Film noir is a style used in a film commonly shown as fatalistic, pessimistic or cynical in mood. These films specifically focus crime and corruption in urban areas between early 1950’s to late 1960’s. Without a clear genre definition in noirs they are more commonly recognised from their visual styles which emphasise low key lighting and the importance of visual composition. The majority of film noirs are influenced by German expressionism (an artist movement between the 1910’s to 1920’s) this involved a multitude of mediums such as theater, photography, painting, sculptures and cinema. Being brought up in this movement noirs expressionism became enhanced to focus on the importance of plot lines.
The Origin
Film noir was founded in the Great Depression Era of American history and was built upon the foundations of filmmaking and the advancement of additional sound, control of lighting and improved photography. Due to the depression their budgets were low and the option to experimentation became few and far between because of this. With lack of tech and money the films made relied heavily upon the talents of the creator of the film. It was a great time for films in the 1930’s and with over 15,000 films coming out around this time offered competition in different styles. Film noir is based on a style known as German expressionism and was founded by escape artists from the Nazi threat in Europe.
These noir originals were all black and white but developed in the later years to neo-noir. these neo-nors used the same concept of the originals but with the aid of colours the outcome would be different to a certain degree so darker colours would be used to maintain the same feel of the classic noirs.
During the film noir period technicolour began more and more prominent in most films but with such depth needed in these films colour was rarely used in noirs to keep the dark story as picturesque as it was. However even with the rise in colour films the technology was still young and offered no help toward many film noirs.
Noirs used block booking which would entail independent theaters to buy parts of the film and would help films get more publicity. However in 1948 the Supreme Court of the United States put a quick end to block booking when they won the battle against Paramount Pictures and with this opportunity dead many filmmakers found work in a new medium- television and eventually wiping the noir era out of the water. Some films in the modern era follow a similar style but use colours on a dark scale to keep the depth of the film.
