World War I, prohibition, and the Great Depression were factors that led to the making of film noir; it encouraged writers and director to show the audience something realistic and relatable, the world is not always a pretty place and that is what the audience got. The Hays Production Code was another factor that had a big effect on film noir because this code made restriction/limitations; there where curtain things that could not be shown on screen, for example a man and woman could not be intimate/sexual on screen therefore the director had to work with the camera and edit the film to imply these emotion without showing it on screen.
Visual style
Light and shadows are key in film noir; it uses depth and contrast to create dramatic effects. As it was said in American Cinema: Film Noir it was light agents dark good agents evil, when there is no light there is no escape, although it is not shown when the scene is dark it is left to the audience and their imagination to determine what is going on or what will happen. Using blinds cresting an interesting environment. The use of environment/city over a studio is also another way to demonstrate realism.
Characteristics of the film noir genre
Film noir movies are known for there dark aspects, not only because they are black and white but because the characters usually have a stroke of bad luck which usually end with their demise. The main character may be put into a bad situation in which he or she tries to fix but rather than fixing the situation his or her actions only makes it worse. Film noir is like a quick sand, one may try all that they can to escape but once one is in there is no getting out.
Films mentioned in the documentary
Detour, Force of Evil, Out of the Past, The Big Combo, Murder My Sweet, Double Indemnity, The Maltese Falcon, Kiss Me Deadly, Pickup on South Street, Cry of the City, The Post Man Always Rings Twice, Sunset Boulevard, Gun Crazy, Touch of Evil, The Testament of Dr. Mabuse, The Cabinet of Dr. Calgari, Asphalt Jungle, Night and the City, Mean Street, Body Heat, and Chinatown.
