The Best of Film Noir (Video 1999)

Uses over 30 film clips and interviews about the tough guys and the femme fatales to illustrate the aspects of the film noir genre. Jeffrey Wells discusses _Big Sleep, The (1946)_ , Touch ... See full summary »

Writer:

Christopher Case

Stars:

Lauren Bacall, James Bacon, Humphrey Bogart

Cast

Credited cast:
Lauren Bacall	...	Herself (archive footage)
James Bacon	...	Himself (archive footage)
Humphrey Bogart	...	Himself (archive footage)
Jane Greer	...	Herself
Charlton Heston	...	Himself (archive footage)
John Houseman	...	Himself (archive footage)
Janet Leigh	...	Herself (archive footage)
Virginia Mayo	...	Herself
Kim Novak	...	Herself
Greg O'Neill	...	Narrator
Rod Steiger	...	Himself (archive footage)
Orson Welles	...	Himself (archive footage)

Storyline

Uses over 30 film clips and interviews about the tough guys and the femme fatales to illustrate the aspects of the film noir genre. Jeffrey Wells discusses _Big Sleep, The (1946)_ , Touch of Evil, Kiss Me Deadly, D.O.A., Out of the Past, _Against All Odds_, Laura, and Kiss of Death. Film noir is Hollywood's truly original vision of the shadowy, smoky underworld populated by beautiful dames and the regular Joes who fell for them. In films from the early 1940s to the present day, they entertain us with intrigue, conflict, and lust.

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Plot Keywords:

independent film

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Genres:

Documentary

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Also Known As:

Lo mejor del cine negro

Company Credits

Production Co:

Passport International Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Color:

Black and White Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

About half-way into "part two" there is a title-card that reads "Jeffrey Wells, A Critics Commentary" (sic). It should read like this: "Jeffrey Wells: A Critic's Commentary", with an apostrophe to show the possessive form.

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Connections

Features Notorious (1946)

User Reviews

introduction to certain noir films and stars

more of an introduction to certain noir films and stars than an introduction to the genre. it covers a couple genre conventions very briefly, but focuses more on highlighting some of the better films in the genre. films like the maltese falcon, d.o.a., kiss them deadly and to have and to have not are covered. there isn't any great insight offered by the narration or any of the people interviewed. a good place to go to get film noir recommendation, but read "notes on film noir" if you're looking for a good breakdown on the genre. my favorite noir films are: kubrick's the killing, lewis' gun crazy and wilder's double indemnity. none of these are covered in any depth, though a couple clips are shown from double indemnity. C+.