Film Noir was born around the 30's and 40's and these types of movies where notorious for being dark and mysterious. This genre broke a lot of rules and codes that most filmmakers followed in that time. For example, when you watch an old film from that era, they tend to avoided any bad influences and they most likely ended very well for the main characters. The two lovers lived happily ever after and the villain or antagonist is sent to jail and justice is served. Film Noir does the very opposite; these films give us the truth and show what the world is really like. Director Kathryn Bigelow says "its so raw, so exposed, nothing can protect you and its a descent into hell visually and emotionally". Film Noir tell us stories of what the world really looks like and what happens when the lights go out and no one is looking or paying any attention. The characters in these film usually end up in some sort of trouble and try to get out but the more they try and help themselves the worse it gets for them. Like they are stuck in quick sand with no one around to help them out. Film maker and critic Jean-Pierre Govin says "the core of it all [Film Noir] is a tale of survival in a completely naked fashion". In "The Postman Always Rings Twice", Frank Chambers quickly falls head over heals in love with Cora Smith who is married to Nike Smith. Frank and Cora decide to conspire to kill Nick so that they will be able to be together forever but things didn't go as planned. Frank and Cora were sent to trial for the murder of Nike Smith and they eventually grow suspicious and throw each other under the bus. Frank and Cora end up getting away with it and run off together but then, just as things started to look better for Frank ans Cora; they get in a car accident and Cora dies. Leaving Frank to the electric chair for murder. No Happy ending, a story of lust, betrayal and suspicious.
In "Th Postman Always Rings Twice", Cora Smith ( played by Lana Turner) is what Paul Schrader referred to as the "Black Widow Sensibility". Cora was sexual, head strong and driven, she will do whatever it take to get what she want s and she will use anyone she knows will help her get it. During world war two a lot of women started working and gaining a sense of Independence while the men where off fighting the war and when the men got back women became a threat to men because of they were not independent and strong. In Film Noir women are extremely strong and sexual; they are deadly to men, irresistible to them. These women bewitch them and are like untamed animals; which is part of their charm. Scholar Janey Place says "men have always been endangered by a strong sexual female" she also says that the woman is driven and selfish. Cora married Nick because he was secure and promised her things, she had a dream and was driven to succeed in life but she wasn't happy and she met Frank who she fell in love with but she did not want to give up everything Nick offered her to go out on the round with Frank; her only option was to get rid of Nick so that her and Frank could have everything and she would have had everything she wanted. Frank is drawn to her, she knows what she wants and she will take it any way she can. "people like to play with fire" says Kathryn Bigelow (director) and it is true people love danger and mystery; they want what they think they cant even especially if its no good for them.
Film Noir is also famous for its use of light and extreme shadows, camera angles and music. These films put you in a place where you can relate and understand the story emotionally and psychologically. For example, sometimes a director will give you a low angle shot of the women and then cut to a shot of the man she caught in her web with a high Angle shot to show that she is n control and superior. The man is merely a tool she uses to get what she wants. She is visually dominant. Cinematographers used light to altar the space and create a mood that fit the scene. If the scene was someone about to be murdered it will be very dark. "There is no light, there is no release, no escape" says director, Kathryne Bigelow. She explains the psychological aspect of the effect the light and the dark shadows has on the viewer. When someone is walking down a dark hall with dramatic music the viewer only expects the worse but its more of implied danger and the viewer is left with their imagination.
"Body Heat", directed by Lawrence Kasdan, has many characteristics of Film Noir; only its in color. The story line is a great example of film Noir. A strong, beautiful, intelligent and selfish woman married to a wealthy man falls in love with another man ( or just makes him fall in love with her) and uses him to get what she wants and creates a puppet out of him. She eventually convinces or tries to imply murdering her husband and the man ends up doing the dirty work while she double crosses him and uses him as a scape goat. From the very beginning the main Character is doomed and he is trapped in this woman's web of lies like a deer frozen by a cars headlights. The music itself was sexual and luring, like the woman. "Body Heat" also used lighting and the positioning of the cameras to tell the story like in classic Film Noir, when Ned Racine ( played by William Hurt) tried to get into the house to get to Matty Walker ( Kathleen Turner) and she was just standing there watching him. The camera showed his view from outside through the windows and doors as he was trying to get in. You see him doing everything he can to get to her, he even broke the window and climbed in the house and she waited for him like a dog and she was holding the biscuit. This scene just shows what power she has over him already and he will do anything to get her, her love, her effecting and her body. This same scene also shows Matty Walker through the window and the blinds on the window cast a shadow over her like prison bars, this foreshadows Ned's fate as he tries to pursue her.
In "Th Postman Always Rings Twice", Cora Smith ( played by Lana Turner) is what Paul Schrader referred to as the "Black Widow Sensibility". Cora was sexual, head strong and driven, she will do whatever it take to get what she want s and she will use anyone she knows will help her get it. During world war two a lot of women started working and gaining a sense of Independence while the men where off fighting the war and when the men got back women became a threat to men because of they were not independent and strong. In Film Noir women are extremely strong and sexual; they are deadly to men, irresistible to them. These women bewitch them and are like untamed animals; which is part of their charm. Scholar Janey Place says "men have always been endangered by a strong sexual female" she also says that the woman is driven and selfish. Cora married Nick because he was secure and promised her things, she had a dream and was driven to succeed in life but she wasn't happy and she met Frank who she fell in love with but she did not want to give up everything Nick offered her to go out on the round with Frank; her only option was to get rid of Nick so that her and Frank could have everything and she would have had everything she wanted. Frank is drawn to her, she knows what she wants and she will take it any way she can. "people like to play with fire" says Kathryn Bigelow (director) and it is true people love danger and mystery; they want what they think they cant even especially if its no good for them.
Film Noir is also famous for its use of light and extreme shadows, camera angles and music. These films put you in a place where you can relate and understand the story emotionally and psychologically. For example, sometimes a director will give you a low angle shot of the women and then cut to a shot of the man she caught in her web with a high Angle shot to show that she is n control and superior. The man is merely a tool she uses to get what she wants. She is visually dominant. Cinematographers used light to altar the space and create a mood that fit the scene. If the scene was someone about to be murdered it will be very dark. "There is no light, there is no release, no escape" says director, Kathryne Bigelow. She explains the psychological aspect of the effect the light and the dark shadows has on the viewer. When someone is walking down a dark hall with dramatic music the viewer only expects the worse but its more of implied danger and the viewer is left with their imagination.
"Body Heat", directed by Lawrence Kasdan, has many characteristics of Film Noir; only its in color. The story line is a great example of film Noir. A strong, beautiful, intelligent and selfish woman married to a wealthy man falls in love with another man ( or just makes him fall in love with her) and uses him to get what she wants and creates a puppet out of him. She eventually convinces or tries to imply murdering her husband and the man ends up doing the dirty work while she double crosses him and uses him as a scape goat. From the very beginning the main Character is doomed and he is trapped in this woman's web of lies like a deer frozen by a cars headlights. The music itself was sexual and luring, like the woman. "Body Heat" also used lighting and the positioning of the cameras to tell the story like in classic Film Noir, when Ned Racine ( played by William Hurt) tried to get into the house to get to Matty Walker ( Kathleen Turner) and she was just standing there watching him. The camera showed his view from outside through the windows and doors as he was trying to get in. You see him doing everything he can to get to her, he even broke the window and climbed in the house and she waited for him like a dog and she was holding the biscuit. This scene just shows what power she has over him already and he will do anything to get her, her love, her effecting and her body. This same scene also shows Matty Walker through the window and the blinds on the window cast a shadow over her like prison bars, this foreshadows Ned's fate as he tries to pursue her.
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