What Is “Film Noir”?

What Is Film Noir?

Film noir is a stylized type of cinema characterized by pessimism, fatalism, and cynicism. The term was first used in post–World War II France to describe American thrillers or detective films of the 1940s and 1950s. However, the history of Hollywood film noir can be traced back to the 1920s. Literally meaning “black film,” the term was used by French critics for Hollywood movies filled with unprecedented darkness and pessimism.

It’s hard to say whether it is a genre or a style, and not all of the noir elements listed below have to be present for a film to be considered noir. But these stylistic traits are extremely common.

Common elements of film noir:

• Antiheroic protagonist
• Femme fatale
• Tight, concise dialogue
• High-contrast visuals
• Postwar disillusionment

Film Noir Originated in an Age of Anxiety

This style of filmmaking is rooted in a painful period of history. The cynicism and pessimism of the Great Depression had taken deep hold in the American psyche. Then came World War II: many men were sent to the front lines, and many women took over their jobs in their absence.

After the war, there was a period of uncertainty. People returned from the battlefield traumatized, and the world had lost much of its innocence. One theory holds that when men came back, they found women’s roles significantly changed. Housewives had themselves become workers, and long‑standing gender roles were perceived as being disrupted.

To cope with this sense of insecurity, film noir told stories about men being used by powerful, sometimes even dangerous women. Again, this is just one theory about how and why noir became such a prominent style/genre in the postwar period.

In fact, many of the iconic film noirs Hollywood made in the 1940s were adapted from novels of the 1930s. So you could say World War II had nothing to do with the original material, but it may explain the later popularity of the films.

Examples of Film Noir

What does cynicism look like in cinema? Is it dialogue full of sarcasm and biting remarks? Or is it simply the high-contrast visuals in every scene? Take note of the bleak atmosphere in these three classic film noirs.

This suspenseful noir starring Humphrey Bogart has had a lasting impact thanks to its spectacular cinematography and sinister use of shadow.

Dana Andrews, Gene Tierney, and Vincent Price star in this noir classic, whose outstanding performances are considered textbook examples of the genre.

This noir murder mystery, featuring the popular duo Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake, was nominated for the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. The Blue Dahlia tells the story of a sailor who returns home to discover his wife’s infidelity and that his son has died due to her alcoholism. It is one of many noir films that reflect wartime disillusionment.

Many critics believe that film noir effectively ended with the 1958 release of one of Orson Welles’s finest films, Touch of Evil. Today, some films are influenced by the genre (or style)…

Almost everything David Lynch does seems to echo noir. The sights and sounds—the overall feel—of Mulholland Drive are undeniably influenced by film noir.

Every scene in noir carries a hint of madness. Stark lighting and extensive flashbacks capture the thrilling mood of the era, while the frequent murders only deepen the pervasive sense of pessimism.