Conventions of Film Noir By Max Shearman

This presentation will explore and explain the conventions of Film Noir.

Film Noir

Film noir is a cinematic technique. The term was first penned by a French film critic in the 1940’s and is French for ‘black film’. The plot emphasises cynical attitudes and sexual motives. Film noir was particularly popular throughout the 1940’s and 50’s. Some characteristics include dim lighting, the use of Venetian blinds, Fedora hats, smoke filled rooms, voice-overs, and black and white cinematography. A lot of film noirs have evolved from American crime novels. Whether film noir should have its own genre or whether it is a hybrid genre continues to be a highly debated topic.

Characters• An anti-hero who lacks moral goodness and is fatally flawed, often a

detective• The Femme Fatale - an attractive, but deceptive woman who often brings

the anti-hero to his downfall• Fraudulent police• Organised crime gangsters• Jealous husbands• Killers• Government agents.

Setting• Often set in industrial urban areas • Many have been set in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Chicago• Dark, at night• Traditionally American places such as bars, restaurants, lounges, hotels

and motels• Often rainy• Ending occurs in perceptually elaborate places.