Film Noir Questions

Brandon Ong 11/12/14

Mr. Waddell B Block

Film Noir Questions

1) According to Schraeder, is Film noir actually a genre?  Explain your answer.

According to Shraeder, Film Noir is not a genre because it only refers to those Hollywood films of the forties and early fifties that portrayed the world of dark, slick city streets, crime and corruption.

2) Identify two themes (content and ideas) that are often explored in classic film noir movies.

Two themes that are often explored in classic film noir movies are

a) the changing of frontierism to paranoia and claustrophobia,

b) the private eye has quit the police force in disgust.

3) What stylistic characteristics are prevalent within classic noir movies?  List at least 3 characteristics.

Three stylistic characteristics that are prevalent within classic noir movies are:

a) most of the scenes are lit for night

b) there is a Freudian attachment to water

c) compositional tension is preferred to physical action

4) During what period of American history did film noir begin to gain notoriety?  What years are often said to define the classic noir period?

Film noir gained notoriety in American history during the period shortly following World War II. The thirties is often said to define the classic noir period, as during these years, there was no need to produce Allied propaganda for the war.

5) What are the major phases of the classic noir movie era?

The first major phase of classic noir is the wartime period, spanning between 1941-1946. This phase during the wartime period was the phase of the private eye and the lone wolf. Next, the second phase was the postwar realistic period, which spanned from 1945-1949. During this time, films were geared towards the problems of political corruption, crime in the streets, and police routine. Lastly, the final major phase of film noir was stretched from 1949-1953, and was a period of psychotic action and suicidal impulse.

6) What is expressionism?  How is film noir fairly described as an “expressionist” genre? Expressionism is a style with the goal of expressing not impressions of the external world, but rather, an emotional experience. Film noir is fairly described as an “expressionist genre because it relied heavily on artificial studio lighting, as well as harsh unadorned exteriors, which contrasted post war realism among other things.