Jun 06, 2014 genres come and go, but 70 years after its birth, the rules of film noir have become part and parcel of the conventions of modern cinema. A quick overview of noir, noire noir, noire adj are forms of the french word for black. Film noir definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Film noir refers to a type of movie or a style of filmmaking which shows the world as a dangerous or depressing place where many people suffer, especially because of the greed or cruelty of others. But like any subject in history, film noir also has a beginning.
Italian neorealism influence on film noir the museum of. The term was originally applied by a group of french critics to american thriller or detective films made in the period 194454 and to the work of directors such as orson welles, fritz lang, and billy wilder. In english, we use the french term film noir to refer to a particular style of filmmaking, often used for detective or crime films in the 1940s and 1950s. The theme has no specific definition, as the many different film noir productions vary in plotlines, but they mainly focus on the citizens of the lowerclasses and crime underworld. Film noir meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. Definition of film noir noun in oxford advanced learners dictionary. These films were popular in the nineteen forties and nineteen fifties. The classical film noir era in hollywood lasted from the 1940s to the late 1950s. Even the lightings perfect for noir and is a breath of fresh air as its been a long time since someone has lit a film so fittingly.
It was in france during the postwar years that the term was used to describe a certain set of hollywood films that were saturated with a darkness and cynicism that was not seen before. The new breed of detective appearing in hardboiled fiction differed greatly from many of the earlier and even contemporary detective fiction. Noir definition is crime fiction featuring hardboiled cynical characters and bleak sleazy settings. Clear explanations of natural written and spoken english. The origins of film noir german expressionism of the twenties and french poetic realism of the thirties.
Film noir definition is a type of crime film featuring cynical malevolent characters in a sleazy setting and an ominous atmosphere that is conveyed by shadowy photography and foreboding background music. Learn the correct american english pronunciation of the term for a stylized crime drama. Jump into the world of film noir and look at how the technology and economic factors gave birth to a genre that still deeply influences the way filmmakers work today. Death didnt sneak into town riding the rods or huddled in a boxcar, it. This example is from wikipedia and may be reused under a cc bysa license. Nov 17, 2019 it appears that the wikipedia account of who coined film noir is inaccurate. But only the film forum series uses the word noir, and momas. Its clear that the origin of le mot piednoir is not very well known and while there are many interesting hypotheses none of them are currently known to the real etymology. The german expressionism was a expressionistic and conventionalized film style, where the aesthetics were marked by distortions and exaggerations. Chapter 2 deals with neo noir remakes of classic noir, and chapter 3 covers french and internationally produced film noirs.
There is no doubt as to film noirs importance and impact in the history of the film, not only hollywood style but also in european style cinema. The term film noir, french for black film literal or dark film closer meaning, was first applied to hollywood films by french critic nino frank in 1946, but was unrecognized by most american film industry professionals of that era. The exact parameters of film noir are still up for debate some argue that true noir films were made during a specific period, the postworld war ii 1940s to around 1958, labeling films made before and after proto and neonoir respectively, while others argue film noir is more of a style or mood than a. The count duckula episode all in a fog had the count playing at being a film noir private eye, and a running gag involving other characters asking him how he did the privateeye monologue without moving his lips. French critics coined the term film noir in reference to the lowkeyed lighting used to enhance these dramas stylisticallyalthough the term would not become commonplace in international critical circles until the publication of the book panorama du film noir americain 1955 by raymond borde and etienne chaumeton. French critics assigned the term film noir in 1946, citing a trending confluence of american film elements antiheroic characters, biting dialog shot from the hip, and bold visual design. Information and translations of film noir in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Noir definition in the cambridge english dictionary.
Film noir is a stylized genre of film marked by pessimism, fatalism, and cynicism. Film noir, in its classical sense, existed in hollywood from the 1940s to the late 50s. In the english language, the word nigger is an ethnic slur typically directed at black people, especially black americans. Film noir definition of film noir by merriamwebster. The noirs were inspired both by literature and previous film history along with the sociohistory of the period it grew out.
And while this period contains the quintessence of what italianborn french film critic nino frank originally. The trilogy also experiments with film noir conventions, and explores hypnosis and the relationship between reality and unreality. The actual words come from french and mean black cinema. One can easily imag ine a large video store where examples of such films. Mayday and other english words with french origins.
A hardboiled slang glossary for something more than night. If youve ever read a hardboiled detective story, you may have come across a sentence like, i jammed the roscoe in his button and said, close your yap, bo, or i squirt metal. Aug 21, 2011 this video shows you how to pronounce noir. It means a person who starts and operates a new business and has responsibility for any risks involved. A similar joke occurs in the bonkers episode frame that toon, which also uses the pi dialogue. Some will argue that noir is and only is, a period in american film. The theme has no specific definition, as the many different film noir productions vary in plotlines, but they mainly focus on the citizens of. Definition and synonyms of noir from the online english dictionary from macmillan education. The term film noir, french for black film literal or dark film closer meaning, first applied to hollywood films by french critic nino frank in 1946, was unrecognized by. Each word or phrase and its definition is accompanied by one or more examples of its use in context and the appropriate bibliographic references. Any work used to generate a context quote for the glossary is cited. Film noir definition of film noir by the free dictionary. Noir is used to describe a period of american films. Noir or film noir, is more than just a french term.
Follow the footprints origin of piednoir french language. Although these filmmakers were from morocco, the term could have easily crossed the border into algeria. Bete noire definition of bete noire by merriamwebster. Film noir definition, a motion picture with an often grim urban setting, photographed in somber tones and permeated by a feeling of disillusionment, pessimism, and despair. Titles of many film noirs often reflect the nature or tone of the style and content itself. Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples log in dictionary. The opening narration does what it can to plant the film squarely in noir territory. The term film noir, french for black film literal or dark film closer meaning, was first applied to hollywood films by french.
The term was originally used in france after wwii, to describe. Some of the great classics of film noir were adapted from 1930s hardboiled fiction. Information and translations of noir in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. The origins of film noir the origins of film noir the noir films occurred in america during the war, and continued to be made during the forties and fifties, but it did not come out of nothing. Information and translations of film noir in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions. Cinema historians and critics defined the category retrospectively. Therefore, nothing after this period can be considered noir. American film noir the history only that which has no history is definable. However, the reference list is not a comprehensive record of the background readingviewing for something more than night.
Film noir refers to a type of film or a style of film making which shows the world as a. In the business world, entrepreneur is another french word. Noir is french for black and is a type of fiction or a film that has tough characters and is cynical, bleak and pessimistic in nature. Film noir simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Definition of filmnoir noun in oxford advanced learners dictionary. It was an artistic movement, a historical era in american film. Film noir dictionary definition film noir defined yourdictionary. The plural forms are noirs for masculine words, and noires for the feminine words. The plot is classic heist noir, and deliciously generic.
Film noir movies were mostly made from the early 1940s to the late 1950s in the united states, and they were usually filmed in blackandwhite. At the end of the film, the 400 blows, the young boy. William faulkner it has always been easier to recognize a film noir than to define the term. In this way, truffauts adaptation is one part homage to american noir, one part french new wave classic. Dashiell hammett, a former pinkerton detective, is credited with having invented the genre with the appearance of his story fly paper in black mask magazine. Apr 12, 2019 p urists will argue that film noir was born in 1941 with the release of john hustons the maltese falcon and died in 1958 with marlene dietrich traipsing down a long, dark, lonely road at the end of orson welless touch of evil. And why are these films still popular if they werent, well, there wouldnt be nearly as many. It was in france during the postwar years that the. Of course, i havent read the whole book, because i dont know french, but i have read the except towards a definition of film noir. Chapter 2 deals with neonoir remakes of classic noir, and chapter 3 covers french and internationally produced film noirs. Film noir is a term used to describe crime drama movies from hollywood that are often focused on sex, crime, and corruption.
Influences of film noir the classical film noir era in hollywood lasted from the 1940s to the late 1950s. And just what, precisely, are its rules rules so skilfully subverted by modern. The film noir encyclopedia silver, alain, ward, elizabethm, ursini, james on. The term film noir comes from the french term for black film or dark film. Before the liberation, the term film noir did not originate from nino frank, but emerged out of the french right. French critics assigned the term film noir in 1946, citing a trending confluence of american film elements antiheroic characters, biting dialog. English words for noir include black, dark, black man, sable, raven and murky. Another cinematic origin of film noir was from the plots and themes often taken from adaptations of american literary works usually from bestselling, hardboiled, pulp novels and crime fiction by raymond chandler, james m. Other influential prefilm noir films include stranger on the third floor and orson wells masterpiece citizen kane. Film noir literally black film or black cinema was coined by french film critics first by nino frank in 1946 who noticed the trend of how dark, downbeat and black the looks and themes were of many american crime and detective films released in france to theatres during and following world. Using the options below you can combine a variety of the types of information we catalog to create extremely specific searches. Influenced by the novels of the hardboiled crime fiction authors who gained popularity during the great depression, film noir is a profoundly modern genre, in that it is. The word originated in the 18th century as an adaptation of the spanish negro, a descendant of the latin adjective niger, which means black.
Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. Her focus on minor female characters, however, provides a more complex reading of both of these classic film noirs. The genre was prevalent mostly in american crime dramas of the postworld war ii era. Film noir is defined as a genre of urban crime movies from the 1940s and 1950s with a melodramatic, bleak or cynical feel. Why do filmmakers come back again and again to this bleak landscape. The first book that focused on film noir is panorama du film noir americain by raymond borde and etienne chaumeton. Influences of film noir the museum of film history.
They gave us cynical antiheroes like detectives sam spade and philip marlowe. Want canadian horror movies of the 1970s that at least 100 imdb users have given an average rating above a 6. A movie characterized by lowkey lighting, a bleak urban setting, and corrupt, cynical characters. Bete noire definition is a person or thing strongly detested or avoided. The 100 best film noirs of all time slant magazine. You use noir when you are describing a masculine noun, and noire when you describe a feminine noun. French critics coined the term film noir in reference to the lowkeyed lighting used to enhance these dramas stylisticallyalthough the term would not become. During the depression, the hardboiled crime novels of writers like dashiell hammett and raymond chandler became popular. Italian neorealism influence on film noir the main element that combines the films of the film noir era together is their common theme.
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