Out of the Fog (1941)
With my new full-time writer status, part of my transition with the site is to write about movie I get truly excited over, whether it makes me so mad I … Continue Reading Out of the Fog (1941)
Lady on a Train (1945)
Originally published December 15th, 2015 Maybe it’s the forced togetherness and spirit of brotherhood that makes the holidays so perfect for the noir genre. Whether it’s the glittery Hollywood pulp … Continue Reading Lady on a Train (1945)
Key Largo (1948)
Describing the Florida Keys always sounds as if a Dashiell Hammett-esque noir voice should be speaking the words aloud: “An isolated strip of land as beautiful as it is hot.” … Continue Reading Key Largo (1948)
Woman on the Run (1950)
Flicker Alley debuts two brand-new restorations this week with the DVD/Blu-ray combo release of Too Late for Tears (1949) and Woman on the Run (1950). Public domain victims whose copies … Continue Reading Woman on the Run (1950)
The Asphalt Jungle (1950)
Oft-considered one of the greatest film noirs ever made, John Huston’s The Asphalt Jungle is a story about the perils of city life…with the added bonus of a jewel heist. John … Continue Reading The Asphalt Jungle (1950)
The Big Sleep (1946)
By 1946 actor Humphrey Bogart fit into the role of detective Philip Marlowe so perfectly it might as well have been his favorite pair of shoes. Though this was Bogie’s … Continue Reading The Big Sleep (1946)
Kansas City Confidential (1952)
Despite the ingrained conventions of film noir some films can leave you surprised. So it is with director Phil Karlson’s Kansas City Confidential. What starts as a typical heist film … Continue Reading Kansas City Confidential (1952)
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)
Last year I reviewed the Alfred Hitchcock film The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) starring James Stewart and Doris Day. I wasn’t in love with it, but Day was … Continue Reading The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)
Pitfall (1948)
There’s a formula to film noirs, and while not strictly enforced there are particular elements one looks for – the morally ambiguous hero, interplay between light and shadow, an evil … Continue Reading Pitfall (1948)
The Phantom of Crestwood (1932)
The Phantom of Crestwood is the equivalent of watching a radio serial play out on-screen. Maybe that’s because it was! As the film’s introduction states, the series was broadcast via … Continue Reading The Phantom of Crestwood (1932)
The Night of the Generals (1967)
Twilight Time could never have predicted the recent passing of Omar Sharif, star of their latest Blu-ray release, The Night of the Generals. Directed by Anatole Litvak, this WWII murder … Continue Reading The Night of the Generals (1967)
The Black Cat (1934)
Originally published August 15th, 2012 Finally back on track with a film review, this time getting prepped for Halloween a few months early (although I have a pretty awesome … Continue Reading The Black Cat (1934)
Fallen Angel (1945)
Fallen Angel is certainly the perfect title for a film noir; the term, attributed to the ultimate fallen angel, Lucifer, immediately conjures up images of Hell, sin, and dark dames … Continue Reading Fallen Angel (1945)
Where Danger Lives (1950)
You don’t often find noir that is just plain bad. Noir has a formula and conventions, and not every testing of that formula yields gold but it’s hard to get … Continue Reading Where Danger Lives (1950)
Slander (1957)
Originally published November 12th, 2014 Slander’s off-kilter air manifests itself the minute you realize there’s no actual slander found in the movie. I guess the screenwriters thought “Libel” didn’t pack … Continue Reading Slander (1957)
Marnie (1964)
I belatedly close out Hitchcock week with the film that tore his professional relationship with actress Tippi Hedren. Hedren, despite the issues she’s recounted of working with the director, cites … Continue Reading Marnie (1964)
