Film-Noir

Examining film noir posters

Film noir literally means "black film" or "black cinema", which was coined by a French film critic named Nino Frank in 1946, who noticed the trend of how dark, downbeat and black the looks and themes were of many American crime and detective films during and following World War II, such as The Maltese Falcon, Double Indemnity and The Woman in the Window. Since the pioneering pieces of this genre were mostly shot in gloomy grays, blacks and whites, this is also reflected in film noir posters like Gilda - Glenn Ford and Rita Hayworth, a beautiful film still that can be the ideal focal point in your home or even the office. The protagonists in classic film noirs are normally driven by their past or by human weakness to repeat former mistakes, making it a very relatable theme which is why it is popular up to this very day. Interestingly and more often than not, war-time scarcities were the reason for the reduced budgets and thus the shadowy and stark sets film noirs. Ironically, it gave them more meaning and hidden symbolism than the higher budgeted fares of comedies in musicals.

Some samples

Although primarily an American exploit, The Third Man is the best film noir export, set in Vienna and made by the United Kingdom. It has spy elements to it, but it also holds the noir ending where nothing goes as planned. This masterpiece is represented in film noir posters by motifs like Third Man, a very stylish and visually arresting sight. Touch of Evil is another impeccable film of the noir genre and it flexes that this type of flick is a fertile playing ground for new cinematic techniques. This is hardly surprising as the one and only Orson Welles was at the helm of this cinematic jewel. Touch of Evil is a fantastic film noir poster that highlights the stars of this feature, who are now household names. Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh and Marlene Dietrich are just some of the instantly recognizable names on this stunning film noir poster.

The femme fatale in film noir posters

Best known for her performance in Gilda, Rita Hayworth was one of the most famous movie stars ever. Even though born Margarita Carmen Cansino in Brooklyn, New York with dark brown hair, she later changed it into her trademark red which she became known for. Hayworth’s well-known pin up photo from Life magazine was one of the most popular pin ups for American servicemen serving overseas in World War II. Photowall's film noir posters have a couple of items that showcase Rita Hayworth's incredible beauty and magnetic screen presence. Her charisma and allure will make any room more appealing and interesting. A film noir poster like Gilda, rendered in classic black and white, will look superb in any home or office.