***Here’s a splendid essay from Paul Batters at Silver Screen Classics — much recommended if you have even the slightest interest in the underpinnings of noir.
by Paul Batters
‘Murder’s never perfect. Always comes apart sooner or later, and when two people are involved it’s usually sooner’ – Barton Keyes (Edward G. Robinson) Double Indemnity (1944)
Film noir was not a specific reaction to the glamour of Hollywood but an organic creation, evolving over time and stemming from a variety of creators. There have been numerous arguments, discussions and essays written about how film noir can be qualified – whether it is a genre, a style or a combination of both. Perhaps the best approach is to see film noir as R. Barton Palmer describes it – as being a ‘transgeneric phenomenon’ as it has existed ‘through a number of related genres whose most important common threads were a concern with criminality . . . and with social breakdown’. Purists suggest that film noir is a classic period from a specific time frame. Others have suggested…
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Yes, it’s difficult to read the black text of the original against such a dark background; WordPress should have worked that one out, and hopefully will soon do so. In the meantime, simply block the introductory text here with your cursor or, far better, follow the link to go straight to Paul’s site.
Thanks for finding that and sharing it with us.
Glad to oblige!