Film Noir - The Dark Underbelly of Hollywood

In the years following WWII, many filmmakers began making movies that represented the seedier and uglier realities of life. Gone was the cinema of wine and roses, and in its place rose an imagery of dark alleys, mysterious shadows and hidden motives. This type of cinema, which actually has its roots deep in German Expressionism, is exemplified by the use of black and white film and stark lighting. And at the center of the visuals is the overall message that life is NOT what it seems, and the outcome can be dire and drastic. We will immerse ourselves in a world of chiaroscuro, and when we emerge we'll have a greater understanding of the importance of film noir and its effects upon current cinematic output. See clips from such classics as Double Indemnity (1944), Laura (1944), Nightmare Alley (1947), Touch of Evil (1958), and many, many more