+3 votes
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in Movies by

I (finally) came to love the genre when I was home ill around 2005...our tiny library on Mt. Baker had a passel of 'em! Can't really name a favourite, however...but I have learned they developed out of German Expressionism as an art form, in the existential angst surrounding WWII...

But as a toddler in the 1940's I squirmed through LOTS of them in theaters, as my parents would not entrust their precious first-born to babysitters (BORING...where's Bambi?).

But now Turner Classic Movies occasionally goes on a rampage; THE LOST WEEKEND, THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE, some great old Humphrey Bogart films...I like the dark realism, the suggestion that even though life itself is awful/FUBAR, it is still worth living and even celebrating!

* * *

So please, your experience with film noir, or maybe your favourite movie(s), or just any free association that might arise for you?

4 Answers

+5 votes
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Now you know I would have some as I watch TCM almost every evening.More favorites than I can list here!







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Rooster these are wonderful, and you have given me a new suggestion because I have not yet seen WHOSE LIVES ARE CAUGHT! 

And hmmmm...looks like John Wayne is in it too!

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He is! It's actually The Wake of the Red Witch! Here's another of my favorites.


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omg Rooster, it is Jimmy Cagney and Virginia Mayo! If ever an actor was born into the 'right' time, it is Cagney and the gangster films...

+4 votes
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Of course:)

Two of my favorites:

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre


The Third Man


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I have loved both of these also, O'Tink...when I first saw Bogart in TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE, I recall I could hardly believe a film could be SO well done...white knuckles and all...

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Good ones! 


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Rooster truly an unforgettable scene...

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@Rooster: 

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Hitman, I was glad to see this too...utterly funny, Harvey Korman doing his thing...

+4 votes
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Of course, the classics of the Film Noir are great, and I still appreciate them, but I can't tell which is my favourite, as I would have to draw up a list - lol - and there are still quite a few waiting to be discovered, or rediscovered.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_film_noir_titles
https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2015/08/the-100-best-noirs-of-all-time.html?a=1



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Dear Marianne,

These links are just superb! Especially enjoyed the second one - which is not only a list, but some fascinating psychological exploration of how noir came about, and how it continues into the present day, ty!

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I am glad that I could give you some useful links.

:)<3

+5 votes
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The old Man forgot some! 




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Oh Hitman, I have seen the first two but not Gung Ho...and that film certainly has some fine actors. 

War movies have not typically been something I would watch all that much over the years, but have gotten some education on that from your father...and yes, some very fine drama (as well as humour) in some of them!

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@Virginia: You'll notice they are Marine movies! :D

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Rooster I remember! You were Green Beret, and your offspring was a Marine...

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@ Rooster,

Yeah, but at least John Wayne starred in the Iwo movie.  :)

I think this one is great too:


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Tink: I love that movie! <3

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@ Rooster,
Yes, it's a great movie. And this scene is funny, where Major Pluskat first sees the allied ships from his shore bunker. He frantically calls back to HQ, and yells, "The invasion is on! There are 5000 ships!"
HQ responds, "Keep your shirt on, Pluskat. (sips tea) The Americans and English together can't have half that many ships."
Pluskat: "Dammit, come down here and see for yourself if you don't believe me!"
HQ: "My dear Pluskat, what's their course?"
Pluskat:  "Towards me!  Direct!!"  :D

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@Tink: Know the scene well! All the stars and hearthrobs of the early 60's are all in it.

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@ Rooster,

And the real Pluskat survived the war. There is a youtube clip of him on the Normandy beach years later, describing what he said to his superiors on D-Day.  Not exactly like in the movie, but close enough.  :D

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@ Marianne,

Oh yes, all these great war movies.  Thank you, Marianne!

But I don't think they can ever really make civilians understand what it is like to really be under fire or to really kill another soldier. Some veterans of combat say they didn't have time to be frightened, others say that anyone who says they weren't frightened is lying.

Nevertheless, no less a personage than Gen. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain of the Union army in the American Civil War said exactly that (that he did not feel afraid). And he led his men from the front, as was customary for colonels and brigadiers to do in those days, and was wounded six(!) times, nevertheless surviving until 1914. And most amazing, he wasn't a professional soldier at all. He was a college professor with a remarkable natural ability for military leadership.

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Me too ty Marianne...

I had not heard of THE ENEMY BELOW, a remarkable film I can tell!

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@T(h)ink

You're very welcome. Indeed, many people are (were) not aware of what others have (had) to go through; they see too often glory and glamour where there is none.


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@Virginia

I had to look the story up, because I was not sure about the title, but I saw it long ago.

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@Virginia : I just watched The Enemy Below the other night!  Excellent movie! 


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Okay Rooster, between you and Marianne recommendations, it is going on my list!

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