FILM NOIR CONVENTIONS

By Emily Ore

Setting

Set in big cities to give the feeling you are lost in a maze.

Urban places like New York or San Francisco. Used because they revolve around crime and action, but also gambling and drinking.

Small alleyways produce a sense of being trapped and can accentuate long sharp shadows.

Rain creates an effective atmosphere and makes pavements shiny like mirrors, which are common in thriller movies to create a sense of disorientation and confusion.

Mafia or gangster areas are common to create a world of disruption and fear.

Costume

Male Costumes

The 1940’s style of a business is a big impact on film noir. Both protagonist and antagonist wear similar costumes.

Very smart with a trench coat, hat and suit

The more expensive the suit or how flashy, usually the more corrupt the person wearing it is.

The suit symbolises power, wealth, superiority and intelligence.

Usually the protagonist will have jobs like a detective to give a more mysterious look to the character.

Female Costumes

Femme Fatal: Red lipstick, low neckline and short skirts, high heels, cigarettes, fur coats and long gloves

Sexy, and allures men into her trap of attractiveness

Good girl (Damsel in distress): Knee length dress, simple make up and hair, low heels, simple coat, covered and modest.

Traditional woman in 1940’s

German Expressionism

(1920-1930)

Background

After WW1, the Germany most people had

known before had changed.

The country had been left in a economic

state with social and political problems.

Both left and extreme right parties wanted

to take over the government.

At the turn of 1920, expressionism grew

and more conventions were being shown

of this new genre of film.

Themes & Conventions

The bad side to urban modern life.

Never-ending depression relating to culture and religion.

The need to confront the disturbing war and its aftermath.

Use Chiaroscuro lighting to create shadows and mystery in the darkness.

Reflective surfaces to create disorientation.

Anthropomorphism.