It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
^ Back to Top
The MI6 Community is unofficial and in no way associated or linked with EON Productions, MGM, Sony Pictures, Activision or Ian Fleming Publications. Any views expressed on this website are of the individual members and do not necessarily reflect those of the Community owners. Any video or images displayed in topics on MI6 Community are embedded by users from third party sites and as such MI6 Community and its owners take no responsibility for this material.
James Bond News • James Bond Articles • James Bond Magazine
Comments
For the record, they also listed BONNIE and CLYDE (1967), CHINATOWN (1974), TAXI DRIVER (1976), BODY HEAT (1981), BLOOD SIMPLE (1984), BLUE VELVET (1986), PULP FICTION (1994) and L.A. CONDIDENTIAL (1997) as examples of “back in black” 1967-1997 Neo-Noirs.
The Rough Guide to Film Noir also groups DIRTY HARRY along with films like the FRENCH CONNECTION (1971), MEAN STREETS (1973), and THE DRIVER (1978) as examples from the 1970s.
Again, to each his own. And that is part of the fun of discussing these films IMO.
Defining noir is a notoriously tricky business, but I think most of the Bond novels are a little too outlandish and globe-trotting to qualify as noir. Casino Royale on the other hand has a relatively down-to-earth plot and characters, plus various hardboiled elements--it's the most claustrophobic Bond novel (thanks to its single location), Bond's character it at its harshest, the violence is extreme and unsettling, there's a duplicitous woman who comes to a bad end, and the book has a truly downbeat ending with little to no consolation. It's easy to see why Casino Royale was Raymond Chandler's favorite Bond novel.
Per @Revelator: Part of the fun (for me anyway) of film noir is imagining “What if the Bond Series had started in 1952 instead of 1962?” mind games as I watch certain films. Impossible, I know, but still fun.
For example, Valentina Cortese (see my first posting on this thread) could have made a very good Tatiana Romanova in a FRWL type adventure. Subjective, but food for thought.
I have that magazine, @Dwayne. Pity they leave out some of my favorite noirs.
I must admit, even though they may be in my top 25 neo noirs, I also hesitate to really call films like DEATH WISH and the Dirty Harry films true noir. I forgot about TAXI DRIVER.
Great trailer!
Short form Noir and a great great theme tune.
For those wishing to do a deep dive into the history of film noir, in addition to The Rough Guide to Film Noir” by Alexander Ballinger & Danny Graydon (2007) I can recommend the following sources/books.
The Film Noir Foundation is a good source of news and information. They also help to document and restore rare titles and make them available again as well as hosting periodic NOIR CITY FILM FESTIVALS. Most importantly, several times a year they publish THE NOIR CITY Magazine. I joined the foundation in 2021 so I could read the outstanding article by actress Dana Delaney on the career of Gloria Grahame. And while the focus is mostly on 1940-1960 “classic” noir, they don’t ignore various neo-noir classics of more recent years.
http://www.filmnoirfoundation.org/index.html
On the web site, you can purchase back issues (Pdf only) of their magazine, and view foundation videos of various noir figures. For example, Victoria Mature, daughter of actor Victor Mature, was interviewed prior to a special screening of one of her father’s movies. You can also submit questions to the “Czar of Noir” Eddie Mueller.
DARK CITY – THE LOST WORLD OF FILM NOIR (2021) by Eddie Mueller
A very entertaining read about the films and personalities of 1940-1960 noir. I could have been enhanced with an easy to find list of “Essential” titles IMO, but that is a small criticism. And I understand he had a reason for not providing one.
Taschen’s Film Noir (2017) by Alain Silver
A more clinical read than Mueller’s book, it also covers the factors that created film noir (i.e., German Expressionism, The Great Depression and post-war unease in America). It also has a handy list of fifty films it considers “cannon.” It also has actress Peggy Cummins on the cover…enough said.
I may try and see that.
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid
Fatal Instinct
YES! I thought both films were pretty funny.
Back in the late '80's I had taped DEAD MEN DON'T WEAR PLAID from a television airing. It was a differently edited version to the theatrical release that included more scenes of Bogie from IN A LONELY PLACE. Really a subplot between Steve Martin's character and Bogie. To this day I've never seen those scenes again. None of the DVD releases included them on their special features and information on this different edit of the film is practically non existent. . Wish I still had that VHS tape.
I have Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid on DVD and Bluray I am pretty sure its the same version of the film though its been a while since I watched the film not sure if the scenes you mentioned are present in the versions I have. If there are its likely to be the Bluray. The runtime on my Bluray is 89 minutes not sure about my DVD its in storage.
I have a DVD copy as well. Apparently there's another Blu ray coming out and it does not have any additional scenes either.
I think the television edit was funnier. I distinctly recall John Barry's "I'm Frightened" track from BODY HEAT being played during a clip where Steve Martin is dressed as Gloria Grahame from IN A LONELY PLACE. Bogie comes in and attempts to strangle him. then gets a proper scolding from Martin.
Introduction to A Long Goodbye...
Moviedrome was one of my go to movie programs in my youth, there was always an introduction before the feature presentation that gave some history of the film.
I never knew that though I don't have many from the Criterion Collection, my DVD of Kiss Me Deadly only has the Theatrical Trailer as extra content.
These are great, @Fire_and_Ice_Returns! Moviedrome looks like it's right up my alley.
They introduced a lot of cult movies I may never have been aware of back then.
I liked the earlier days with Alex Cox, I preferred Alex's film choice to Mark Cousins.
I'm too young to have caught Moviedrome on TV, but I must admit, after watching Mark Cousin's A Story of Film when it came out I used to watch Youtube videos of Cousin's and Alex Cox's introductions for this program. It's great stuff, certainly had an influence on me.
TCM's Eddie Muller's Into/outro:(w/guest Max Allan Collins)
BTW: Is it better to post a review of a film noir under the "last movie watched" thread or here? In any case my look at THIEVE'S HIGHWAY is under that thread.
I love the Eddie Muller Noir Alley intros. KISS ME DEADLY is one of my favorite noirs. MY GUN IS QUICK is actually my favorite of those Mike Hammer films. I like Robert Bray's take on Mike Hammer. I finally got to see I THE JURY abut 10 years ago. Loved it as well. Fun to see Mickey himself play Hammer in THE GIRL HUNTERS.
This Gun For Hire
That is one of the first films that comes to mind when thinking of Film Noirs. It also has this charming scene:
I agree. Alex was more likeable and funny!
I love THIS GUN FOR HIRE.