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The Scariest Men in Film Noir: Part 3
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Jul 18, 2011
So many scary dudes . . . so little space. Turnabout is fair play, so they say. (More coffee, Vince?) Even in the tub, Johnny Rocco makes you shiver. Even in the tub, Johnny Rocco makes you shiver. Quoth Arthur: "Killing you is killing myself. But, you know, I'm pretty tired of both of us. read more
The Criminal Code (1931) and Convicted (1950): When Worlds Collide
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Jul 17, 2011
Every now and then, the worlds of Pre-Code and film noir have more in common than we might think. The films The Criminal Code and Convicted are a prime example. Here’s more about these two features: The 1950 film noir Convicted, starring Glenn Ford as a brokerage-firm worker imprisoned after acciden read more
Things I Love About The Divorcee (1930)
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Jul 16, 2011
I could watch The Divorcee over and over again (and I do)! Starring three of my favorite Pre-Code performers – Norma Shearer, Chester Morris and Robert Montgomery – this film has it all. Great story, acting, set design, costumes, dialogue – I just love it. Here are some of the reasons why: Chester read more
Inside Sunset Boulevard: Part 2
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Jul 16, 2011
Sunset Boulevard tells the ill-fated story of Norma Desmond, an aging silent film star, and Joe Gillis, a down-on-his luck screenwriter. Although Joe’s chance meeting with the more-than-eccentric Norma appears initially to be his salvation, in due course, it turns out to be his doom. Check out this read more
Famous Couples of Noir: Chris and Kitty and Kitty and Johnny in Scarlet Street (1945)
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Jul 14, 2011
Christopher Cross and Kitty March Not exactly your typical "meet cute." (Incidentally, Chris is the little fella in the middle.) Perfectly portrayed by Edward G. Robinson, Christopher Cross is a long-time cashier who is being honored for 25 years of service as the film begins. After the fe read more
Inside Sunset Boulevard: Part 1
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Jul 12, 2011
Sunset Boulevard tells the ill-fated story of Norma Desmond, an aging silent film star, and Joe Gillis, a down-on-his luck screenwriter. Although Joe’s chance meeting with the more-than-eccentric Norma appears initially to be his salvation, in due course, it turns out to be his doom. Check out this read more
Quotes in Pre-Code: A Free Soul (1931)
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Jul 10, 2011
“I’ve lost the right ever again to think of what love can be or what it means. Marry you? For the rest of my life, can’t wash the filthy mark of you out of my soul. That’s what I think of you. And now you can go.” Norma Shearer in A Free Soul (1931) Norma Shearer: " read more
The Scariest Men in Film Noir: Part 2
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Jul 9, 2011
So many scary dudes . . . so little space. If this face isn't scary, then I don't know scary. Scary or not -- I love this guy. Scary or not -- I love this guy. Just because he can rock an ascot doesn't mean he isn't scary. Just because he can rock an ascot doesn't mean he read more
The Scariest Men in Film Noir: Part 1
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Jul 6, 2011
So many scary dudes . . . so little space. Dana Andrews -- scary? Just look at Gary Merrill's face. Who knew that calling somebody "Bright Boy" could be so scary? Who knew that calling somebody "Bright Boy" could be so scary? Sexy, yes. But scary nonetheless. Sexy, yes. read more
My Favorite Scenes: The Big Sleep
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Jul 4, 2011
Film noir offers countless scenes that stick out in my mind – scenes that, any time I run across them while scanning cable channels, I have to stop and watch, no matter how many times I’ve seen them before. The Big Sleep (1946) is rife with such scenes – here’s one of my favorites. The scene read more
Noir in 1947: The Unsuspected
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Jul 3, 2011
A shot from the "pure noir" opening of The Unsuspected. The first 10 minutes of The Unsuspected are what I like to call “PN” – Pure Noir. (Actually, I just made that up.) First, there’s the suitably noirish score by Franz Waxman that introduces us to the opening credits. Just listening read more
Born to be Bad: Letty Strong
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Jul 2, 2011
“Mal is what’s called a gentleman – a man with decent, proper instincts. And you’re an ill-bred little tramp. . . . Almost any woman can pick almost any man – your way, the cheap way – used by cheap women. But it won’t last. Men like Mal are after diamonds, not rhinestones.” – Born read more
Obscure Noir: Shield for Murder (1954)
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Jun 29, 2011
“These cops are often tempted to break a lot of rules. They got too much gas on their stomach and too little money in their pockets.” — Shield for Murder The opening shot of Shield for Murder shows the film’s protagonist, Barney Nolan (Edmond O’Brien) walking purposefully down read more
From Script to Celluloid: Mildred Pierce (1945)
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Jun 27, 2011
Countless film noir features were based on popular novels of the day, from The Postman Always Rings Twice to Nightmare Alley. One of the best was Mildred Pierce – novel by James Cain, film starring Oscar-winner Joan Crawford in the title role, supported by Zachary Scott, Ann Blyth, Jack Carson, Bruc read more
The Scariest Women in Film Noir
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Jun 26, 2011
The women of film noir could be deceitful, disdainful, and imposing, not to mention steely, wily, callous, and relentless. But some, more than any other quality, were downright scary. Here are my picks for the scariest women in film noir. Laurie was never as happy as she when she was behind the barr read more
The Most Scandalous Women in Pre-Code: Part 1
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Jun 26, 2011
One of the great things about Pre-Code is the women, who exhibit all sorts of shocking, outrageous, and scandalous behavior. The more I thought about the most scandalous women of the Pre-Code era, the more I was able to name – the list was practically endless. So, in the interest of time and read more
Things I Love About Out of the Past (1947)
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Jun 25, 2011
Out of the Past has always been one of those features that I consider to be a near-perfect example of the film noir era. It has a lot to recommend it – the performances of Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, and Kirk Douglas (as well as the supporting cast), the memorable and oh-so-quotable dialogue, the read more
Famous Couples of Noir: Anna and Steve in Criss Cross (1949)
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Jun 24, 2011
"When you Double-Cross a Double-Crosser...IT'S A CRISS-CROSS!" When I’m asked about my favorite films noirs, Criss Cross is always included in the list. One of the highlights is the relationship between two of the film’s central characters – Anna and Steve, played by Yvonne DeCarlo read more
Character Assassination: The Asphalt Jungle
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Jun 23, 2011
In the Asphalt Jungle, diamonds are everybody's best friend. The Asphalt Jungle is one of noir’s classic caper films. It focuses on a brilliant jewel heist, planned by an aging crook and orchestrated by a motley crew of small-time hoods. Although the burglary goes off according to plan (for the read more
Quotes in Noir: Ace in the Hole (1951)
Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on Jun 23, 2011
“I know newspapers backwards, forwards, and sideways. I can write ‘em, print ‘em, wrap ‘em, and sell ‘em. I can handle big news and little news. If there’s no news, I’ll go out and bite a dog.” Kirk Douglas in Ace in the Hole (AKA The Big Carnival) (1 read more