Can anyone explain to me what Film Noir is and give a couple of examples?

Question

I hear about all the time on TCM .

Answer 1

Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those focused on sex and corruption. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as stretching from the early 1940s to the late 1950s. Film noir of this era is associated with a low-key black-and-white visual style that has roots in German Expressionist cinematography, while many of the prototypical stories and much of the attitude of classic noir derive from the hardboiled school of crime fiction that emerged in the United States during the Depression.

See link below for examples.

Answer 2

The Big Lebowski is actually heavily rooted in Noir films...

It is actually a re-imagining of the Philip Marlowe film "The Long Goodbye"

The reference to the Big Sleep in the title is as well evidence of the Noir influences.

Answer 3

a few classic examples are:

The MalteseFalcon (1941)
Double Indemnity (1944)
The Big Sleep (1946)
The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
Dark Passage (1947)
Key Largo (1948)

Answer 4

Film Noir comes from the French term "dark film", popular especially with detective stories in the early days of film. Good recent examples are "Cape Fear", "Sin City", "Twelve Monkeys", "From Dusk 'til Dawn" and the "Batman" films.

Answer 5

The Asphalt Jungle, and I think The Killing and The Blue Dahlia are good examples.

Answer 6

Film Noir is usually a "dark film". We studied Bladerunner at school as part of our film noir analysis.