This is a the first real authentic Film Noir movie ever made, and what a great start to this short lived genre. Peter Lorre plays a demented killer and the film has some amazing surrealistic sequences.
Film Noir 1940's
"Stranger on the Third Floor" (1940)
This is a the first real authentic Film Noir movie ever made, and what a great start to this short lived genre. Peter Lorre plays a demented killer and the film has some amazing surrealistic sequences.
"The Maltese Falcon" (1941)
Bogart as Sam Spade and at his best in one of the greatest of all Film Noir movies. Peter Lorre, Sindney Greenstreet, Elisha Cook, Mary Astor all superb in a film that can be watched a 1000 times and still be as fresh as the first time, one of the great wonders of Film Noir.
"This Gun for Hire" (1942)
Alan Ladd in his first film with the amazing Veronica Lake. She sings the delightful "Hocuspocus" song, it's fantastic! She does magic tricks to the lryics. One of the early definitive Noirs.
"Journey into Fear " (1943)
Orson Welles made this very short Noir masterpiece.
"Calling Dr. Death" (1943)
Lon Chaney Jr. Stars in this Masterfully made Film Noir Horror Wonder. Creatively Directed by: Reginald LeBorg. Lon Jr. is great in this film. His voice over narrative throughout the film is very Noirish. Atmospheric lighting, Weird Organ musical cues, and an amazing surrealistic End Sequence that is as good if not better then anything done in the noir 40's comparible to Orson Welles' "The Lady From Shanghai" Ending, but this was done three years earlier. An underated forgotten and mis-understood film that is a Horror Noir Masterpiece.
"Double Indemnity" (1944)
Great James M. Cain over dub narration with a great cast, directed by Billy Wilder.
"Murder, My Sweet" (1944)
One of the all time great Film Noir's with voice over narration and surreal seqeunces. A Masterpiece.
"Phantom Lady" (1944)
An odd surreal dream like film with a fantastic jazz sequence with Elisha Cook as a crazed jazz drumer, a bizzare and weird movie with other-worldly acting by all.
"The Monster Maker" (1944)
This is a PRC Noir-Horror Classic! A Mad Doctor turns a man into a Hideously deformed monster - This film has an overwelming feeling of disturbing sickness. PRC film productions had an ' I don't care about the rest of Hollywood we're doing what we want ' kind of look to them, it's what made them stand out. Watching a PRC film today is a pleasant break from the norm of hollywood in the 40's and this one fits that bill. Lots of dark mood Noir lighting, twisted plots and very wierd dialoge thru-out this filmic wonder, there's even a weird upside down shot that makes no sense at all. This film disturbed me and freaked me out as a child, it still freaks me out.
"Conflict" (1945)
A Bogart masterpiece also with Sidney Greenstreet. A great surreal dream sequence.
"Detour" (1945)
Edgar G. Umer at his best. A case study of Film Noir filmmaking in the 40's - a PCR masterpiece.
"Leave Her to Heaven" (1945)
Masterful Technicolor Noir production. With an astoundingly majestic musical score by Alfred Newman. A wonder to behold with the eyes.
"Jungle Captive" (1945)
The best and last of the Universal ape girl films. This is the one that has the best film noir look to it, plus the great Rondo Hatton (king of the noir vilians) has a great role in it with a lot of fantastic dialouge. The Great Rondo Hatton was in many Film Noir movies in the 40's and this is one of his best. He murders, beats, whips, destroys with agressive violence, He even smiles... It is a joy to hear him speak in this film.
"The Big Sleep" (1946)
Bogart as Marlow is one of the best Film Noir movies of all time. Like the Maltese Falcon, this film too can be watched a 1000 times and always be fresh and new. There are few films like this one on the planet earth.
"The Brute Man" (1946)
Rondo Hatton's last film for Universal. His Best film. Rondo had a major role in this one. His perfomance is one of the best he ever did. Rondo's perfect role. Great Noir Horror. The film is a twisted remake of Chaplains "City Lights" Rondo falls in love with a blind girl, and all ends in hideous tragedy. Very well made movie with top Universal Studios production vaules. Those that say this film has no production vaule don't know what they are talking about. Ron is at his James Dean best as he smashes a mirror with his bare fist.
