As far as capturing noir sensibilities, I think the Coens came closest in
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sheetsadam1 — 7 months ago(August 18, 2025 08:28 PM)
I think you're right, but I would break it into further subsections.
Pre-noir: Lang, pre-Code crime films, emergence of hardboiled fiction on the literary scene, cultural lionization of outlaws (Dillinger, Bonnie and Clyde, etc.)
Classic noir: '40s and '50s, WWII and the adjustment to post-war life a major undercurrent, even if unspoken
Neo noir: Contemporary (for their time) stories with thematic similarities to classic noir. Particularly interesting during and after Vietnam.
Pastiche noir: Modern films set during the classic noir era.
I hold the final category to probably unrealistically high standards.
"Praise be to Allah." - President Donald J. Trump, Easter Sunday 04/05/2026 -
sheetsadam1 — 7 months ago(August 18, 2025 08:53 PM)
Probably off topic in a noir thread, but since I'm going to be watching
You Only Live Once
, I decided to see which other Lang films I'm missing. I think I have most of his major silent work and Hollywood period covered. But the return to Germany as an old man is a blind spot. So
Der Tiger von Eschnapur
and
Das indische Grabmal
? Worth checking out?
"Praise be to Allah." - President Donald J. Trump, Easter Sunday 04/05/2026 -
Sophienoire — 7 months ago(August 18, 2025 07:16 PM)
https://scheugl.org/the-film-noir/
the sound of your racing heart -
./.. — 7 months ago(August 18, 2025 07:20 PM)
The term film-noir wasn't used until 1946, after the war. It was coined by French film critic Nino Frank. It had nothing to do with the War.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nino_Frank -
sheetsadam1 — 7 months ago(August 18, 2025 08:12 PM)
That was the impetus for pre-Code crime films for sure and they're a cousin to noir and a major forerunner, often with some of the same stars and directors. Noir is a bit of a different animal though, primarily in terms of tone.
"Praise be to Allah." - President Donald J. Trump, Easter Sunday 04/05/2026