a good detective never sleeps Oh some guys looking for you asking a lot of
guys looking for you asking a lot of
guys looking for you asking a lot of questions what kind of guys tough guys
questions what kind of guys tough guys
questions what kind of guys tough guys very tough guys Mike welcome to
very tough guys Mike welcome to
very tough guys Mike welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting
watchmojo.com and today we’re counting
watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten film noir
for this list since experts fail to
for this list since experts fail to agree on a standard definition for the
agree on a standard definition for the
agree on a standard definition for the genre we’re limiting our choices to
genre we’re limiting our choices to
genre we’re limiting our choices to gritty cynical thrillers and crime
gritty cynical thrillers and crime
gritty cynical thrillers and crime dramas from the early 40s to late 50s
dramas from the early 40s to late 50s
dramas from the early 40s to late 50s that are shot in black and white sorry
that are shot in black and white sorry
that are shot in black and white sorry Jimmy
you never know when you’re gonna bump
you never know when you’re gonna bump wingtips with the wrong fella let’s say
wingtips with the wrong fella let’s say
wingtips with the wrong fella let’s say that you’d like to get rid of your wife
that you’d like to get rid of your wife
that you’d like to get rid of your wife it’s a morbid thought oh no no no no no
it’s a morbid thought oh no no no no no
it’s a morbid thought oh no no no no no just suppose let’s say that you had a
just suppose let’s say that you had a
just suppose let’s say that you had a very good reason and then don’t you know
very good reason and then don’t you know
very good reason and then don’t you know it
it
it a little chitchat and a few wild
a little chitchat and a few wild
a little chitchat and a few wild assumptions later he’s murdering your
assumptions later he’s murdering your
assumptions later he’s murdering your wife and blackmailing you into taking
wife and blackmailing you into taking
wife and blackmailing you into taking out his rich father I may be
out his rich father I may be
out his rich father I may be old-fashioned but I thought murder was
old-fashioned but I thought murder was
old-fashioned but I thought murder was against the law my theory is that
against the law my theory is that
against the law my theory is that everybody is a potential murderer Alfred
everybody is a potential murderer Alfred
everybody is a potential murderer Alfred Hitchcock’s plays in film noir history
Hitchcock’s plays in film noir history
Hitchcock’s plays in film noir history is the subject of debate but this is one
is the subject of debate but this is one
is the subject of debate but this is one of the few that meets the criteria
of the few that meets the criteria
of the few that meets the criteria according to most with its sinister
according to most with its sinister
according to most with its sinister story amoral characters and unspoken
story amoral characters and unspoken
story amoral characters and unspoken secrets strangers on a train as a
secrets strangers on a train as a
secrets strangers on a train as a thriller for the ages
number nine in a lonely place squeeze
number nine in a lonely place squeeze harder it’s wonderful to feel a throat
harder it’s wonderful to feel a throat
harder it’s wonderful to feel a throat crush on Iran perhaps stop it I didn’t
crush on Iran perhaps stop it I didn’t
crush on Iran perhaps stop it I didn’t hurt you tonight you’ve never seen
hurt you tonight you’ve never seen
hurt you tonight you’ve never seen Humphrey Bogart this creepy as
Humphrey Bogart this creepy as
Humphrey Bogart this creepy as misanthropic screenwriter dick steel a
misanthropic screenwriter dick steel a
misanthropic screenwriter dick steel a man who never saw a problem he couldn’t
man who never saw a problem he couldn’t
man who never saw a problem he couldn’t punch her drink his way out of he finds
punch her drink his way out of he finds
punch her drink his way out of he finds himself at the center of a murder
himself at the center of a murder
himself at the center of a murder investigation and his beautiful
investigation and his beautiful
investigation and his beautiful bride-to-be must decide whether he’s the
bride-to-be must decide whether he’s the
bride-to-be must decide whether he’s the real killer or just kind of a jerk
real killer or just kind of a jerk
real killer or just kind of a jerk you unsure of him either a new knowing
you unsure of him either a new knowing
you unsure of him either a new knowing better than anybody else why can’t he be
better than anybody else why can’t he be
better than anybody else why can’t he be like other people though the murder
like other people though the murder
like other people though the murder mystery is at this film’s core the love
mystery is at this film’s core the love
mystery is at this film’s core the love story between Bogaerts flawed hero and
story between Bogaerts flawed hero and
story between Bogaerts flawed hero and his equally damaged lady is the true
his equally damaged lady is the true
his equally damaged lady is the true star-making there’s a doomed
star-making there’s a doomed
star-making there’s a doomed moire romance you’re a horrible
moire romance you’re a horrible
moire romance you’re a horrible conceited good-for-nothing and I don’t
conceited good-for-nothing and I don’t
conceited good-for-nothing and I don’t love you it’s your money I met you can
love you it’s your money I met you can
love you it’s your money I met you can offer a deal will you get some music
offer a deal will you get some music
offer a deal will you get some music number eight Kiss Me Deadly sorry I
number eight Kiss Me Deadly sorry I
number eight Kiss Me Deadly sorry I nearly wrecked your pretty little car
nearly wrecked your pretty little car
nearly wrecked your pretty little car whether you consider it a classic or a
whether you consider it a classic or a
whether you consider it a classic or a campy b-movie
campy b-movie
campy b-movie Kiss Me Deadly influence is undeniable
Kiss Me Deadly influence is undeniable
Kiss Me Deadly influence is undeniable she’s passed out I’ll bring her too if
she’s passed out I’ll bring her too if
she’s passed out I’ll bring her too if you revive her do you know what that
you revive her do you know what that
you revive her do you know what that would be resurrection that’s what it
would be resurrection that’s what it
would be resurrection that’s what it would be and do you know what
would be and do you know what
would be and do you know what resurrection means it means raise the
resurrection means it means raise the
resurrection means it means raise the dead quintessential tough guy Ralph
dead quintessential tough guy Ralph
dead quintessential tough guy Ralph Meeker plays Mike Hammer a hardened
Meeker plays Mike Hammer a hardened
Meeker plays Mike Hammer a hardened Private Eye who picks up the wrong
Private Eye who picks up the wrong
Private Eye who picks up the wrong hitchhiker Cloris Leachman wearing not
hitchhiker Cloris Leachman wearing not
hitchhiker Cloris Leachman wearing not but a trench coat with a classic movie
but a trench coat with a classic movie
but a trench coat with a classic movie MacGuffin driving the plot and inspiring
MacGuffin driving the plot and inspiring
MacGuffin driving the plot and inspiring the likes of repo man and pulp fiction
the likes of repo man and pulp fiction
the likes of repo man and pulp fiction this late addition to the Norrish onra
this late addition to the Norrish onra
this late addition to the Norrish onra blends elements of sci-fi and Neil ISM
blends elements of sci-fi and Neil ISM
blends elements of sci-fi and Neil ISM to produce a genre defining effort
number seven notorious I’m not afraid to
number seven notorious I’m not afraid to die you’ve got your chance here and now
die you’ve got your chance here and now
die you’ve got your chance here and now in one of the most subtle romantic films
in one of the most subtle romantic films
in one of the most subtle romantic films of his career Alfred Hitchcock pairs
of his career Alfred Hitchcock pairs
of his career Alfred Hitchcock pairs Cary Grant with Ingrid Bergman as a
Cary Grant with Ingrid Bergman as a
Cary Grant with Ingrid Bergman as a couple trying to root out Nazis from
couple trying to root out Nazis from
couple trying to root out Nazis from Brazil while it combines many of the
Brazil while it combines many of the
Brazil while it combines many of the visual and storytelling aspects central
visual and storytelling aspects central
visual and storytelling aspects central to film noir experts cannot agree if
to film noir experts cannot agree if
to film noir experts cannot agree if this spy thriller truly belongs to the
this spy thriller truly belongs to the
this spy thriller truly belongs to the genre father jolly dill College let me
genre father jolly dill College let me
genre father jolly dill College let me show you around place later his nipson
show you around place later his nipson
show you around place later his nipson on the trail one reason for this
on the trail one reason for this
on the trail one reason for this discrepancy is the film’s notorious kiss
discrepancy is the film’s notorious kiss
discrepancy is the film’s notorious kiss while many noir films romanced in the
while many noir films romanced in the
while many noir films romanced in the shadows this one plays out for audiences
shadows this one plays out for audiences
shadows this one plays out for audiences to enjoy this is a very strange maybe
to enjoy this is a very strange maybe
to enjoy this is a very strange maybe the fact that you don’t love me number
the fact that you don’t love me number
the fact that you don’t love me number six the third man old man you never
six the third man old man you never
six the third man old man you never should have gone to the police you know
should have gone to the police you know
should have gone to the police you know you ought to leave this thing alone one
you ought to leave this thing alone one
you ought to leave this thing alone one of the all-time classics of the genre
of the all-time classics of the genre
of the all-time classics of the genre the third man has a style all its own
the third man has a style all its own
the third man has a style all its own Harry get away the police are outside
Harry get away the police are outside
Harry get away the police are outside quick Anna
with the winding plot twisting its way
with the winding plot twisting its way through Allied occupied Vienna the story
through Allied occupied Vienna the story
through Allied occupied Vienna the story follows the standard more characters the
follows the standard more characters the
follows the standard more characters the rough-hewn plain speaking good guy the
rough-hewn plain speaking good guy the
rough-hewn plain speaking good guy the shadowy bad guy and the beautiful femme
shadowy bad guy and the beautiful femme
shadowy bad guy and the beautiful femme fatale plus with elements like a
fatale plus with elements like a
fatale plus with elements like a mustachioed Inspector Clouseau esque
mustachioed Inspector Clouseau esque
mustachioed Inspector Clouseau esque villain a grinning orson welles and
villain a grinning orson welles and
villain a grinning orson welles and comical but unforgettable score carol
comical but unforgettable score carol
comical but unforgettable score carol reads intricate mystery blends comedy
reads intricate mystery blends comedy
reads intricate mystery blends comedy suspense and ultimately tragedy with
suspense and ultimately tragedy with
suspense and ultimately tragedy with seamless ease mentally for 30 years
seamless ease mentally for 30 years
seamless ease mentally for 30 years under the Borgias they had warfare
under the Borgias they had warfare
under the Borgias they had warfare terror murder and bloodshed but they
terror murder and bloodshed but they
terror murder and bloodshed but they produced Michelangelo Leonardo da Vinci
produced Michelangelo Leonardo da Vinci
produced Michelangelo Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance in Switzerland they
and the Renaissance in Switzerland they
and the Renaissance in Switzerland they had brotherly love and 500 years of
had brotherly love and 500 years of
had brotherly love and 500 years of democracy and peace and what did that
democracy and peace and what did that
democracy and peace and what did that produce the cuckoo clock number 5 touch
produce the cuckoo clock number 5 touch
produce the cuckoo clock number 5 touch of evil you realize I haven’t kissed you
of evil you realize I haven’t kissed you
of evil you realize I haven’t kissed you over an hour less than a decade after
over an hour less than a decade after
over an hour less than a decade after our previous entry audiences witnessed
our previous entry audiences witnessed
our previous entry audiences witnessed the handsomely charming Welles
the handsomely charming Welles
the handsomely charming Welles transformed into the ruthlessly corrupt
transformed into the ruthlessly corrupt
transformed into the ruthlessly corrupt and seemingly twice as large police
and seemingly twice as large police
and seemingly twice as large police captain Hank Quinlan you are a policeman
captain Hank Quinlan you are a policeman
captain Hank Quinlan you are a policeman March you he squares off with Charlton
March you he squares off with Charlton
March you he squares off with Charlton Heston who is evidently supposed to be
Heston who is evidently supposed to be
Heston who is evidently supposed to be Mexican in what is considered one of the
Mexican in what is considered one of the
Mexican in what is considered one of the final films in the film noir genre what
final films in the film noir genre what
final films in the film noir genre what do I do get back to embrace him right
do I do get back to embrace him right
do I do get back to embrace him right it’s also one of the best with its
it’s also one of the best with its
it’s also one of the best with its brilliantly directed serpentine story
brilliantly directed serpentine story
brilliantly directed serpentine story rich supporting characters and ominous
rich supporting characters and ominous
rich supporting characters and ominous Jarra appropriate atmosphere too bad
Jarra appropriate atmosphere too bad
Jarra appropriate atmosphere too bad Welles never directed another Hollywood
Welles never directed another Hollywood
Welles never directed another Hollywood film again at halo yeah looks real
film again at halo yeah looks real
film again at halo yeah looks real pretty I Pete
soon you’ll be flapping your wings like
soon you’ll be flapping your wings like an angel number 4 Sunset Boulevard tour
an angel number 4 Sunset Boulevard tour
an angel number 4 Sunset Boulevard tour dope he always wanted to pool well in
dope he always wanted to pool well in
dope he always wanted to pool well in the end he got himself a pool Hollywood
the end he got himself a pool Hollywood
the end he got himself a pool Hollywood dreams die hard in one of the greatest
dreams die hard in one of the greatest
dreams die hard in one of the greatest and most meta films ever Billy Wilder’s
and most meta films ever Billy Wilder’s
and most meta films ever Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard features aging former
Sunset Boulevard features aging former
Sunset Boulevard features aging former silent movie star Gloria Swanson as
silent movie star Gloria Swanson as
silent movie star Gloria Swanson as agent silent movie star Norma Desmond an
agent silent movie star Norma Desmond an
agent silent movie star Norma Desmond an assortment of other Hollywood greats
assortment of other Hollywood greats
assortment of other Hollywood greats from director Cecil B DeMille to Buster
from director Cecil B DeMille to Buster
from director Cecil B DeMille to Buster Keaton play themselves or versions of as
Keaton play themselves or versions of as
Keaton play themselves or versions of as William Holden navigates the perks and
William Holden navigates the perks and
William Holden navigates the perks and pitfalls of rubbing elbows with the rich
pitfalls of rubbing elbows with the rich
pitfalls of rubbing elbows with the rich famous and insane are you doing
famous and insane are you doing
famous and insane are you doing I’m packing good leaving me yes I am
I’m packing good leaving me yes I am
I’m packing good leaving me yes I am Norma no you’re not and somehow throwing
Norma no you’re not and somehow throwing
Norma no you’re not and somehow throwing film noir elements into that mix makes
film noir elements into that mix makes
film noir elements into that mix makes this classic bizarrely comical in a
this classic bizarrely comical in a
this classic bizarrely comical in a camera and those wonderful people up
camera and those wonderful people up
camera and those wonderful people up there in the dark all right mr. DeMille
there in the dark all right mr. DeMille
there in the dark all right mr. DeMille I’m ready for my close-up number three
I’m ready for my close-up number three
I’m ready for my close-up number three Double Indemnity
Double Indemnity
Double Indemnity is there anything I can do the insurance
is there anything I can do the insurance
is there anything I can do the insurance right out on the 15th I’d hate to think
right out on the 15th I’d hate to think
right out on the 15th I’d hate to think of you’re having a smash fender or
of you’re having a smash fender or
of you’re having a smash fender or something while you’re not too high
something while you’re not too high
something while you’re not too high probably covered oh how we longed for
probably covered oh how we longed for
probably covered oh how we longed for the era when the insurance man came
the era when the insurance man came
the era when the insurance man came right to your door and tried to seduce
right to your door and tried to seduce
right to your door and tried to seduce your wife and possibly plotted to kill
your wife and possibly plotted to kill
your wife and possibly plotted to kill you well maybe the good old days weren’t
you well maybe the good old days weren’t
you well maybe the good old days weren’t so perfect there’s something wrong with
so perfect there’s something wrong with
so perfect there’s something wrong with the dietrichson case all right because
the dietrichson case all right because
the dietrichson case all right because it didn’t file a claim maybe he just
it didn’t file a claim maybe he just
it didn’t file a claim maybe he just didn’t have time maybe he just didn’t
didn’t have time maybe he just didn’t
didn’t have time maybe he just didn’t know that he was insured the product of
know that he was insured the product of
know that he was insured the product of a collaboration between noir Titans
a collaboration between noir Titans
a collaboration between noir Titans writer Raymond Chandler and director
writer Raymond Chandler and director
writer Raymond Chandler and director Billy Wilder and based on a James M Cain
Billy Wilder and based on a James M Cain
Billy Wilder and based on a James M Cain story double indemnity is perhaps the
story double indemnity is perhaps the
story double indemnity is perhaps the most quintessential moiré ever with its
most quintessential moiré ever with its
most quintessential moiré ever with its rough language and strong sexual
rough language and strong sexual
rough language and strong sexual undertones it’s also a reminder to
undertones it’s also a reminder to
undertones it’s also a reminder to always read the fine print it isn’t my
always read the fine print it isn’t my
always read the fine print it isn’t my money anymore
money anymore
money anymore it’s our necks we’re pulling out you
it’s our necks we’re pulling out you
it’s our necks we’re pulling out you understand because of what Keyes can do
understand because of what Keyes can do
understand because of what Keyes can do you’re not fooling me Walter it’s
you’re not fooling me Walter it’s
you’re not fooling me Walter it’s because of Lola what you did to a father
because of Lola what you did to a father
because of Lola what you did to a father you’re afraid she might find out someday
you’re afraid she might find out someday
you’re afraid she might find out someday you can’t take it can you
you can’t take it can you
you can’t take it can you I said leave her out of this number two
I said leave her out of this number two
I said leave her out of this number two The Big Sleep remember I told you I was
The Big Sleep remember I told you I was
The Big Sleep remember I told you I was beginning to like another one of the
beginning to like another one of the
beginning to like another one of the stern words
stern words
stern words we should shot I should be awfully easy
we should shot I should be awfully easy
we should shot I should be awfully easy based on Chandler’s first book to
based on Chandler’s first book to
based on Chandler’s first book to feature the great noir detective Philip
feature the great noir detective Philip
feature the great noir detective Philip Marlowe and future inspiration for The
Marlowe and future inspiration for The
Marlowe and future inspiration for The Big Lebowski
Big Lebowski
Big Lebowski this black and white Howard Hawks
this black and white Howard Hawks
this black and white Howard Hawks masterwork sees Humphrey Bogart and
masterwork sees Humphrey Bogart and
masterwork sees Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall in the roles they were
Lauren Bacall in the roles they were
Lauren Bacall in the roles they were quote-unquote
quote-unquote
quote-unquote born to play as they navigate a
born to play as they navigate a
born to play as they navigate a convoluted criminal investigation with
convoluted criminal investigation with
convoluted criminal investigation with more moving parts than a Swiss watch
more moving parts than a Swiss watch
more moving parts than a Swiss watch Marlowe tries to set the record for
Marlowe tries to set the record for
Marlowe tries to set the record for having the most guns pointed at him
having the most guns pointed at him
having the most guns pointed at him without getting shot you take chances
without getting shot you take chances
without getting shot you take chances master and you know he saves the day by
master and you know he saves the day by
master and you know he saves the day by staying cool through impossibly
staying cool through impossibly
staying cool through impossibly stressful situations over here can Ino
before we unveil our top pick here are a
before we unveil our top pick here are a few honorable mentions tell me all about
few honorable mentions tell me all about
few honorable mentions tell me all about it
it
it crap cheap little no-good trend he said
crap cheap little no-good trend he said
crap cheap little no-good trend he said mr. Emmerich was here in this house with
mr. Emmerich was here in this house with
mr. Emmerich was here in this house with her from 11:30 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. last
her from 11:30 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. last
her from 11:30 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. last Friday night is that the statement you
Friday night is that the statement you
Friday night is that the statement you made yes
made yes
made yes was it the truth Jeff you ought to have
was it the truth Jeff you ought to have
was it the truth Jeff you ought to have killed me for what I did a moment ago
killed me for what I did a moment ago
killed me for what I did a moment ago there’s time yeah you I’ve never stopped
there’s time yeah you I’ve never stopped
there’s time yeah you I’ve never stopped loving you what forget the heat on
loving you what forget the heat on
loving you what forget the heat on plenty face the wall
plenty face the wall
plenty face the wall put your mitts up all of it number one
put your mitts up all of it number one
put your mitts up all of it number one The Maltese Falcon
not only is our top pick widely
not only is our top pick widely considered the best film noir it’s also
considered the best film noir it’s also
considered the best film noir it’s also considered by many to be the first
most amazing of all it was legendary
most amazing of all it was legendary director John Huston’s first feature
director John Huston’s first feature
director John Huston’s first feature made on a b-movie sized budget and based
made on a b-movie sized budget and based
made on a b-movie sized budget and based on a book that had already failed twice
on a book that had already failed twice
on a book that had already failed twice on the screen starring Humphrey Bogart
on the screen starring Humphrey Bogart
on the screen starring Humphrey Bogart as get this a private detective
as get this a private detective
as get this a private detective okay well the premise might not seem
okay well the premise might not seem
okay well the premise might not seem revolutionary but virtually every aspect
revolutionary but virtually every aspect
revolutionary but virtually every aspect of filmmaking was setting bogey up for
of filmmaking was setting bogey up for
of filmmaking was setting bogey up for his future successes and setting the
his future successes and setting the
his future successes and setting the standard for film noir what is it
the stuff that dreams are made of
the stuff that dreams are made of do you agree with our list what Noirs
do you agree with our list what Noirs
do you agree with our list what Noirs make you wish all films could be in
make you wish all films could be in
make you wish all films could be in black and white keep it tuned to
black and white keep it tuned to
black and white keep it tuned to watchmojo.com for more top 10s published
watchmojo.com for more top 10s published
watchmojo.com for more top 10s published every day
”
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