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Well since Godoggo was the only one who answered the request, she is being catered to with a focus on noir. I'm not really including plot since they're all some form of "a man, a woman, bad things, shadows, etc." and plus they're better films to watch without prior knowledge I think. Here we go again. PS: These are all "classic" noirs, by request, and I managed to stay within the 40s on accident, so huzzah.
Out of the Past (1947)
Directed by Jacques Tourneur, famous for his 40s horror film series, also entered noir territory with this one, said to be one of the greatest film noirs by several critics and fans but unspoken of on this website curiously enough. As one who's seen his films might expect, he brings a sort of tragic lyricism to the genre, not in a frenchy way but rather in the dream-like aspects of the movements of both the camera and character, at least for its time.
The Killers (1946)
The lesser known brother of Double Indemnity, without the genre cliches. I sometimes forget the storyline as there are many brilliant scenes to get lost in. I suppose it's based on the Ernest Hemingway short story, but it takes some liberties, though the ferocity of the story remains.
Shadow of a Doubt (1943)
Hitchcock. I guess I could say more. Somewhat of a film about people who like murder and discussing murder, but a perfect example of a film to go in fresh. It's one of the few films I know that can manage a comedic thread amongst the intensity that is Hitchcock's thicker era of suspense.
Stray Dog (1949)
Kurosawa. A foreign film snuck in here indeed, and not a single samurai! Retiring cop investigates crime committed with his weapon. One of the director's only dabblings with the genre but explores a lot of social conditions of the time period, as you might expect, rather than sticking to strict protagonists/antagonists, which makes the film stand out. Overlooked needless to say.
The Lady From Shanghai (1947)
Orson Welles. Gotta stop doing that. Not as surreal as Touch of Evil but much more sensual. And fun, whatever that means in this genre. Also notorious as a film that was butchered in the editing room by a studio that ignored Welle's notes (this tends to happen to him). Nonetheless, a sort of whodunit with lots of twists and turns that make for a very fulfilling viewing.
Out of the Past (1947)
Directed by Jacques Tourneur, famous for his 40s horror film series, also entered noir territory with this one, said to be one of the greatest film noirs by several critics and fans but unspoken of on this website curiously enough. As one who's seen his films might expect, he brings a sort of tragic lyricism to the genre, not in a frenchy way but rather in the dream-like aspects of the movements of both the camera and character, at least for its time.
The Killers (1946)
The lesser known brother of Double Indemnity, without the genre cliches. I sometimes forget the storyline as there are many brilliant scenes to get lost in. I suppose it's based on the Ernest Hemingway short story, but it takes some liberties, though the ferocity of the story remains.
Shadow of a Doubt (1943)
Hitchcock. I guess I could say more. Somewhat of a film about people who like murder and discussing murder, but a perfect example of a film to go in fresh. It's one of the few films I know that can manage a comedic thread amongst the intensity that is Hitchcock's thicker era of suspense.
Stray Dog (1949)
Kurosawa. A foreign film snuck in here indeed, and not a single samurai! Retiring cop investigates crime committed with his weapon. One of the director's only dabblings with the genre but explores a lot of social conditions of the time period, as you might expect, rather than sticking to strict protagonists/antagonists, which makes the film stand out. Overlooked needless to say.
The Lady From Shanghai (1947)
Orson Welles. Gotta stop doing that. Not as surreal as Touch of Evil but much more sensual. And fun, whatever that means in this genre. Also notorious as a film that was butchered in the editing room by a studio that ignored Welle's notes (this tends to happen to him). Nonetheless, a sort of whodunit with lots of twists and turns that make for a very fulfilling viewing.
Last edited by wintertriangles; 03-08-13 at 05:55 PM.
