LA Film Noir: The capital of Hollywood's most pessimistic era

wocomoCULTURE
wocomoCULTURE
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Published 2020-12-29
Film noir describes a kind of movie dealing with crime, private eyes, plain clothes policemen, hapless grifters, law-abiding citizens lured into a life of crime or simply victims of circumstance and often in the presence of a "femme fatale".

The term "film noir" was originally coined by the French film critic Nino Frank and taken from "série noir" which was a popular collection of detective stories in France. Film historians still argue whether there is such a genre. It occurred mainly in the 40s and 50s with a revival in the 70s. The first true film noir is supposed to be the Maltese Falcon (1941). Others think it was Billy Wilder's Double Indemnity (1943) or even Josef von Sternbergs Underworld (1927).

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Film noir is inspired by writers such as Dashiell Hammet and Raymond Chandler. The low key black-and-white visual style obviously had its roots in German Expressionist cinematography. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari immediately comes to mind. There were also the theories of Freud and psychoanalysis which pictured humans suffering from amnesia, tortured souls, people haunted by their past or craving for an identity of their own. All these features can be found in the anti-heroes of the film noir. They also reflected the fears and preoccupations of the Americans at the time.

Original title: Los Angeles Film Noir
Directed by Clara & Julia Kuperberg
Produced by Wichita Films
Licensed by Poorhouse International
All Comments (21)
  • @constancewalsh3646
    A Canadian transplant, I've deplored the lack of subtlety in American film. Who knew I'd find it here! What a beautifully narrated analysis, with insights of analysis and of nuance found nowhere else. To have late in life discovered a treasure-trove in film that I'll not live long enough to exhaust - what a gift! Thank you for this fantastic documentary.
  • @intermiragemedia6225
    One of the most, to the point Film Noir documentaries. Recommended to everyone who wants to gain valid insight into the genre.
  • @johnf6267
    Noir was the best. Born in the early 50s I grew up on these and they were always my favorite.
  • @bobbyboyd4737
    The sound mixer on this should have gotten an award.
  • @classiclife7204
    I forgot how nutso Ellroy is. "I want to go to the gas chamber for a woman." "I like the GOOD girls in film noir." A walking case of No-Filter. Anyway, interesting take by Muller about working women being the heroes of these movies - not the PIs, not the wanna-be housewives, but girls with real jobs. Also, film-kids, do take note how "The Big Combo" - with its "Mr. Brown" and torture scene - heavily influenced Quentin Tarantino.
  • @danielstanwyck2812
    Ellroy is both repulsive and fascinating at the same time. He's got to be at least half nuts. At least. Read Black Dahlia years ago and it was one of those books I read in no time at all. He gives me the creeps. And you can't help but be enamored of him.
  • @SheilaRiley-ug9pb
    What a fantastic doc! I was thoroughly entranced. Thank you for this. Film noir has always been my favorite genre
  • @merryl55
    D.O.A., one of my best films of all time, saw it as a kid and have loved it since.
  • @Buffaloc
    When I was 18 I got a job in downtown L.A. as a messenger. I also moved to an old hotel off of Wilshire Blvd. As I kid I drove around the same area with my father. Today when I drive around Los Angeles I don't get a good vibe. When I was 18 theere was an elegance with men wearing suits and hats. Many women wore gloves. I am also aware if you were not white your life would be much harder. Noir movies help to live the good memories of Los Angeles. DOA is one of my favorites with a very under rated actor: Edmond Obrien.
  • @Surreal469
    The music copyright gods murdered this video.
  • @James_Bowie
    "On June 22, 1958, when Ellroy was ten years old, his mother was raped and murdered. Ellroy later described his mother as 'sharp-tongued [and] bad-tempered', unable to keep a steady job, alcoholic and sexually promiscuous. His first reaction upon hearing of her death was relief: he could now live with his father, whom he preferred. The police never found the perpetrator, and the case remains unsolved."
  • @steveculbert4039
    Ellroy's MY DARK PLACES is one of the best books of non-fiction I've ever read.
  • @philipdubuque9596
    Absolutely enjoyed every minute! Brilliant in all respects - narrative, visuals, detailed analysis... I'll be recommending this presentation to fellow film noir aficionados.
  • @greenman6141
    I am a great great fan of Raymond Chandler. Robert Altman's The Long Goodbye is one of my favourite films. And one of Robert Altman's favourite films, also one of mine, , is Carol Reed's The Third Man. So much so that he uses The Third Man's closing shot, as the final one in The Long Goodbye (and alters the plot from the novel to mirror the plot of the Third Man)