Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on July 21, 2011

In 1955, five years after they penned the first-rate noir D.O.A., writers Clarence Greene and Russell Rouse offered up another winner with New York Confidential. This seldom-seen noir features a truly stellar cast – including Broderick Crawford, Richard Conte, Anne Bancroft, J. Carroll Naish, Mike M   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on July 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...   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on July 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...   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on July 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...   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on July 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

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on July 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

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on July 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

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on July 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...   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on July 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...   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on July 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. Bu   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on July 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...   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on July 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...   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on July 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...   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on June 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 a d   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on June 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,...   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on June 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...   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on June 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 space,   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on June 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...   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on June 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 an   read more

Shadows and Satin Posted by shadowsandsatin on June 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