1. Key Features of Film Noir
By Liam Hughes

2. The Meaning
• Film noir is a French term meaning “black
film”, or film of the night.
• This was inspired by the Serious Noir, this was
a line of cheap paperbacks that translated
hard-boiled American crime authors and
found a popular audience in France.

3. Black and White
• Most of these films are filmed in black and
white not just because they were made in the
1950’s and earlier, but this emphasises the
shadows in the movie.
• It also suggests that there is no happiness in
this movie by showing no
colour.

4. The Setting
• The setting in film noir movies are usually
urban scenes, such as apartment blocks and
back alleys.
• These urban settings are usually filled with
dark corners, shadows and little lighting,
which shows us that there
could be more than meets
the eye.

5. Lighting
• The lighting is one of the biggest part of the
film noir genre. This shows two other big parts
which are shadows and darkness.
• This creates the mode of the scene, either it
be uncertainty or anger,
this creates it.
• There is little lighting but
it always faces the main
character on screen.

6. Smoking/Smoke
• This is a very important key feature in film noir
as it is used in every noir film.
• With the use of smoke, it suggests mystery
within the scene or the person in
the scene. It makes the
audience think that there
maybe something more to
what's actually on
the screen.

7. Shadows
• With the use of shadows, they suggest more
mystery within the film. That there could be
someone in those shadows watching, without
anyone knowing.
• The shadows also create darkness, which
suggest evil. This may suggest that there is evil
everywhere in this movie,
and that you can’t escape
it.

8. Darkness
• In film noir, darkness is used a great deal
within the film. This suggests that there is
someone or something out in the darkness,
which creates a sense of the unknown and
fear.
• Also this suggests that there is evil within this
film and that it is all around.

9. Femme Fatales
• These are woman who just as soon kill you as
love you, and they usually have certain traits
such as; beautiful, unrealisable, promiscuous,
seductive, double-dealing, ect.
• These females love creating danger
for the main character who ends
up falling for her.

10. Female Costume
• The costume of the females also is a key
feature within film noir movies. But mainly the
femme fatales.
• Woman are usually seen in red dresses with a
low neckline, lots of mascara, red lipstick,
floppy hats, high heels, elbow length gloves,
fur coats, ect.

11. Male Detective
• These are usually the main characters within
the film, and usually have a downfall.
• These men are usually hard-heartened,
cynical, morally ambiguous, a hero, ect.
• There downfall is either a woman
or alchol.

12. Male Costume
• The male costume plays a big part in the film
noir’s mise en scene. The men dress in fedoras
and suits all the time which shows that they
are either detectives or mobsters.
• This tells the audience that crime is going to
be a big part within most film noir movies.

13. Guns
• Guns are a great part of the film noir genre as
they bring action to the films. They give a
sense of danger and excitement.
• The typical gun is a hand gun,
which is easily hidden so it can
cause surprise in the movie.

14. Reflections
• Reflections are a big part in film noir. These
can show the audience things that the
character cannot, therefor raising tension and
excitement.
• Also it is a great effect on
showing certain conversa-
tions between characters.