By Louise Laws

What is Film Noir?

Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as extending 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. 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.

The Hays Code

The Motion Picture Production Code (Also known as the hays code) was the set of industry moral censorship guidelines that governed the production of the vast majority of United States motion pictures released by major studios from 1930 to 1968. The Motion Pictures Producers and Distributors Association (MPPDA), which later became the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), adopted the code in 1930, began effectively enforcing it in 1934, and abandoned it in 1968, in favour of the subsequent MPAA film rating system. The Production Code spelled out what was acceptable and what was unacceptable content for motion pictures produced for a public audience in the United States. The office enforcing it was popularly called the Hays Office in reference to Hays and also later the Breen Office, named after its first administrator, Joseph Breen.

Conventions of Film Noir

One convention of film noir is the venetian blinds. This is used to make it seem that a the man (i.e Police officer) is trapped in a devil women's trap like a spider web. Another convention is the cigarette trick. This is usually done when a certain character has the upper hand or has won. Also another convention is the lighting on characters. To show a great effect they would have lighting on the characters eyes and nothing else because your expressions are showed through their faces. Also it emphasises their character.

Titles of Film Noirs

Double Indemnity (1944) The Big Combo Sunset Boulevard (1950) The killing (1956) Laura (1944) Scarface (1932) Scarlet Street (1945) Farewell my lovely (1944) Leave her to heaven (1945 )