When I worked at Scarecrow, I recall the general consensus on
both sides of the counter was that DOUBLE INDEMNITY --
stylistically, etc -- was either the first (or the best, I
forget which) of the Noir genre.
Yet, IMDB (while certainly not THE authority on film, still a
generally useful tool) lists CITY STREETS (1931) as the
earliest Noir film --- but I suspect it's main claim to such
a label is that it's based on a Hammett story.
Thanks for the tips --- no, I haven't yet seen any of the 3
Woolrich Noirs you mention...
Guess I'll have do some Trading to get THE NIGHT HAS A
THOUSAND EYES (as it apparently has no Official
Release).
However, my local vidshop has Siodmak's PHANTOM LADY and
STRANGER ON THE THIRD FLOOR, so I'll add them to my To Be
Rented list!
Thanks again,
-------------------------ap
William Ahearn <
williamahearn@yahoo.com> wrote:
--- AP McQuiddy <
damncrazygringo@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Yup, I've heard that before, William --- and
can
> certainly see how DETOUR must be considered
*among*
> the first, if not THE first Noir.
>
The only other contender that I know of is called
"Stranger on the Third Floor" and stars Peter Lorre,
a
film I've never seen and know little about. IMDB
page
is here:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033107/
Another cool flick by Ulmer is The Strange Woman
with
Hedy Lamarr. Dark and not an upbeat drama. Worth
checking out.
That's cool meeting Ann Savage. Any chance you've
seen
any of the Cornell Woolrich flicks like Phantom
Lady
or The Night Has A 1000 Eyes"?
William
Essays and Ramblings
<http://www.williamahearn.com>
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : 08 May 2007 EDT