Film Noir is a cinematic term used to describe a specific type of film in Hollywood: stylized crime dramas, particularly those that have a mood of pessimism, fatalism and cynical attitudes. The 1940s and 1950s are regarded as the “classic period” of American film noir.
Some examples are=
In a Lonely Place (Nicholas Ray, 1950)
And Double Indemnity (Billy Wilder, 1944)
There is also the “Neo Noir” type of film which contains the visual style and themes of classic film noir but with an added modern sensibility. They also contain graphic displays of violence and sexuality.
Film Noir is a style of film popular in the 1940s-1950s. Noir films are shot in black and white, and have a focus on shadows in the cinematography. The Noir genre focused on plots around hard boiled private detectives, femme fatales, murders and the mafia/gangs.
Night Of The Hunter (1955, Charles Laughton)
Neo Noir
Neo Noir is a modernised version of the Noir style of the 40s with more graphic depictions of violence. It modernises the pessimism and mean nature of the classic Noir style for contemporary audiences
Film Noir is stylized Hollywood crime dramas which are shot in block and white and place emphasis on shadows. Themes of these movies often include use flashbacks and intricate plots.
a style or genre of cinematographic film marked by a mood of pessimism, fatalism, and menace. The term was originally applied (by a group of French critics) to American thriller or detective films made in the period 1944–54. It uses shadows to show the contract of good and bad.
Film noir: a style of filmmaking with defining characteristics like being in black and white, and high contrast lighting. This genre is commonly stylised crime dramas and gangster films.
1.Why did film makers and producers move to Hollywood?
-The mountains, plains and low land prices made Hollywood a good place to establish film studios.
Name some of the big stars, directors and pictures from the Silent Era of Hollywood?
-Charlie Chaplin
Produced his own films did the sound and sets for them. Charlie did his own stunts as well. Charlie Chaplin was one of the greatest and widely loved silent movie stars. From ‘Easy Street’ to ‘Modern Times’. He also made many of the funniest and most popular films of his time. He was best known for his character, the naive and lovable Little Tramp.
-Clara Bow
Actor- Clara Gordon Bow was an American actress who rose to stardom during the silent film era of the 1920s and successfully made the transition to ‘talkies’ in 1929.
-Douglas Fairbanks
Action hero and he did all his own stunts. Douglas Elton Fairbanks Sr. was an American actor and filmmaker best known for being the first actor to play the masked Vigilante Zorro and other swashbuckling roles in silent films. One of the biggest stars of the silent era, Fairbanks was referred to as ‘The King of Hollywood’.
In what ways were the early Hollywood studio system like a factory or production line or even the Premier League?
-The studio system operated like a factory, with stars, directors, writers, and crew all working under long-term contracts.
Why did the end of the silent era cause problems for some performers working in the film industry?
-Due to the unsuitability of their voice and/or acting abilities with the new medium.
What was happening in America(and around the world) at this time?
In America at the time the country’s wealth doubled from 1920-1929. Although in the 1930s the great depression hit and America suffered its largest struggles it had seen as a nation. World War 1 was also happening. It started in 1914 up until 1918.
Golden Age of Hollywood 1930- 1947
The five big Hollywood studios where – Paramount Pictures, Warner Brothers Studios, MGM, 20th Century Fox and RKO.
Film Noir a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylized Hollywoodcrime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the “classic period” of American film noir.
(Strangers on a train)
NEO-FILM NOIR. Neo-noir is a film genre that adapts the visual style and themes of 1940s and 1950s American film noir for contemporary audiences, often with more graphic depictions of violence and sexuality. This modern take on a classic technique allows for directors to explore amore sleazy and dark style.
Film Noir: a type of crime film featuring cynical malevolent characters in a sleazy setting and an ominous atmosphere that is conveyed by shadowy photography and foreboding background music
A memorable scene for me was the runway scene were Rick does a grand gesture and gets victor and Ilsa get on the plane together. This stood out to me due to the dialogue used and the music. The dramatic set with rain and thunder matched with dialogue evoked emotion me making it the most Memorable
The movie leads you to believe that Rick and Isla will get away but at this scene the movie takes a turn showing the morals rick had all along. The scene also has suspense building up to his decision making me immersed
SOUND- In this scene while Combo sits in his car, diegetic sound plays from the radio in the car talking about the political decisions made in the falklands islands. This sound creates tension as the viewer watches. This method makes storytelling interesting as is not directly telling the viewer through speech highlighting to the viewer that the political situation is having a impact on the viewer.
EDITING- This is England starts with a montage of political events from the 80s, this gives the movie context before it starts. I believe that this is highly effective, seeing the emotional scenes from the coal mine riots gives you the sense of political uncertainty that the characters in the movie experience.
MISE EN SCNE- The Mise en scene in this scene shows the social environment that their group hangs out in. The room is cluttered and unbalanced, possibly symbolizing the environment that they are in. The lighting is dim, showing the relaxed environment. The characters are all wearing their normal matching outfits showing the unity in the group.
CINEMATOGRAPHY- The cinematography in this scene shows Shaun from a bird’s eye view, this technique often symbolizes the character as small and vulnerable. I believe this works well showing the loneliness that Shaun feels in this scene the movement of the camera could possibly symbolise the time passing slowly as shaun spends time alone.
YOUNG PEOPLE – The young people are represented in this is England by being destructive, in this scene they gather together and dress up and break down an abonded building. In the movie we see the young people in woddys group not attend school or a job showing possibly that there wasn’t a lot of support in place for young people therefore making them act out. However some of the young people in this movie can be seen as mature such as when Woody met Shaun’s mother.
OLDER PEOPLE – A representation of older people we see is Shaun’s mother, she’s seen throughout the movie caring for Shaun and wanting the best for him. However her character for me acts as a contrast between her behaviour and combo showing the difference in paternal figures Shaun has. However Shaun’s mother perhaps isn’t as attentive as she should be but this could possibly be to represent the time that the movie was set in.
CLASS – We can see class represented by Shaun’s room, in his room for example his bedside table is a old chair and his wallpaper is ripped showing that his room is rundown showing that he is of a lower class, we also see that shaun wears old clothes this shows the struggles that shaun faces due to his class with bullying etc. This for me shapes Shaun’s character showing that the enviorment he lives in his lower class.
WHITE PEOPLE – In this is England we see people such as combos group be very proud to be english, and the idea of national front. However this view isn shared with everyone in the movie as you can see the difference between combo and woody group in ideals and beliefs.
PEOPLE OF COLOUR – In the movie the national from becomes a key part of the movie, where combos group teaches shaun slurs and racist ideas. We see this in the scene where Shaun uses racist language and aggressive behaviour towards the shop keeper this shows the effect the the national front as on people of colour.
Men/Masculinity – In the movie we see that masculine behaviour is encouraged by combos group, when Shaun fights back against combo he is praised and told to fight back in what he believes in. This shows that a sense of masculinity is important within this group. This represents men to be masculine within the movie.
Woman – In the movie you can see the woman in the movie nurture shaun, for example Woodys female friends and his mother the only exception of this being Michelle who would consider doing the opposite. However overall the woman are more gentle in this movie.
Midlands- The midlands are represented by possibly being bleak, in the set design of the movie we see the grey soundings and all compact houses. This creates a sense of boredom within the young people due to the set design. As you can see in the photo thew town purposely looks rundown.
