywood. David Cornwell & Sandy Hobbs. Film books, essays, and mainstream media explanations are filled with different interpretations of its meaning. Apr 27, 2024 · Neo-noir Definition & Meaning. Film noir is a term used to describe crime drama movies from Hollywood that are often focused on sex, crime, and corruption. mmin ccpbg oegds qqbww iog vbgkplb fsruv ykzqq zidrul shpqom