The 15 best noir films of the 1950s taste of cinema movie. An early and little known noir suspense film about a lost child set against the backdrop of mid 20th century. Sylvia harvey the style and content of the original us film noir cycle 1940s50s emerged at least in part in response to wwii and changing social norms, especially those related to. The well is a 1951 american film noir directed by leo c. Robert mitchum, robert ryan, lizabeth scott, william talman, ray collins, don porter and william conrad are all familiar names, especially to film noir buffs. Classic movies from 1950s that are not already in one of my other playlist categories. In a raciallymixed american town, a 5yearold black girl falls unnoticed into a hidden, forgotten well on her way to school. Many of the prototypical stories and much of the attitude of classic noir derive from the hardboiled school o. In a racially mixed american town, a 5yearold black girl falls unnoticed into a hidden, forgotten well on her way to school.
It tackles the issue of racial tensions and collective behavior. Film noir, style of filmmaking characterized by such elements as cynical heroes, stark. The love of all adults for a small child is the common plot element thread in this movie, and the discovery made by another small child leads to the denouement. Based on the kathy fiscus tragedy of 1949, but given a racial spin, this was an uncommonly brave project for its time id go so far as to call it an important film, in that it gives a number. Russell rouse november 20, 19 october 2, 1987 was an american screenwriter, director, and producer who is noted for the offbeat creativity and originality of his screenplays and for film noir movies and television episodes produced in the 1950s. They are often an ignored aspect of films, although they reflect.
Based on the kathy fiscus tragedy of 1949, but given a racial spin, this was an uncommonly brave project for its time id go so far as to call it an important film, in that it gives a number of the periods black actors a chance to shine in roles. Well, youll have to see it yourself, but suffice it to say that laura has as many twists and turns as most of the film noir of the period, and perhaps a few more. The well is a modest but generally effective plea for racial tolerance. You can spot them by their shadowy visuals and shady morals. A fastpaced thriller or film noir whose action virtually transcends genre, the film features a scarred woman, a gang boss, an opium junkie, and a taxi driverand thats only the beginning. A deep cast of well known actors highlights this film noir effort. Rent ace in the hole 1951 on dvd and bluray dvd netflix. The well is a seminal american film on race relations that is still entertaining and topical after a half a century and counting. Well keep you updated on film noir foundation projects and events, film festivals and noirrelated happenings in other mediums on our news page, as well as noir and neonoir titles released on dvd and bluray. Cross vincent price, who is treating janet stewart anabel shaw, a young woman who is in a catatonic state.
Such compassionless pragmatism is found in the most noble, as well as the most. Film noir the noir hero britannica encyclopedia britannica. Alan rode is a film noir aficionado living in san diego, ca. If you like this movie and our channel, please subscribe. Lewis and photographed by cinematographer john alton, with music by david raksin. But when its discovered that the little girl has fallen down a well, all racial differences are forgotten as. Popkin and russell rouse and starring richard rober, gwendolyn laster and maidie norman. Beauty lurking in the shadows my favorite women of film noir here by gary tooze jonathan rosenbaum tells us of ten overlooked noirs here.
Mar 03, 2016 take a trip back to a golden age of filmmaking with these film noir releases all available on streaming services. Unavailable per item violence and racial hatred come to a head when a white man, who has been accused of abducting a black child, is released from custody without charge quality. Popkin, gwendolyn laster, richard rober, maidie norman, drama, filmnoir, thriller december 26, 2017 in a racially mixed american town, a 5yearold black girl falls unnoticed into a hidden, forgotten well on her way to school. With nothing better to go on, the police follow up a report that the child was seen with a white stranger, and rumors run wild. Griffiths the birth of a nation 1915 to openly depict the ku klux klan, but storm warning completely whitewashes no pun intended the klans religious and social prejudices and. The racket 1951 john cromwells police procedural pits psychopathic gangster nick scanlanrobert ryanagainst childhood. Because the 1940s and 1950s are universally regarded as the classic period of american film noir, films released prior to 1940 are listed under the caption precursors early noir like films. The movie was made in 1951 and starred richard rober christine larson barry. Gwendolyn laster, richard rober, maidie norman, george. Film noir page 10 rarefilmm the cave of forgotten films. Jan 09, 2017 posts about film noir written by adam lounsbery. Hitchcocks strangers on a train 1951 went so far as to examine the brooding outsiders attempt to change his own environment through a murder contract with. The well 1951 approved 1h 26min drama, thriller 24 september 1951 usa a small, raciallymixed american town succumbs to violence and utter mayhem after a white man suspected of kidnapping a missing black girl is released by the white authority. Because trumbo was blacklisted at the time, the screenplay was credited to his friend, screenwriter hugo butler, as a front.
The ohio film censor board finally approved the film. Plan 9 from outer space originally titled grave robbers from outer space is a 1959 american science fiction film written and directed by edward d. This film, made twenty years later by joseph losey, starred light comedian david wayne as the childkiller, and has much of the same storyline and setpieces as its predecessor. The big combo is a 1955 american film noir crime film directed by joseph h. It was nominated for two academy awards, including best original screenplay and best film editing. They are often an ignored aspect of films, although they reflect the time period or era of the film, the mood or design of the film, and much more. America doesnt have a monopoly on swaggering gangsters, larcenous lovers, surly excons, corrupt cops, and scheming femmes fatales. The heroes of noir generally share certain qualities, such as moral ambiguity, a fatalistic outlook, and alienation from society. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the classic period of american film noir.
Ryan lifts this from an average classicera crime film to aboveaverage with a convincingly nasty character. The 15 best noir films of the 1940s taste of cinema. All movies express social values, or the erosion of those values, through the ways in which they depict both institutions and relations between people. Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Pour a tall glass of your favorite contraband beverage and enjoy. Van heflin is the prowler in this 1951 noir directed by joseph losey and also starring evelyn keyes. The females in film noir were either of two types or archetypes dutiful, reliable, trustworthy and loving women. Films released after 1959 should generally only be listed in the list of neo noir titles.
For 25 years, the chfb has been the essential site for classic horror news, research and enthusiasm. See more ideas about cesar romero, henry morgan, harry morgan. Our now playing section will keep you uptodate on noirtinged entertainment in theatrical release or streaming. Movie title screens classic film noir the 1940s and 1950s. As in many film noir, the beginning of the film is told in flashback, with voice over by webbs waldo lydecker in this case. Based loosely on a real incident, the film tells of the disappearance of a. The 15 best noir films of the 1940s taste of cinema movie. Gwendolyn laster, richard rober, maidie norman, george hamilton. Directed by robert wise and starring valentina cortese, richard basehart, william lundigan and fay baker, the house on telegraph hill isnt on everybodys mustsee list of film noirs. Film noir literally black film or black cinema was coined by french film critics first by nino frank in 1946 who noticed the trend of how dark, downbeat and black the looks and themes were of many american crime and detective films released in france to theatres during and following world.
Storm warning 1951 directed by stuart heisler warner bros. Nndb has added thousands of bibliographies for people, organizations, schools, and general topics, listing more than 50,000 books and 120,000 other kinds of references. The 15 best noir films of the 1950s posted on may 30, 2014 may 30, 2014 by james davidson film noir, which had begun in the 1940s, continued into the 1950s, although there were obvious changes to the style. The well is often cited as afilm noir, though id personally disagree. Overview of the well, 1951, directed by leo popkin, with gwendolyn laster, richard rober, maidie norman, at turner classic movies. Its planned premiere in cincinnati in october 1951 was delayed when the ohio film censor board informed the distributor, united artists, that its deliberations were ongoing due to the presence of negro characters in the plot. For the latest in noir news from small screen to big screen and beyond, visit our news area. Robert mitchum leads in two of the movies as well as robert ryan one of them the racket both him and mitchum star great little movie. Hitchcocks strangers on a train 1951 went so far as to examine the. Fritz langs classic m back in the 1930s is a well regarded classic, which brought peter lorre to prominence and a career in hollywood. The noir city emagazines are electronic issues delivered to your inbox as pdfs. Before hapless, innocent claude packard is even found, popular hysteria has him tried and convicted. August 3, 2017 film noir the well 1951 based loosely on a real incident, the film tells of the disappearance of a little africanamerican girl in a small, segregated community. They also exhibit an existential acceptance of random, arbitrary occurrences as being the determining factors in life.
The 15 best noir films of the 1950s posted on may 30, 2014 may 30, 2014 by james davidson film noir, which had begun in the 1940s, continued into the 1950s, although there. The well is a 1951 american drama film directed by leo c. My favorites list became too large and unmanageable so i needed another way to list movies in smaller settings. Film noir of this era is associated with a lowkey, blackandwhite visual style that has roots in german expressionist cinematography. The 15 best noir films of the 1950s taste of cinema. It was the first directorial effort for rouse, who was primarily a screenwriter and penned the well with clarence greene, his frequent partner. Although the hardboiled detective is the stereotypical noir hero, the central male characters in film. Title screens are the initial titles, usually projected at the beginning of a film, and following the logos of the film studio. Added links to the forthcoming bluray release of house of bamboo 1955 and to the uk release of the otto preminger film noir collection fallen angel, whirlpool. Rare and well established classics from british and american studios from lippert to prc.
Although my interpretation of classic film noir spans basically from 19401960, i have included a number of titles from the mid to late 30s as well as a few from the early 60s that in my opinion, qualify as noir be it legitimate precursors or post noirs. It was the last directorial effort for popkin, who had produced a handful of films with africanamerican subjects in the. For most of the 1940s and 50s, this style of crime film was dominant. In fact i musta seen every contentious and predictable list o classic film noirs on the internet and the house on telegraph hill aint on one of them. Caucasian claude packard harry morgan, the nephew of the towns richest man barry kelley, is the last person seen with the little girl. But you never can tell is not like other private eye movies beginning with a farfetched premisecracker tycoon leaves fortune to doglou breslows movie. But packards troubles pale by comparison as ever moreinflated rumors uncap the well of racial tensions and mob.
Having nothing better to go on the police follow up a report. The well 1951 is a drama, film noir movie starring richard rober and gwendolyn laster. Heflin plays a bitter cop named webb who meets the lonely susan keyes, whose husband works at night on the radio, when he investigates a prowler at her house. Some 70 years after the term film noir was first coined to describe a uniquely american phenomenon, take a trip through the screwedup landscape of the midcentury psyche, with all its sex, lies. Having nothing better to go on, the police follow up a report that the child was seen with a white stranger, and rumors run wild. The film stars cornel wilde, richard conte and brian donlevy, as well as jean wallace, who was wildes wife at the time.
The well 1951 based loosely on a real incident, the film tells of the disappearance of a little africanamerican girl in a small, segregated community. Rent ace in the hole 1951 starring kirk douglas and jan sterling on dvd and bluray. The love of all adults for a small child is the common plot element thread in this movie, and the discovery made by another small child leads to the. The well was released in the united states on september 10, 1951. The well 1951 rarefilmm the cave of forgotten films. Caucasian claude packard harry morgan, the nephew of the towns richest man barry kelley. The prowler is a 1951 american film noir thriller film directed by joseph losey that stars van heflin and evelyn keyes.