Just some film musings of a more succinct, spontaneous and sometimes seditious nature:

Friday, February 10, 2023

In Facebook chatrooms that focus on films noir, there are always those who challenge others as to what is or is not qualified to be categorised as such. In the latest pronouncement that I saw, someone kept insisting (without explaining “why”) colour films made during the classic time period in the U.S. (i.e. 1940 - 1959) could not be considered film noir. It seems he was so adamant about it (using the “f” word, typing in “all caps” and being belligerent to a few who disagreed) he finally had his comments removed by an admin of that room. Before that happened, I had a chance to respond with the following:

“There are a few facts regarding film noir that I feel are worth considering. These types of films were made before their classification was even created, thus films noir were not intentionally devised as such. Therefore, how they are described or their collective traits defined, is ultimately left up to those who view them. In addition, the kind of open-minded attitude that helped discover and promote their shared qualities is antithetical to one’s insistence that they categorically cannot be "this or that." You can shout about it all you want. It means nothing unless you can back up your argument. It seems to me that would be difficult since any attempt to tell us what does define the subject will invariably run headlong into many of the same colour films you are dismissing out of hand. There are numerous colour films noir produced in the U.S. during the classic time period alone, not to mention many more released since (i.e. so called Neo-noirs) that are widely accepted as applicable to that term. Even Vertigo (as well as other prominent colour films) is considered by expert Eddie Muller to be film noir. Look, I know you appreciate what you define as film noir otherwise you probably wouldn't be here [in this film noir chat room]. And that's fine with me if you want to be so restrictive as to not include Desert Fury, House of Bamboo, I Died a Thousand Times, Inferno, A Kiss Before Dying, Leave Her to Heaven, Niagara, Party Girl, Slightly Scarlet, The Trap, The Unguarded Moment, and Violent Saturday, et. al. but instead of what isn’t film noir, please explain to us what is so that we may get some idea as to how those and so many other films do not deserve to be classified as film noir.”

Unfortunately for me, it looks like the person who simply repeated his statements was banned so I never got a reply. Honestly, if the individual commenting had been less adamant in making his declarations, I probably wouldn’t have responded. After all, this is a highly contentious subject even among experts. Many line up on one side (visual expressionism) or the other (subject matter) before making their claims and I’ve admittedly heard this argument before regarding colour films. Perhaps if he had actually presented a case, again, I would have left it alone… but no such reasoning was attempted.

For those who might not be aware, I have written an article on the subject of “classic” films noir in a series entitled “Plundering the Genre.” That article can be read here.

All responses are not only welcomed but encouraged in the comments section below.

Hope to see you tomorrow.

A.G.

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