The second part of our Greatest Film Noir of All Time poll is complete! Coming in first is what’s now considered the best noir by most (surprising since 15 years ago it probably wouldn’t make the top ten). The movie’s filled with great performances and a wonderful twisty story. The best part: The chemistry between Robert Mitchum and Jane Greer. It was hotter than an
Second is The Big Sleep. The movie is a black and white masterpiece that perfectly brings Raymond Chandler’s words to the screen. Viewers find themselves laughing not because lines are funny but because they’re so damned clever. Who knows who killed who? No one does. The reason people love it is because of Bogie and Bacall. They spend the film toying with each other and we love just listening to them.
3. The Killers
Coming in third after Mitchum and Bogart is Burt Lancaster in The Killers. Film makers (specifically director Robert Siodmak and producer Mark Hellinger) take a very short Hemingway story about two killers and tack on a film noir rollercoaster story after it. Two great couples shine in this one: Lancaster and femme fatale Ava Gardner; and the killers Charles McGraw and William Conrad.
4. Gun Crazy
Gun Crazy – the truly crazy B-movie thriller- comes in fourth. Since Gun Crazy’s release on DVD a few years ago the film has only grown in popularity. A young man’s obsession with guns and later a sharp-shooting dame can only lead to disaster.
Number five Nightmare Alley is a grim sordid tale that’s not easily forgotten. Tyrone Power uses all his charm to convince everyone he’s an amazing mind reader. How long could he keep the act up?
7. The Postman Always Rings Twice
Two steamy thrillers come in at sixth and seventh. Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth in Lady from
8. White Heat
8 Notorious
Tied for 8th is White Heat and Notorious. White Heat is usually considered a gangster film rather than a film noir. But the experts are wrong. It’s 100-percent film noir from the beginning to the explosive end. All Hitchcock’s films are pure cinema and Notorious is no exception. Usually Hitch films are in a category all their own but I’m glad film fans recognize this as a great film noir.
10. Gilda (tie)
10. Criss Cross (tie)
Rita Hayworth and Burt Lancaster have two films in the top ten. Gilda has one of the great character introductions of all time and Criss Cross is just damn perfect. Every time I see Criss Cross I’m always stunned to see
To recap the last poll with this one:
Maltese Falcon
Detour
Laura
Murder, My Sweet (tie)
Scarlet Street (tie)
Shadow of a Doubt
To Have and Have Not
Fallen Angel
This Gun for Hire
Top Ten from 1945-1949
The Big Sleep
The Killers
Gun Crazy
Nightmare Alley
The Lady from Shanghai
The Postman Always Rings Twice
White Heat (tie)
Notorious (tie)
Criss Cross
Gilda
Next we’ll poll the best film noir from 1950-1955. Things don’t get easier from here.
5 comments:
EXCELLENT POST. I loved checking out your clips for each film. Noir is a truly unique genre of film. When you get a chance hopefully you can take a moment and check out a short noir I put together. Best wishes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSY8pXLfhUg
It's funny you have WHITE HEAT and NOTORIOUS tied together: I was just wondering the other day about those exact two films...whether or not I should re-list 'em as film noir. At first, I didn't think they were, but I see a lot of other people listing WHITE HEAT as one, and NOTORIOUS is one that I always wanted to consider film noir, but I have a hard time mentally classifying Hitchcock as any thing other than Hitchcock.
What about Mildred Pierce?
excellent list i think. I wouldnt have white heat on it, but otherwise its hard to argue with.
Criss Cross gets better and better......while The Big Sleep maybe doesnt....but thats a maybe. I think Force of Evil needs to be on this however....thats the one big omission.
Hey when's the 50-55 list coming? Terrific work btw!
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