Film Noir

The initial entry in the Pine-Thomas series based on the “Big Town” radio series finds Steve Wilson as a newly-hired managing editor brought on board to liven up “The Illustrated Press” newspaper. He runs into problems with two of the paper’s star reporters, Lorelei Kilbourne and Pete Ryan, when his aggressive demands that they employ a yellow journalism type of reporting to build circulation, and they both resign to work for another newspaper. Wilson begins to realize that while his type of journalism does build circulation, it has also brought ruin and disgrace to some innocent victims. Lorelei and Pete are brought back by Wilson with his promise that “The Illustrated Press” will become a crusader against evil.Read More »

This adaptation of the Raymond Chandler novel ‘Farewell, My Lovely’, renamed for the American market to prevent filmgoers mistaking it for a musical (for which Powell was already famous) has private eye Philip Marlowe hired by Moose Malloy, a petty crook just out of prison after a seven year stretch, to look for his former girlfriend, Velma, who has not been seen for the last six years. The case is tougher than Marlowe expected as his initially promising enquiries lead to a complex web of deceit involving bribery, perjury and theft, and where no one’s motivation is obvious, least of all Marlowe’s.Read More »

Synopsis:
In a racially mixed American town, a 5-year-old black girl falls unnoticed into a hidden, forgotten well on her way to school. Having nothing better to go on, the police follow up a report that the child was seen with a white stranger, and rumors run wild. Before hapless, innocent Claude Packard is even found, popular hysteria has him tried and convicted. But Packard’s troubles pale by comparison as ever more inflated rumors uncap the well of racial tensions and mob violence. And young Carolyn Crawford, forgotten by most, is still missing…
— Rod CrawfordRead More »

An obsessed cop tracks an elusive serial killer who strangles his victims on rainy nights.Read More »

Synopsis: Japanese sixties comedy featuring a cunning female jewel thief named Black Lizard who tries to kidnap Sanaye, a wealthy jeweler’s beautiful daughter as part of a plot to steal the jeweler’s expensive “Star of Egypt” diamond. To thwart the planned kidnapping, the jeweler hires Japan’s number one detective, the brilliant Akechi. This sets off a dual between Black Lizard and Akechi as each tries to outwit the other. In the process, the two adversaries develop a mutual respect and affection for each other. Despite Akechi’s efforts, Black Lizard and her crew are able to kidnap Sanaye and gain possession of the “Star of Egypt”. Black Lizard takes Sanaye to her secret lair on a remote island which is populated by an eerie collection of naked human dolls. There Black Lizard plans to preserve Sanaye’s beauty forever by turning her into one of her dolls. As Sanaye’s doom quickly approaches, it is up to Akechi to save the day.Read More »

Quote:
We’re twenty-four minutes into the film Sudden Fear when we realize that the main male character, actor Lester Blaine played by Jack Palance is rotten, and it’s this knowledge that acts as a suspense builder in this taut noir film—a tale of greed, adultery and murder. Up to this point, we’ve just suspected Lester’s intentions, but now our doubts are proved correct. Sudden Fear, a woman-in-jeopardy noir with Joan Crawford playing heiress, Myra Hudson—is the tale of a woman who may meet a foul end at the hands of her deceptive, less-than-loving husband, Lester. For a large chunk of the action, Myra is oblivious to her husband’s evil intentions, but since the plot lets the audience in on the threat, we are committed to the suspense from the start. As spectators, we know that Myra is in danger, and so we are riveted to Lester’s devious plan to rid himself of a wife he so obviously loathes.Read More »

Quote:
Not only the first Norwegian noir but the first Norwegian film directed by a woman, Edith Carlmar’s dark, simmering psychological drama centers on the torrid relationship that develops between a hunky young mechanic (Claus Wiese) and an older, wealthy socialite (sensational femme fatale Bjørg Riiser-Larsen), who leaves her husband to be with him. As their lusty affair turns destructive, jealousy and imbalances of class and power send them spiraling toward tragedy.Read More »

A journalist decides to do his own investigation after a series of strange murders are committed during a local election campaign.Read More »

Real estate broker and former boxer enters an old cinema in the decadent downtown São Paulo and meets an intriguing and mysterious woman, very much alike the leading lady of the film. He gets involved with her and her problems and in no time is being accused of a crime.Read More »