"The Conversation" is an excellent example. Instead of
professional/amateur, I look at it more as in the
hard-boileded world the protagonists holds their moral
ground, while with noir the protagonist slips morally and
then spirals downward from there. What makes "The
Conversation" so interesting is that Gene Hackman's character
slips into a noirish nightmare by trying to maintain his
moral integrity. Actually, another example of a
protagnosist's morality triggering his noirish descent is
Earl Drake in Name of the Game is Death. Drake is a
professional (in his came, criminal), and being unable to run
down a dog ends up doing him in (at least in this
book).
There are other examples of noir dealing with professionals
that slip up morally, such as Ed Harris's cop in China Moon
and Walter Huff in Double Indemnity. Again, I don't think
professional/amateur can be used to distinguish between
hardboiled and noir, but now thanks to Mario I'm beginning to
question whether moral integrity can be used either.
-Dave http://www.hardluckstories.com/inhisshadow.htm
-----Original Message----- From:
owner-rara-avis@icomm.ca [mailto:
owner-rara-avis@icomm.ca] On Behalf Of Mario Taboada
Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2003 11:31 AM To:
rara-avis@icomm.ca Subject: Re: RARA-AVIS: Profesionals
and amateurs
<<"Being swept up in a noirish nightmare really only
happens to innocents and losers", ie the victim ("innocent")
or criminal ("loser") protagonist.>>
Counterexample: the investigator in The Conversation. He is a
total pro, yet he is swept up in a noirish nightmare.
Best regards,
mrt
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