Film Noir - Codes and Conventions

Charters

Males:
The main character tries to be the hero but ends up being trapped into doing that puts him into trouble. He is usually has a downfall which is the women or alcohol.

Males characters in Film Noir:

• Hero // Anti hero
• Private eye
• Detective 
• Cops 
• Gangsters 
• Murderers 
• Private Eye 
• War Veterans

Female:
The main characters that is in nearly every Film Noir is the Femme Fatale. This character is very beautiful and usually blonde but she is very misleading and manipulative. They trick the detective and makes them fall in love with them. There is also a women, normally the Secretary, who is a loving and trustworthy person (opposite to the Femme Fatale.

Iconography

In Film Noir we expect to see lots of guns, cigarettes, blinds and alcohol because it was we associate with Film Noir. Smoking is used in Film Noir to create mystery to the scene.  The Femme Fatale holding a gun in silhouettes wearing red lipstick and a man holding a gun with lights shining through blinds is a typical iconography in film Noir.

Mise En Scene

Costume:
The Femme Fatale wear bright red lips stick and tight fitted short dresses with high heals and a fur coat. All of the male character dress in a suit, long drench coats and a fedoras hat which shows they are either a detective or a mobster. It tells the audience that crime is going to happen within the film.

Location:
The location in Film Noir are usually in Urban setting and abandoned areas. In ally ways, Offices and big houses, and police stations are usual locations in Film Noir. All New York, Chicago and San Francisco the typical cities where Film Noir are filmed.

Iconography

• Cigarettes/Cigar  - Smoking is a feature that is used in every Film Noir
• Alcohol 
• Guns - Brings action into the film. Danger and Excitement 
• Gloves
• Hats 
• Blinds 
• Cars 

Lighting

Film Noir are filmed in black and white to emphasis the shadows in the film. It could suggest that there is no happiness in the film. Lighting coming through Venetian blinds(Blocking shot), giving Low key lighting (Chiaroscuro) to show shadow and darkness. Shadows creates mystery in the film and the darkness suggest that there is going to be evil in the movie.


Use of Camera



Close ups:







Low angles

High angles:









Extreme close ups