If you are a true cinephile, you surely love film noir. Film-noir is a genre of movies, which were the trend in the United States during the 1940s and 1950s. These black-and-white movies usually had dark tropes of crime, mafia, and betrayal, and the characters were cynical and flawed. They were known for their unique visual style of filming and had scripts filled with witty dialogues. Here's a list of 20 such must-watch film noir movies for every cinephile.
20) White Heat
White Heat is about a psychotic gang leader who listens to no one except his mother, who manipulates him into committing crimes. In order to get away from a major crime, he confesses to a small one and gets jailed. But, his mother passes away while he is behind bars, and his second-in-command betrays him. He breaks out of the prison with a plan to avenge what has been taken from him.
19) Christmas Holiday
Christmas Holiday features a young army officer, Lt. Charles Mason, who gets stuck in New Orleans during the festive holiday season. He goes to a nightclub and meets a singer. The singer recounts to him her life story of betrayal by the man she loved, who turns out to be involved in numerous criminal activities.
18) Angel Face
Starring Robert Mitchum, Angel Face is about an ambulance driver. He wanted to become a race car mechanic, but his life takes a turn when he meets a rich woman. He gets entangled in her family politics and becomes a victim of the angel-faced woman. With a tragic end, this movie is a proper portrayal of the film noir genre.
17) Too Late for Tears
Too Late for Tears is about a couple who is driving in LA when a person in another vehicle throws a suitcase in their car. When they open the suitcase, they find it filled with money. The wife convinces and manipulates the husband to keep the money. With this, starts a series of unfortunate events. Her greed gets the best of her and she ends up committing a number of crimes in order to keep the money that was never hers in the first place.
16) Gun Crazy
Gun Crazy is a popular film noir. The film is about Bart, a man who is very knowledgable about guns, but is scared to use them. Fate leads him to meet a sharp-shooting performer - Annie. Annie spells trouble. She turns the good naive Bart into a criminal and both of them embark on a run in order to escape being caught.
15) Force of Evil
Force of Evil is a movie about Joe Morse, a lawyer who works for a gangster - Ben Tucker. In one of Tucker’s heist, Joe’s brother is killed. This death acts as a wake up call for Joe, who without realising has now entangled himself too deep into the world of corruption and cruelty.
14) Fallen Angel
Fallen Angel is another classic film-noir. Set in California, it is about Eric, a drifter, who gets wooed by a waitress named Stella. When Eric finds out Stella is already in a relationship, he starts dating another women. When Stella dies, it is revealed she and Eric had a secret relationship and Eric becomes the prime suspect of her murder. Did Eric really kill Stella? Watch this classic to know more!
13) Detour
Detour is about Al Roberts, a pianist travelling from New York to California in order to meet his girlfriend. While hitchhiking, he meets a man who dies halfway. Scared that he will be thought of as a murderer, he decides to hide the death. On the way, he also meets Vera, a smart girl who realises Al’s secret and blackmails him into committing a plethora of crimes.
12) Shadow of a Doubt
Shadow of a Doubt, directed by one and only - Alfred Hitchcock, is an iconic movie. The movie follows the life of Charlotte, a young woman who realises her uncle is a serial killer. She wants to report him, however, her loyalty to the family stops her in her tracks. But, soon when her uncle realises that his secret is out, he is all set to kill Charlotte. Will she be able to survive or will she lose her life by the hands of her uncle? Watch to know more!
11) Leave Her to Heaven
Leave Her to Heaven is a movie about obsession. It's about Richard, a successful author. However, his wife - Ellen, is very jealous and possessive. She is very manipulative and only wants Richard to herself. For this, she even kills his brother and ends her pregnancy purposefully. Her level of obsession is revealed when she ends up killing herself in her paranoia.
10) Night and the City
Night and the City is a movie set in London. It's about Harry, a hustler who wants to achieve power and wealth, and becomes part of the underworld. His power driven desires force him to commit crimes and in the end, they leave him all alone, without a true friend.
9) Nightmare Alley
Nightmare Alley is another dark, criminal movie. It's about Stan, a mind reader at a carnival. He partners with a woman - Molly, and together they start a nightclub. Soon after, Stan realises he can earn a lot of money by posing as a spiritualist and scamming rich people. But, fate has other plans for him and serve him the karma he deserves.
8) In a Lonely Place
Directed by Nicholas Ray, In a Lonely Place is a much loved film-noir. It's about a screen writer - Dixon, who after meeting a woman - Mildred, is framed for her murder. Mildred’s neighbour - Laurel, helps Dixon by acting as an alibi, and soon after, they start a relationship. But, things take a turn when Laurel realises that Dixon might actually be guilty.
7) Laura
Laura is a movie following a police investigation about the murder of a young advertising executive - Laura. Detective Mark McPherson investigates the case and shocking revelations are uncovered. But, the biggest of them all is when McPherson finds Laura alive. Then who died? Is Laura involved in the murder? This movie is a great mystery-thriller and a must watch.
6) The Night of the Hunter
The Night of the Hunter is a movie about a priest who marries and murders former widows, thus taking away their money. When he kills a widow named - Willa, her children refuse to reveal where the money is and run for their life. They meet Rachel Cooper, a strong woman who decides to help them and get the priest captured. Will she be successful or will she lose her own life?
5) Sweet Smell of Success
Sweet Smell of Success, set in the New York press scene, is about a columnist - Sidney Falco. Sidney can only make it if he gets the approval of J.J. Hunsecker, a powerful journalist. To gain Hunsecker’s approval, Sidney walks a path of crime. He is so desperate for his own success that he doesn’t think twice about destroying lives, be it his sisters.
4) The Third Man
The Third Man is about a novelist - Holly Martins, who goes to Vienna to meet his friend - Harry. Upon reaching he realises that his friend is dead and sets out to solve his murder. He hears rumours about a ‘third-man’ who was present during Harry’s death and wants to uncover his identity. But in a shocking twist it is revealed that the third man is none other than Harry himself. What happed? Why did Harry fake his own death? Who is the villain?
3) Sunset Boulevard
Sunset Boulevard is a very renowned name in Hollywood. The movie is about a dead body found in a swimming pool. Through means of flashbacks, the story of how the man - Joe ,died is revealed. Joe is a screenwriter and is hired by an actress Norma to help her career. But Norma becomes obsessed with Joe and loses her sanity.
2) Double Indemnity
Double Indemnity is an insurance fraud movie. Walter is an insurance salesman who is hired by Phyllis, a woman who wants to kill her husband to get insurance money. If the death of her husband is an accident, they will receive double the amount.
Together they set out to plan a murder than will look like an accident. But things don’t go exactly as per their plan as the claim adjuster of the case starts suspecting them.
1) The Maltese Falcon
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One of the best known film-noir, The Maltese Falcon is a classic movie which is highly acclaimed. It was released in 1941and is about Sam Spade, a detective who is hired by Ruth Wonderly to find her missing sister. But soon Spade realises that it's all a sham, and that ruth, her sister, and everyone he encounters is after - the Maltese falcon, a very expensive jewel.
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