Best Film Noir of All Time (1945-1949)

The second part of our Greatest Film Noir of All Time poll is complete!

The selection for film noir from 1946-1949 was loaded with great movies so I’m sure many had trouble picking a favorite.

1. Out of the Past

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 Acapulco summer afternoon.

2. The Big Sleep

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.

5. Nightmare Alley

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?

6. The Lady from Shanghai

7. The Postman Always Rings Twice

Two steamy thrillers come in at sixth and seventh. Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth in Lady from Shanghai and John Garfield and Lana Turner in The Postman Always Rings Twice. Welles was criticized for having Hayworth’s hair cut but I think she’s still to die for. Garfield and Turner glamorize James M. Cain’s Postman. Has there ever been this much sexual chemistry in a film? Warning: Big-time spoiler in the Lady from Shanghai film clip.

8. White Heat

8 Notorious

Tied for 8^th 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.

Click to play White Heat trailer

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 Lancaster get his heart broken by Yvonne De Carlo. To make it worse, she marries dog Dan Duryea. Gilda and Cross Cross are 10^th.

To recap the last poll with this one:

The top ten from 1941-1944

Double Indemnity
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

Out of the Past
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.