film noir

Film noir began in the 1930's and remained as a strong cinematic medium until the early 1960's. Film noir literally means "black film" in French and features themes which are more negative than positive, with an overall dark and shadowy outlook--being filmed in black and white. This film genre takes in detective and crime noir as well as many gangster films of the 1930's. Noir also moves into more modern films combining with other genres. The film often include a male thats invloved with crime etc, wheras the women or femme fatale as they are know are portreyed as a beautiful woman, cruel and dishonest and is willing to do anything to get what she wants.

here is a screen shot from a film noir. as you can see the use of shadows and dark lighting is used. aslo they are picture in a street which is a common place featured in a film noir and are often surrounded with smock.

here is another example of a classic film noir shot. the slightly turned camera angle is again a common feature as well as the women being framed for her legs.