Top 10 BEST Classic Film Noir

Film noir without Robert Mitchum? Impossible to imagine.

Bogart’s monologue at the end of The Maltese Falcon before he sends Mary Astor up the river was amazing.

When I hear the title "Queen of Noir" I think of Lizabeth Scott - she was in so many good ones. But I just looked up that title and seems it was used for almost every actress who ever appeared in a any noir! Still, I think Lizabeth Scott can't be thought of as 'unsung' she played both femmes fatales and innocents perfectly and always kept us guessing which she truly was until the very end of the movie. A favorite of mine. Like you, I absolutely love They Live by Night. Cathy O'Donnell's subtle transformation - transformed by love - is an astonishing piece of acting. It's interesting to see the remake - Thieves Like Us - and find that its equally good! but what's interesting in watching them back to back is how much story telling had changed in movies in just one generation, how truly excellent both tellings of the same story are, and how completely different they are! My 10 - In no order, except for the first one, I think Laura is the perfect noir Laura They Live by Night Kiss Me Deadly The Big Sleep Key Largo Scarlett Street Too Late for Tears Dead Ringer Notorious The Night of the Hunter

Sunset Boulevard with William Holden and Gloria Swanson. I love the way it starts with the body in the pool and Holden doing the voice over. It shows the noir side of Hollywood that probably still exists today.

Film noir without John Garfield? Of course, most people are familiar with "The Postman Always Rings Twice" with Lana Turner. It's a must see. Garfield and Turner's chemistry on screen is off the charts (apparently off-screen as well). Then, there's Garfield's noir "Body and Soul," his first film by his production company. It's stellar. Other Garfield noirs include: "Force of Evil," "The Breaking Point," and "He Ran All the Way." I LOVE John Garfield. Sadly, he was blacklisted and died young (39). He's my hero!

Really glad to see The Killing on a Top 10 list. First time I saw this taut thriller I was absolutely mesmerized throughout. No filler or frills, it's a masterpiece. Another great film noir that didn't make the list but also starring Sterling Hayden that should be mentioned, is The Asphalt Jungle. It's easily a Top 10 for me, great cast, great story, and a very emotional ending (this one made me cry). ... and props for listing Gun Crazy, that one really surprised me on first viewing.

Nice to see In A lonely Place on your list. I love this movie and has my favorite Bogart performance!

The Big Heat is one of the grittiest movies I've ever seen. If you have not seen this movie, you just don't know how tough a movie tough guy Glen Ford could be. Gun Crazy is also great. Your whole list is quite good. Some of my other favorite Noir classics (in no special order) include Out of the Past (1947) with Robert Mitchum and Kirk Douglas, Quicksand (1950) with Mickey Rooney and Peter Lorre, Brute Force (1947) with Burt Lancaster, Hume Cronyn and the great Whit Bissell, Detour (1945) with Tom Neal, The Third Man (1949) with Joseph Cotton, Orson Wells and Trevor Howard, Odds Against Tomorrow (1959) with Harry Bellafonte, Robert Ryan and Ed Begley and The Asphalt Jungle (1950) with Sterling Hayden, the woefully underrated Jean Hagen and Sam Jaffee.

I will say, one of the earliest noirs I ever saw and is still one of my favorites is: Key Largo with Bogart. Also, not me looking at all my unseen Noir on the shelf

The Maltese Falcon featured not only Bogart and Mary Astor, but Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet. The latter two appeared together in a number of films, including another of my favorite Bogart Movie, Casablanca. Casablanca and The Maltese Falcon are two of my favorite movies of any genre.

In a Lonely Place and The Sweet Smell of Success - Two of my all time favorite movies. Thanks for the great run down!

Excellent list that you've compiled. Well-considered and each would be a great addition to any noir collection. Here are my top ten choices. 10. The Woman in the Window. 9. Gun Crazy. 8. The Window. 7. Stranger On the Third Floor. 6. The Prowler. 5. Kiss Me Deadly. 4. Scarlet Street. 3. Murder, My Sweet. 2. Double Indemnity. 1. Out of the Past.

Great list. Some films I'd have up there or close are: Laura, This Gun for Hire, The Asphalt Jungle, Thieve's Highway, Touch of Evil, The Third Man, The Killers and Sunset Blvd.

The Dark Corner, This Gun For Hire, Phantom Lady, Deadline At Dawn, The Chase, Black Angel, The Blue Dahlia, Desperate, Killer's Kiss, The Maltese Falcon, Kiss Me Deadly, The Set-Up and Impact.

I love Film Noir. I have seen so many. Never thought to make a top ten list. To do so, I’d have to revisit them.

just discovered your Amazing channel...I'm SO glad to see a young person with a passion for classic film (I'm well over twice your age) NOW I have to protest.....! Top ten Noirs and not even ONE Robert Mitchum movie?...not even "Out of the past"?

Always great to find more videos discussing classic film noir! It would be hard to make a top ten but besides some you mentioned, I might also have The Prowler or The Big Heat. Many fantastic choices and I love seeing They Live by Night mentioned as it is a favorite for me as well!

Out of The Past, The Postman Always Rings Twice, Force of Evil, In A Lonely Place, Shadow of A Doubt, Double Indemnity, Gilda, The Killers, Touch of Evil, The Big Sleep &……. The Big Heat

Barbara Stanwyck was a fantastic femme fatale in "The Strange Love of Martha Ivers" , "Double Indemnity", "The File on Thelma Jordan" & not sure if it's considered film noir, but "Sorry, Wrong Number". Great coverage of a great genre! 👍

We absolutely know Bogie didn’t kill the young girl in In A Lonely Place, we watch her walk out his door, perfectly alive, while he’s still in his apartment.