Femmes et hommes fatales
February 10, 2011 8:54 AM Subscribe
Great post -- thank you.
Can't agree with #1, though. "Sunset Boulevard" is sorta noir, but it's almost more Grand Guignol. #2 is a great one. I'd much rather have seen a lesser-known film make #1, like "Murder, My Sweet," "Pickup on South Street," or "Too Late for Tears." There are elements of all the B-movie posters that are actually way truer examples of noir than "Sunset Boulevard." I can't believe that this one wasn't included in at least the top 20.
posted by blucevalo at 9:51 AM on February 10, 2011 [1 favorite]
Can't agree with #1, though. "Sunset Boulevard" is sorta noir, but it's almost more Grand Guignol. #2 is a great one. I'd much rather have seen a lesser-known film make #1, like "Murder, My Sweet," "Pickup on South Street," or "Too Late for Tears." There are elements of all the B-movie posters that are actually way truer examples of noir than "Sunset Boulevard." I can't believe that this one wasn't included in at least the top 20.
posted by blucevalo at 9:51 AM on February 10, 2011 [1 favorite]
As someone who also skipped to #1, the fact that #1 is #1 means that I will now definitely read the text rather than just look at the pictures (says the guy who has that poster hanging in his home office)
(I also think of Sunset Boulevard as completely and absolutely film noir, though if you're defining noir more by story of the script's plot rather than the structure, narrational devices, tone, or visual style, I can see how you might think otherwise... but that's a derail for a time when I don't have tons of work to do this afternoon...)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 10:09 AM on February 10, 2011
(I also think of Sunset Boulevard as completely and absolutely film noir, though if you're defining noir more by story of the script's plot rather than the structure, narrational devices, tone, or visual style, I can see how you might think otherwise... but that's a derail for a time when I don't have tons of work to do this afternoon...)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 10:09 AM on February 10, 2011
Poster at home? Oh you *puts another star next to MCMike's name on the Secrect Metafilter Mash List*
posted by The Whelk at 10:14 AM on February 10, 2011
posted by The Whelk at 10:14 AM on February 10, 2011
I also think of Sunset Boulevard as completely and absolutely film noir, though if you're defining noir more by story of the script's plot rather than the structure, narrational devices, tone, or visual style, I can see how you might think otherwise
Well, I was thinking of all of the above, but YOMV ..... I could go either way, I guess. I kinda think "Sunset Boulevard" already gets enough attention already in all the other categories into which it fits, it doesn't need to glom onto noir and go NOM NOM there as well and obliterate all the other deserving unseen noirs.
But yeah, undeniably a classic masterpiece, Billy Wilder's best, etc., etc.
posted by blucevalo at 10:38 AM on February 10, 2011
Well, I was thinking of all of the above, but YOMV ..... I could go either way, I guess. I kinda think "Sunset Boulevard" already gets enough attention already in all the other categories into which it fits, it doesn't need to glom onto noir and go NOM NOM there as well and obliterate all the other deserving unseen noirs.
But yeah, undeniably a classic masterpiece, Billy Wilder's best, etc., etc.
posted by blucevalo at 10:38 AM on February 10, 2011
Must beg to differ. I'd put #5 as 1, and #9 as 2.
Fantastic post, just want now to acquire many of these.
posted by bearwife at 11:11 AM on February 10, 2011
Fantastic post, just want now to acquire many of these.
posted by bearwife at 11:11 AM on February 10, 2011
That Plunder Road poster all the way down at #31 is fantastic. I'd have it much higher in the list.
posted by Wemmick at 11:39 AM on February 10, 2011
posted by Wemmick at 11:39 AM on February 10, 2011
Wonderful post. These are great!
posted by brundlefly at 12:38 PM on February 10, 2011
posted by brundlefly at 12:38 PM on February 10, 2011
I'm surprised that White Heat isn't in there - my boyfriend has it in his living room, and it's really fantastic
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 2:13 PM on February 10, 2011
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 2:13 PM on February 10, 2011
Agreed about Plunder Road. I saw it before I saw a comment on it. I think that vertical white line really sticks out.
I'd add Criss Cross to this list.
posted by Rashomon at 2:29 PM on February 10, 2011
I'd add Criss Cross to this list.
posted by Rashomon at 2:29 PM on February 10, 2011
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posted by The Whelk at 8:57 AM on February 10, 2011