Out Of The Past Film Analysis

Black and white film noir evolved in the 1940’s during World War II. This time period of film replicated the post war tensions and anxieties that plagued American society during and after the war. The repetitive trend of these films was dark and almost always based on crimes that involved love and betrayal.
1941- Citizen Kane
Director- Orson Wells
This film was one of the earliest film noir’s produced and was budgeted at $800,000. Wells was the director, star and producer. Wells also collaborated with Herman J. Mankiewicz and John Houseman who is unaccredited with the film on the script. It débuted on May 1, 1941 in New York City after an intense investigation by the F.B.I. The late release and investigation was due to the many similarities between the fictional character Kane and the life of William Randolph Hearst -
a powerful newspaper magnate and publisher (citizen Kane, 1941). Because of Wells bold film, Citizen Kane opened a pathway in the development of cinematic technique. It uses film as an art form to energetically communicate and display a non-static view of life (Citizen Kane, 1941).
1942- The Glass Key
Director- Stuart Heisler
The Glass Key was a remake of a 1935 film. The trend of the noir films is the story line of this film. Ed Beaumont is an uncorrupt political aid for his “dirty” politician employer who is played by Brian Donlevy. Beaumont is played by Alan Ladd who tries to save his boss from a murder rap all while the boss’s fiancé played by Veronica Lake is a seductive femme fatale. This film displays all the key components that make a classic black and white film noir. The plot centers on a political scandal that is threatened to be exposed, a seducing femme fatale that plays on the hearts and minds of both hero and the villain and the unsuspecting hero that is manipulated and deceived by the femme fatale (The Glass Key, 1942).
1943-Shadow of Doubt
Director – Alfred Hitchcock
Shadow of Doubt is considered one of Hitchcock’s best American films. The story line uses elements from the popular children’s fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood and two other films it’s a Wonderful Life and Blue Velvet. Joseph Cotton is Charlie, a deranged psychopathic murderer whose secret is discovered by his adoring teenage niece also named Charlie played by Teresa Wright. The discovery of her uncle’s secret life puts her life in danger. The film represents the small town American life of traditional wholesome family values but with a dark and twisted family secret, which is also another trend in the noir era (Shadow of Doubt, 1943).
1944- Murder, My Sweet
Director- Edward Dmytryk
Murder, My Sweet was renamed from the Raymond Chandler novel Farewell, My Lady (Murder, My Sweet IMDb). The film is based during war time Los Angeles. The plot of the noir is about crooked Moose Malloy played by Mike Mazurki who was just released from jail and hires private investigator Philip Marlowe played by Dick Powell, to find his missing girlfriend played by Claire Trevor. Murder, My Sweet is about a web of lies and deceit. As the plot thickens the hero is drug further and further into the nightmarish life of the psychotic Moose Malloy. This film is somewhat different than most noirs in that Marlowe is drugged in one part of the movie but instead of him being disoriented and confused he is portrayed as the only sane man in a world gone mad (Amg Review) This film was noted for its’ expressionistic lighting (Murder, My Sweet, 1944).
1945-Mildred Pierce
Director- Michael Crutiz
This is a post war noir film. It is a modified version from its original that was not allowed to be shown to the public because of its intense playboy character Monet (Mildred Pierce, 1945). Mildred Pierce is a murder mystery melodrama told primarily in back flashes. Joan Crawford plays the role of Mildred Pierce as a typical housewife and mother turned divorcee. Her bad choices in men and unloving daughter Veda cause her personal and financial life to crumble. This is symbolized from the bright, daytime Southern California scenes to the dark, criminal scenes (Mildred Pierce,1945). The film has also been noted for its symbolism of a cautionary anti-feminism because of Mildred’s maternal self-sacrifice for an unloving child.
1946- Blue Dahlia
Director- George Marshall
The Blue Dahlia is a post war time noir. Johnny Morrison was played by Alan Ladd a veteran whose wife Helen has been found dead. He becomes the prime suspect because she was unfaithful while he was at war. The plot thickens when Morrison is helped by a stranger Joyce Harwood played by Veronica Lake who ends up being the femme fatale. Harwood deceives Morrison by not disclosing to him that she is the ex-wife of Helens lover. This noir thriller used the suspicions and emotions of returning veterans and their wives to create a dark and disturbing story line (Blue Dahlia, 1946).
1947- Out of the Past
Director- Jacques Tourneur
Out of the Past is considered one of the best femme fatale tragic noir’s.
This film is a perfect representation of the genre. Its leading role is played by Jane Greer, a femme fatale whose sadistic ways have made her irresistible to the hero Jeff played by Robert Mitchum and the villain Whit played by Kirk Douglas. The film used many components to distinguish itself from other noirs. The use of both linear narrative and flashback narrative was a unique and influential technique. The dark and corrupt love triangle between the three main characters ultimately caused their deaths at the end (Out of the Past, 1947).
1948- The Naked City
Director- Jules Dassin
The Naked City is another noir that has been considered one of the best femme fatale. This film is a semi-documentary shot on location in New York City. The film is about model who has been murdered in her apartment that was meant to look like a suicide. The classic noir was a fascinating account of the kind of moral doubtfulness and detachment that was typical post-War American society. This film was revolutionary for its cinematography (movideva).
1949- The Third Man
Director-Carol
Reed
Set in post war Vienna this thriller’s story line is based on social, economic and moral corruption (The Third Man, 1949). It is told in flashback and the main character is the narrator who is reporting his own murder. The mystery begins when Holly Martins’ childhood friend Harry Lime is mysteriously killed by a vehicle in occupied Vienna. The plot changes when it is discovered that the deceased is a corrupt drug dealer and racketeer. The film has been distinguished because of the unique use of camera angles. Cantered angles, wide angle lenses and tilted angles as well as the dark views gave the audience a direct feel of Vienna at that time (The Third Man,1949).
1950- Sunset Boulevard
Director- Billy Wilder
Sunset Boulevard is one of the darkest noir films that have been released. It is told in voice over narrative by a decaying body that is floating in a Beverly Hills Pool. It tells of the greed and corruption that come with being famous. This film was a first for all films that used both fictional and non-fictional Hollywood legends and landmarks. It realistically exposed the declining old Hollywood to the new Hollywood after the coming of sound (Sunset Boulevard,1950). William Holden played the starring role as the deceased screen writer who eventually succumbed to the demands of studios and the silent film queen Gloria Swanson who was delusional and obsessed with immortality.