Noir Talk

East Bay Express film reviewer Kelly Vance joins us to talk about the "Now Playing" feature on filmnoirfoundation.org, a newly added guide to noir-tinged movie and streaming news. We also round up a bunch of great classic noir releases on Blu-ray in the last few years from specialty outlets who've all been releasing terrific films mostly unavailable on home video before now: -- KL Studio Classics: Pitfall, 99 River Street, Cry Of The City, Deadline USA. Hollow Triumph, Boomerang, The Woman In The Window, He Ran All The Way, Roadhouse, I Wake Up Screaming, The Chase, A Kiss Before Dying, I Walk Alone, The Taking of Pelham 123 -- Olive: Cry Danger, Try And Get Me, The Big Combo, Body And Soul, Plunder Road, Crashout, Odds Against Tomorrow -- Flicker Alley: Too Late For Tears, Woman on the Run, The Man Who Cheated Himself -- VCI: The Prowler, New York Confidential (DVD only) -- ClassicFlix: T-Men, Raw Deal, He Walked By Night, You Only Live Once -- Cohen Film Collection: Jamaica Inn, Sudden Fear -- Twili

Brandeis professor Tom Doherty joins us to discuss his new book about the 1947 Congressional hearings that led directly to Hollywood's anti-Communist blacklist. We start by untangling a few terms often used to describe the events of the time--HUAC, McCarthyism, the Red Scare--and the overall timeline of events in and around the hearings (2:15). Then we discuss the perspectives and strategies adopted by each of the main factions from Hollywood who were involved in the 1947 hearings: the studio bosses and their industry representatives from the MPAA (19:20), the staunch anti-Communist conservatives of the Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals (34:55), the activist anti-HUAC liberals of the Committee for the First Amendment (44:45), and the Communist party members and sympathizers known as the Unfriendly Nineteen, whose ranks were randomly culled to the Hollywood Ten (51:30). We finish with how the end of the hearings led rapidly to the blacklist (1:03:30), the role that film noir p

NOIR CITY Hollywood showrunner Brian Light joins us to discuss the festival's 20th edition, as well as some of his articles for the NOIR CITY e-magazine. We start with some behind-the-scenes details of how the festival is organized, and we delve into some of this year's screenings: James Ellroy appearing with LA Confidential to receive the FNF's "Modern Noir Master" award; a triple bill from director Joseph Losey; and a pair of 1950s rarities, The Turning Point and The Scarlet Hour, in newly restored presentations courtesy of Paramount Pictures (1:50). Brian's numerous "Book vs Film" articles for NOIR CITY include "La Chienne vs Scarlet Street," a comparison of the 1920s French novel with two film versions, Jean Renoir's French adaptation and Fritz Lang's noir classic Scarlet Street. Brian details how hard it was to track down an English translation of the novel, as well as the differences between the two films in their overall tone and endings (17:30). "Scoring Evil: The Henry Mancini Touch" dives into o

The co-managing editor of the FNF's NOIR CITY e-magazine joins us to discuss some of his wide-ranging articles from the past few years. We start with how Steve started writing for the FNF alongside his brother Michael after many years of working together on the classic horror magazine Monsters From The Vault (1:30), and we take a look at noir-themed lyrics in songs from the 1950s-70s era of classic rock (8:20). We discuss the career of one of noir's most accomplished cinematographers, Nicholas Musuraca, best known for Out Of The Past. We start with his early years as one of the founding craftsmen of RKO, groundbreaking expressionism in Stranger On The Third Floor, darkness and light in Val Lewton-produced classics including Cat People and The Seventh Victim, voyeurism in The Spiral Staircase, and panic and dread in The Hitchhiker (21:50). Then we delve into the wild history of EC Comics, whose horror-themed titles such as Tales From The Crypt led to industry-wide censorship under pressure from Congress in t

For the NOIR CITY 16 film festival, we broke out of the studio and went on location with numerous guests from the historic Castro Theatre in San Francisco: Annabelle Zakaluk, Ms. NOIR CITY 2018, talks about the Castro Theatre, how she became Ms. NOIR CITY, the making of this year's festival poster, and her glamorous vintage outfits for each night of the festival. (1:45) Bill Arney, the voice of NOIR CITY in San Francisco since 2006, on introducing the festival's shows, how his mom's pies helped him meet Eddie Muller, and living in the apartment where Dashiell Hammett wrote The Maltese Falcon. (16:40) Brian and Stacey Homan of Jacksonville, FL on what's inspired them to attend NOIR CITY every year since 2009, plus a special guest appearance on opening night of this year's festival. (25:20) Bill Selby, art director for the NOIR CITY film festival, on building the original Noir City website before the festivals began, as well as designing the festival posters over the years and working with the women who've

What was it like to be a devotee of film noir before most people had ever heard of it? Brooklyn College film professor Foster Hirsch, from the Film Noir Foundation's board of directors, joins us to talk about how the concept of noir became widely known in America--and the time when it wasn't. We focus much of our discussion on the writing of his ground-breaking book Film Noir: The Dark Side Of The Screen (1981), one of the first books about noir published in the US. We discuss noir's French origins and how it first became known to American film scholars and cineastes in the 1970s (3:00), the impact of younger filmmakers bringing noir influences to their own work in the early 1980s (16:00), and some of the reasons for the explosion of interest in classic noir since the 1990s (22:45). FNF president Eddie Muller also joins us to preview NOIR CITY 16, including details on the restoration of The Man Who Cheated Himself and other rare titles being shown on this year's festival circuit (32:00). The Dark Side O

Film Noir Foundation charter director and treasurer Alan K. Rode joins us to discuss his new biography of Michael Curtiz, one of classic Hollywood's greatest directors. We start with Curtiz's early life and career in Europe (2:45), his first years in Hollywood (11:15), and his wife and close collaborator Bess Meredyth (14:35). Then we talk about his breakthrough success with Captain Blood and other hits with Errol Flynn, including The Adventures of Robin Hood and The Sea Hawk (17:15). We also discuss the peak of Curtiz's career with Yankee Doodle Dandy (28:05) and Casablanca (34:40). We then delve into some of Curtiz's major noir films: Mildred Pierce (39:45), The Unsuspected (47:35), the new restoration of The Sea Wolf (53:10), and his post-war masterpiece, The Breaking Point (1:00:25). We wrap up with a few titles from late in Curtiz's career (1:08:00) and a discussion of why he has not been more of a household name (1:10:20). Michael Curtiz: A Life In Film available at: https://www.amazon.com/Michael-Cu

The Film Noir Foundation co-presented an October screening and panel discussion of the 1944 classic Gaslight at the AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring, MD, as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. We talk with the event's organizer, Aha! Moment Founder Tali Elitzur (aka the Noir Talk host's better half), about the origins of her idea for the event (2:15), as well as how therapists define and deal with the pattern of emotional abuse known as "gaslighting" (4:50). Film writer and historian Imogen Sara Smith, who introduced the screening and participated in the panel discussion, joins us to talk about the 1944 movie and its portrayal of an abuse victim's experience (10:50), how Gaslight fits in as a film noir (17:20), and how the 1940 British movie version compares with the Hollywood version (27:00). Author and domestic violence survivor Paula Lucas, the Founder of Pathways to Safety International, recounts her own experience with gaslighting (44:10) and describes how accurately the patterns of abuse ar

We pay tribute to actress and FNF Advisory Council member Marsha Hunt on the milestone of her 100th birthday, October 17th, 2017. FNF treasurer and charter director Alan K. Rode discusses her early life and film roles (2:15), her guest appearances at NOIR CITY film festivals (6:15), plus her fight against the Hollywood blacklist and its effect on her movie career (9:00). We also discuss Marsha's humanitarian work and activism (15:15), as well as her prominent role in the film community throughout her life, both on-screen and off (17:30), plus more stories about her from over the years (28:30). Then FNF president and founder Eddie Muller joins us to talk about developing his 2008 short film The Grand Inquisitor with Marsha in mind for one of its roles (42:00), plus behind-the-scenes stories of working with her on-set (46:50). This episode includes audio clips of Marsha Hunt from her appearances at NOIR CITY film festivals. Video available at: http://filmnoirfoundation.org/video.html For more on The Grand I

Part 2 of our survey of film noir musical scores and their composers, with Emmy-nominated producer and author Steven C. Smith, covers the following composers and film scores: Bernard Herrmann - Concerto Macabre Part 1 (1:55), Part 2 (9:50), from Hangover Square Max Steiner - White Heat (18:55) Alfred Newman - Cry Of The City (22:20) Max Steiner - Treasure of the Sierra Madre (25:10), Mildred Pierce (27:25) Franz Waxman - Sunset Blvd (31:10) Dmitri Tiomkin - Angel Face (37:50) Bernard Herrmann - On Dangerous Ground (41:50) David Raksin - The Big Combo (47:00) Arthur Schwartz - The Band Wagon (MGM musical noir parody) (49:30) NOIR CITY DC schedule and ticket info available here: http://afi.com/silver/films/2017/p83/headnotes.aspx#noir-city-dc The FNF is co-presenting a screening of Gaslight at AFI Silver with a post-movie discussion panel on "gaslighting": https://silver.afi.com/Browsing/Movies/Details/m-0100000121 Steven C. Smith's "Bernard Herrmann and the Music of Desire: An essay on the Composer’s Noir

Emmy-nominated producer and author Steven C. Smith joins us for a tour of film noir musical scores and their composers. This is the first of a two-part episode. The composers and movie scores we discuss, including music clips, are indicated below: Adolph Deutsch - The Maltese Falcon (6:30) Miklos Rozsa - Double Indemnity (10:45), Criss Cross (18:40), The Killers (21:40) George Bassman - The Postman Always Rings Twice (28:45) David Raksin - Laura (31:40), Force Of Evil (38:50) Roy Webb - Murder My Sweet (43:20) Max Steiner - The Big Sleep (47:05) NOIR CITY Detroit tickets and All Movie Pass available at: http://redfordtheatre.com/ Steven C. Smith's "Bernard Herrmann and the Music of Desire: An essay on the Composer’s Noir soundtracks" from NOIR CITY #3: http://www.noircitymag.com/noir_city_3.html A Heart At Fire's Center: The Life And Music Of Bernard Herrmann: https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Fires-Center-Bernard-Herrmann/dp/0520229398 Please send us any feedback you have on our show to podcast@filmnoirfound

Crime novelist Jake Hinkson joins us to discuss his articles about film noir and his other writing. We begin with the upcoming NOIR CITY Chicago festival, featuring a special anniversary screening of L.A. Confidential with author James Ellroy in person, plus some other hard-hitting heist films (2:25). Then we discuss how how Jake got started writing for the FNF's NOIR CITY e-magazine, during the long-ago internet era of Myspace (15:55). Two of Jake's NOIR CITY profiles focus on lesser-known actors with sad stories off-screen as well as on. We talk about the dramatic and scandalous life of Detour star Tom Neal (17:50) and the ill-fated Peggie Castle, who made striking impressions with great noir performances in 99 River Street and I, The Jury (33:10). Then we lighten the mood with Jake's article on the B-movie cult classic Wicked Woman, which led to a happy ending off-screen in the lifelong marriage of star Beverly Michaels and director Russell Rouse (45:20). We also share some fun stories about seeing the m

The art director for the Film Noir Foundation's NOIR CITY e-magazine joins us to talk graphic design, comic books, and boxing. We begin with how Michael first started working with the FNF (3:00), plus designing the website and other projects for Eddie Muller's Black Pool Productions (5:50). We also discuss the process of designing each issue of NOIR CITY (8:30), including the use of multi-media video and audio clips (15:00). Then we talk about the NOIR CITY comics issue, starting with Michael's article "Batman in the '70s: First Rebirth of the Bat" on the character's development over the years (19:40), and how Batman's dark turn in the 1970s is still influencing comics and movies today (30:35). We also delve into Michael's choices for the all-time Top 10 noir comics (35:30). Next we discuss how Marvel's movie production chief is combining the approach of classic Hollywood studio moguls and Marvel legend Stan Lee (42:00), plus some indications that DC is starting to move in that direction with their movies

The co-authors of the classic Hollywood mysteries "Design For Dying" and "Dangerous To Know" join us to talk noir, costume design, and mystery writing. We start with their appearance at NOIR CITY Hollywood to introduce This Gun For Hire (2:30), as well as some of this year's movies at their hometown festival of NOIR CITY Seattle, including The Taking Of Pelham 123 and The Ladykillers (4:00). We also discuss the editing and production of the Film Noir Foundation's NOIR CITY e-magazine, where Vince is the co-managing editor (13:20), plus Vince's long-running "Cocktails And Crime" e-magazine column (17:45). Then it's on to legendary costume designer Edith Head. We talk about the Keenans' e-magazine article exploring her career and her work on film noir (21:00), her partnerships with Alfred Hitchcock and Grace Kelly (28:20), plus her work designing clothes for the Academy Awards and for Bette Davis (32:10). Edith Head co-stars in the Keenans' books written under the pseudonym Renee Patrick. We discuss the orig

Our guest this month is film critic and historian Imogen Sara Smith. We start by discussing her background as a film writer and how she started writing about noir in particular (1:40). Then we discuss her commentary track for the new DVD/Blu-ray release of The Scar (aka Hollow Triumph), including the central role of star/producer/director Paul Henreid (5:30), the movie's theme of people not noticing things right in front of them and how that relates to film noir in general (10:25), the great cinematography by John Alton and expressionism in noir (13:40), and one quote from the movie that sums up film noir all in one phrase (18:35). Then we discuss Imogen's NOIR CITY e-magazine article "Wanted Man: The Fugitive" from the Fall 2016 issue about noir transitioning to TV in the 1960s: how The Fugitive exemplified themes and style common to film noir (20:20), older TV shows not being designed for binge-watching (28:50), and the influence of the show's creator Roy Huggins in designing TV concepts that sustain suspe

Our guest this month is Film Noir Foundation charter director and treasurer Alan K. Rode. We discuss the recent NOIR CITY Hollywood festival, starting with a brief history of the festival and some of this year's movies including Address Unknown and Quiet Please Murder (4:15), a nod to the studios supporting the FNF with great prints of rare titles for the NOIR CITY festivals (8:40), how B-movies were promoted with unusual titles and innovative screenwriting (9:50), a few anecdotes on alternate movie titles from old Hollywood (12:25), plus the challenges of finding film prints of long-unseen movies, including one with no opening credits, and untangling issues involving multiple rights-owners (14:20). Then we talk about the upcoming Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival in Palm Springs. We discuss the festival's origins and Alan continuing the work of its late founder (20:50), behind-the-scenes stories with guests over the years including Ernest Borgnine, Norman Lloyd, Barbara Hale, Nancy Olson, and Jon Polito (25:0

Welcome to NOIR TALK, a podcast devoted to discussing the Film Noir Foundation. Our first guest is FNF founder and president Eddie Muller. We start with a tribute to the late Turner Classic Movies host Robert Osborne (3:00), and then we discuss Eddie's new TCM series Noir Alley (9:00), his scheduled appearance at the upcoming TCM Festival (22:00), and the NOIR CITY Annual compendium of e-magazine articles from 2016 (26:00). Then we talk about the NOIR CITY festival theme for the year, The Big Knockover (37:00), heist movies featuring terrific ensemble casts (47:00), NOIR CITY festival audiences (50:00), an interesting Italian film in this year's festival lineup (52:00), this year's festival poster featuring Ms. NOIR CITY 2017 (56:00), a local guest at the San Francisco festival (1:02:00), a preview of NOIR CITY Hollywood (1:05:00), Eddie's approach to programming film festivals with both rare and famous titles (1:10:00), and showing movies digitally while still supporting film preservation (1:14:00). Sign