Film-Noir: 51

Miami Vice (1984–1989), the popular American crime drama, was created by Anthony Yerkovich and produced by Michael Mann for NBC. The show follows the exploits of two undercover detectives, James ‘Sonny’ Crockett and Ricardo ‘Rico’ Tubbs, in the Metro-Dade Police Department as they tackle cases in Miami. Running for five seasons on NBC from 1984 to 1989, Miami Vice gained even more popularity when it began airing reruns on the USA Network in 1988. During its syndication run, a previously unaired episode was also broadcast on January 25, 1990. This ...

Body Double (1984) is an American neo-noir erotic thriller film directed, co-written, and produced by Brian De Palma. Struggling actor Jake Scully has recently lost his role as a vampire in a low-budget horror film after his claustrophobia thwarts shooting. Following this unfortunate event, Scully finds himself homeless after breaking up with his cheating girlfriend, who owns their shared residence. At a method acting class, Scully confides in fellow student Sam Bouchard about his fears and the root cause of his claustrophobia during childhood. Their conversation leads to an invitation for Scully to house-sit for ...

The American musical crime drama film, The Cotton Club (1984), was co-written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. It was based on James Haskins’ book of the same name. Protagonist Dixie Dwyer, a musician, collaborates with mobsters to advance his career but his plans are disrupted when he falls for Vera Cicero, the girlfriend of gangland kingpin Dutch Schultz. Brothers Sandman and Dixie from the neighborhood join The Cotton Club, a jazz club known for its predominantly black performers and white clientele. Mobster Owney Madden is the owner of the club, which he ...

Fear City (1984) is an American neo-noir erotic thriller film directed by Abel Ferrara about best friends Matt Rossi and Nicky Parzeno. They run a management company for Manhattan’s top exotic dancers and handle their bookings at various clubs throughout the borough. Rossi and their top client, Loretta, used to be in a relationship until their breakup due to Rossi’s emotional state caused by accidentally killing an opponent during his time as a professional boxer. Loretta has since moved on to a new relationship with Leila, one of the dancers they represent. However, one night, another dancer is brutally attacked ...

Blow Out (1981), an American neo-noir mystery thriller film, follows Philadelphia sound technician Jack Terry, who is working on the low-budget slasher film Co-ed Frenzy. His producer Sam tasks him with finding more realistic sound effects for the film, leading Jack to visit a local park. There, he witnesses a car swerve off the road and into a creek. While Jack is able to save a young woman named Sally Bedina and takes her to the hospital, the male driver dies. As Jack is questioned by a detective about the accident, he becomes interested in Sally and asks her out for a drink. He soon learns that Governor George McRyan, who was running for president, was driving the ...

Based on Raymond Chandler’s 1939 novel, The Big Sleep (1978) is a neo-noir film. Set in 1970s England, the story follows private detective Philip Marlowe as he is summoned to the lavish estate of General Sternwood. The general enlists Marlowe’s help to expose his blackmailer. During his time at the mansion, Marlowe crosses paths with the general’s spoiled daughter Charlotte and her spirited sister Camilla. As he delves into the case involving homosexual pornographer Arthur Geiger, Marlowe meets Agnes Lozelle, a worker at Geiger’s establishment, and Joe Brody, a man who has caught Agnes’ ...

Director Brian De Palma released the American neo-noir psychological thriller film, Obsession (1976). The movie follows the story of Michael Courtland, a New Orleans real estate developer whose life is turned upside down in 1959 when his wife Elizabeth and young daughter Amy are taken by kidnappers. Instead of fulfilling the ransom demands with actual money, the police suggest giving them a briefcase filled with fake paper dollars. This leads to a chaotic car chase and an explosion that results in the death of the kidnappers and hostages. Courtland blames himself for not being able to save his family. Sixteen years ...

Farewell, My Lovely (1975) is an American neo-noir crime thriller film directed by Dick Richards. In 1941 Los Angeles, private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by recently released bank robber Moose Malloy to locate his ex-girlfriend Velma. Despite not seeing her in seven years due to his incarceration, Malloy abruptly disappears after murdering the new owner of Velma’s former workplace. With the help of Velma’s old acquaintance Tommy Ray and a photo she provided, Marlowe tracks her down at an insane asylum. However, when he informs Malloy of his findings, he realizes that the picture he was given was ...

Chinatown (1974), an American mystery film, was directed by Roman Polanski and written by Robert Towne. In the story, a woman named Evelyn Mulwray hires private detective Jake Gittes to follow her husband Hollis, who she suspects of being unfaithful. As chief engineer at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Hollis refuses to build a new dam due to safety concerns. Gittes captures photos of Hollis with another woman, which are then published in the Los Angeles Times. The real Evelyn Mulwray confronts Gittes and threatens legal action against him for aiding in the ...

Dirty Money (1972) is a crime thriller film, the final work of director Jean-Pierre Melville before his passing the following year. On a rainy winter day in Saint-Jean-de-Monts, France, Simon and his three accomplices carry out a bank heist. The team consists of Marc Albouis and Paul Weber, who enter the bank with Simon, and Louis Costa, their designated getaway driver who remains outside. As they prepare to leave the scene, a teller triggers the alarm and Marc is caught in the crossfire, ultimately causing him to shoot and fatally wound the teller. The group flees with only a portion of their intended loot and heads ...

The crime film, The Red Circle (1970), is primarily set in Paris and was helmed by director Jean-Pierre Melville. After being released early from a Marseille prison for good behavior, Corey receives a tip from a prison warden about a high-end jewelry store in Paris that he could potentially rob. Paying a visit to his former associate Rico, who has previously betrayed him and now lives with his ex-girlfriend, Corey forcefully obtains money and a handgun from Rico’s safe. He then makes his way to a billiard hall, where he comes across two of Rico’s men. In self-defense, Corey kills one and knocks out the other ...

Le Samouraï (1967) is a neo-noir crime thriller film directed and written by Jean-Pierre Melville, starring Alain Delon. Jef Costello, an impassive hitman who resides in a sparse single-room apartment in Paris, keeps a small caged bird as his companion. Using meticulous techniques, he creates foolproof alibis with the help of his lover, Jane. However, after carrying out his latest contract killing on nightclub owner Martey, Jef is spotted by several witnesses including Valerie, the club’s piano player. Despite being brought in for a lineup by the police, none of the ...

The French crime-thriller film, Second Wind (1966), directed by Jean-Pierre Melville and starring Lino Ventura, follows incarcerated gangster Gustave ‘Gu’ Minda. Known for his loyalty to the French underworld and refusal to give up his accomplices to the police, Gu escapes from prison and travels to Paris to visit his sister Manouche and her bodyguard Alban. Meanwhile, Manouche’s current boyfriend Jacques Ribaldi is killed in her restaurant by rival gangster Paul Ricci’s henchmen. Concerned for her safety, Paul’s brother Jo sends two men to ...

Lilith (1964) is an American drama film by Robert Rossen, starring Warren Beatty and Jean Seberg. It marks Rossen’s final work and is based on J.R. Salamanca’s novel. The story takes place at Chestnut Lodge, a private mental institution in Rockville, Maryland. A trainee occupational therapist named Vincent Bruce becomes captivated by Lilith Arthur, an alluring and artistic patient with schizophrenia. Lilith reminds ...

Adapted from Pierre Lesou’s novel of the same name, Jean-Pierre Melville’s French crime film Le Doulos (1962) follows Maurice Faugel as he reconnects with his friend Gilbert, who is appraising jewels from a recent heist. Eager to plan a robbery, Maurice enlists the help of Silien and Rémy. In a twist, Maurice ends up using Gilbert’s own gun to kill him and steal the jewels and a large sum of money. It turns out that Gilbert had killed Maurice’s girlfriend Arlette years ago to prevent her from talking to the police while Maurice was in prison. As ...

Two Men in Manhattan (1959) is a French film noir written and directed by Jean-Pierre Melville. On the evening of December 23, Moreau, a reporter for Agence France-Presse (AFP), is tasked with uncovering the whereabouts of Fèvre-Berthier, the French delegate to the United Nations, who has mysteriously missed that day’s General Assembly meeting. Despite speaking with McKimmie, an information officer at the UN who has no knowledge on the matter, and Fèvre-Berthier’s family searching for him as well, Moreau hits a dead end. He then turns to his friend Delmas, an alcoholic tabloid photographer, who has captured ...

Bob the Gambler (1956) is a French heist gangster film directed by Jean-Pierre Melville. He lives alone in Paris’ Montmartre district, where the demi-monde community holds him in high regard. A former bank robber and convict, Bob has kept out of trouble for two decades and is even on friendly terms with Ledru, a police commissioner whom he once saved. Always a gentleman, Bob takes in Anne, an attractive young woman who has lost her job and is being pursued by Marc, a pimp Bob despises. Despite her advances, Bob resists Anne’s charms and instead introduces her to Paolo, his young protégé who ultimately ...

The Killing (1956), an American film noir directed by Stanley Kubrick and produced by James B. Harris, follows the story of Johnny Clay, a seasoned criminal who is planning his final heist before settling down with his fiancée, Fay. His plan involves robbing the money-counting room at a racetrack during a high-stakes race. To pull off the heist, Johnny enlists the help of a corrupt cop, George Peatty (a betting window teller who can gain access to the backroom), a sharpshooter to cause a distraction by shooting the favorite horse during the race, a wrestler to start a ...

The film noir, The Desperate Hours (1955), stars Humphrey Bogart and Fredric March and was both produced and directed by William Wyler. It is based on Joseph Hayes’ novel and play of the same name, released in 1954 and 1955 respectively. In the movie, Glenn Griffin leads a trio of escaped convicts who invade a suburban home in Indianapolis at random. They hold the Hilliard family, who reside in the house, hostage while waiting for a package from Griffin’s ...

Rififi (1955) is a French crime film based on the novel of the same name by Auguste Le Breton. Directed by Jules Dassin, an American filmmaker who was blacklisted at the time, it features Jean Servais as the lead character, Tony ‘le Stéphanois’. After serving five years in prison for a jewel heist, Tony finds himself struggling to make ends meet. His friend Jo approaches him with a plan to rob a Parisian jeweler’s store by breaking the window in broad daylight and taking some gems. Initially hesitant, Tony ...