Who's to blame for film noir? Matthew Sweet lines up the suspects | Film

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> <head><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("http://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://www.guardian.co.uk:80/film/2009/aug/22/film-noir","20090824141818","http://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1251123498"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <script type="text/javascript"> document.domain = "guardian.co.uk"; </script> <title> Who's to blame for film noir? Matthew Sweet lines up the suspects | Film | The Guardian </title> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"/> <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css"/> <meta name="description" content="It's a world of scheming vixens, lonesome gumshoes and wheedling informers. Someone's to blame for film noir, but who? Matthew Sweet lines up the suspects"/> <link rel="image_src" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Film/Pix/pictures/2009/8/21/1250869037243/Kiss-Me-Deadly-004.jpg"/> <meta name="DC.date.issued" content="2009-08-22"> <meta name="keywords" content="Film,Culture,Film"/> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/web/20090824141818im_/http://www.guardian.co.uk/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon"/> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if (!commonStaticRoot) { var commonStaticRoot = "http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77956/common/"; } if (!sectionStaticRoot) { var sectionStaticRoot = "http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77956/film/"; } if (!staticHost) { var staticHost="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/"; } //]]> </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818cs_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77956/common/styles/wide/article-top.css" media="screen"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818cs_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77956/common/styles/wide/print.css" media="print"/>    <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818cs_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77956/common/styles/wide/high-contrast-common.css" media="screen"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818cs_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77956/zones/culture/styles/wide/high-contrast-section.css" media="screen"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818cs_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77956/common/styles/wide/base-typography.css" media="screen"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818cs_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77956/film/styles/wide/high-contrast-section.css" media="screen"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818cs_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77956/common/styles/wide/article-page-typography.css" media="screen"/> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ function insertStyleSheet(href) { var styleObject = document.createElement('link'); styleObject.setAttribute('href', commonStaticRoot + href); styleObject.setAttribute('type', 'text/css'); styleObject.setAttribute('media', 'screen'); styleObject.setAttribute('rel', 'stylesheet'); var head = document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0]; head.appendChild(styleObject); } insertStyleSheet('styles/wide/js-on.css'); //]]> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818js_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77956/common/external-scripts/jquery-1.3.2.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818js_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77956/common/external-scripts/jquery-libraries/jquery.cookie.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> var jQ = jQuery.noConflict(); </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818js_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77956/common/scripts/gu.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ function init() { new SearchForm(true, 'http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://browse.guardian.co.uk', null, 'http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/websearch' ); urlStack.clearUrlStack(); var signOutLink = document.getElementById("sign-out"); if (signOutLink) { signOutLink.onclick = signOut; } } var thirdPartyReferralCookieService = new guardian.r2.ThirdPartyReferralCookieService(); thirdPartyReferralCookieService.setThirdPartyReferralCookie(); var urlStack = new UrlStack(".guardian.co.uk"); guardian.r2.signInListeners = new guardian.r2.SignInListeners(); (function () { var signInView = new guardian.r2.SignInView("http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77956/common/scripts/md5.js"); var obfuscationService = new guardian.r2.ObfuscationService(); guardian.r2.signInController = new guardian.r2.SignInController(signInView, guardian.r2.signInListeners, obfuscationService, "http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/tools/signin"); }) (); (function () { var profileLinkView = new guardian.r2.ProfileLinkView(); profileLinkController = new guardian.r2.ProfileLinkController(profileLinkView, "http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/users/"); }) (); addSafeLoadEvent(init); //]]> </script> <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript"> // <![CDATA[ if (isExternalSystemOn("pluck")) { insertStyleSheet('styles/wide/pluck-on.css'); } // ]]> </script> </head> <body class="article "> <div id="wrapper"> <script id="hitboxScript" type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if(isExternalSystemOn("hbx")) { var _hbEC=0,_hbE=new Array;function _hbEvent(a,b){b=_hbE[_hbEC++]=new Object();b._N=a;b._C=0;return b;} var hbx=_hbEvent("pv");hbx.vpc="HBX0250u";hbx.gn="hits.gureport.co.uk"; hbx.acct="DM550607HJBC;DM54102495BW"; hbx.pn="{article}{Whodunit?}{p1264832}"; hbx.mlc="/GU/Film/"; hbx.pndef="title"; hbx.ctdef="full"; hbx.fv=""; hbx.lt="manual"; hbx.dlf="n"; hbx.dft="n"; hbx.elf="n"; hbx.seg=""; hbx.fnl=""; hbx.cmp=""; hbx.cmpn=""; hbx.dcmp=""; hbx.dcmpn=""; hbx.dcmpe=""; hbx.dcmpre=""; hbx.hra=""; hbx.hqsr=""; hbx.hqsp=""; hbx.hlt=""; hbx.hla=""; hbx.gp=""; hbx.gpn=""; hbx.hcn=""; hbx.hcv=""; hbx.cp="null"; hbx.cpd=""; hbx.ci='(none)'; hbx.hc1='usa'; hbx.hc2='(none)'; hbx.hc3="The+Guardian"; hbx.hc4="Film,Culture+section"; hbx.hrf=""; hbx.pec=""; var cv=_hbEvent("cv"); cv.c5="Not+commercially+useful,Mobile+site+keywords"; cv.c6="Matthew+Sweet"; cv.c7="2009_08_22"; generateScriptTag('http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77956/common/scripts/hbx.js'); } //]]> </script> <noscript id="hitboxNoScript"> <div><img alt="" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818im_/http://hits.gureport.co.uk/HG?hc=we89&cd=1&hv=6&ce=u&hb=DM550607HJBC;DM54102495BW&n={article}{Whodunit?}{p1264832}&vcon=/GU/Film/&seg=&cmp=&gp=&fnl=&pec=&dcmp=&ra=&gn=&cv=&ld=&la=&customerid=(none)&c1=usa&c2=(none)&c3=The+Guardian&c4=Film,Culture+section&c5=&c6=Matthew+Sweet&c7=2009_08_22" width="1" height="1"/></div> </noscript> <script id="omnitureGeneratorScript" type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if(isExternalSystemOn("omniture")) { var s_account="guardiangu-film,guardiangu-network,guardiandev2"; generateScriptTag('http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77517/common/scripts/omniture-H.20.3.js'); } //]]> </script> <script id="omnitureScript" type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if(isExternalSystemOn("omniture")) { s.pageName="IT\'S A WORLD OF SCHEMING VIXENS, LONESOME GUMSHOES AND WHEEDLING INFORME:Article:1264832"; s.channel = "Film"; s.pageType=""; s.server='61'; s.prop2='GUID:(none)'; s['prop3']="Guardian"; s['prop4']="Film,Culture section"; s['prop6']="Matthew Sweet"; s['prop7']="09-Aug-22"; s['prop8']="1264832"; s['prop9']="Article"; s['prop10']="Feature"; s['prop11']="Film"; s['prop13']=""; s['prop25']=""; s['prop30']="content"; s.hier2="GU/Film/"; s.events=""; s.eVar23=""; var s_code=s.t();if(s_code)document.write(s_code); } //]]> </script> <noscript id="omnitureNoScript"> <div><img alt="" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818im_/http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-film,guardiangu-network,guardiandev2/1/H.20.3/73832?ns=guardian&pageName=IT%27S+A+WORLD+OF+SCHEMING+VIXENS%2C+LONESOME+GUMSHOES+AND+WHEEDLING+INFORME%3AArticle%3A1264832&ch=Film&c3=Guardian&c4=Film%2CCulture+section&c6=Matthew+Sweet&c7=09-Aug-22&c8=1264832&c9=Article&c10=Feature&c11=Film&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FFilm%2F&c2=GUID:(none)" width="1" height="1"/></div> </noscript> <div id="video-settings"> <div class="cookied"> <p class="on"><a class="autoplay-off" href="#skiplinks">Turn autoplay off</a></p> <p class="off"><a class="autoplay-on" href="#skiplinks">Turn autoplay on</a></p> </div> <div class="not-cookied"> <p>Please activate cookies in order to turn autoplay off</p> </div> </div> <div id="skiplinks"> <ul> <li><a href="#box" accesskey="s">Jump to content [s]</a></li> <li><a href="#global-nav" accesskey="0">Jump to site navigation [0]</a></li> <li><a href="#web-search-field" accesskey="4">Jump to search [4]</a></li> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://guardian.co.uk/Users/help/article/0,,933909,00.html" accesskey="8">Terms and conditions [8]</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="header"> <div id="sub-header"> <ul class="user-details"> <li id="sign-in" class="first"><a class="same-page-login-required" href="/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/Users/signin/tr/1,,-1,00.html" name="&lid={headerSubHeader}{Signedin}&lpos={headerSubHeader}{1}">Sign in</a></li> <li id="register"><a href="/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/Users/register/1,,-1,00.html" name="&lid={headerSubHeader}{Register}&lpos={headerSubHeader}{2}" class="register-required">Register</a></li> <li id="mobile"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://m.guardian.co.uk/?id=102202&story=http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/aug/22/film-noir" name="&lid={headerSubHeader}{Mobile version}&lpos={headerSubHeader}{3}">Mobile version</a></li> <li id="larger" class="first">Text <a href="/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/accessibility" name="&lid={headerSubHeader}{Text Larger}&lpos={headerSubHeader}{8}">larger</a></li><li id="smaller"><a href="/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/accessibility" name="&lid={headerSubHeader}{Text Smaller}&lpos={headerSubHeader}{9}">smaller</a></li> </ul> <div id="topslot"> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if(isExternalSystemOn("displayads")) { var src = 'http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://ads.guardian.co.uk/js.ng/spacedesc=topslot&comfolder=art&keywords=%2CFilm%2CCulture%2Bsection%2C&site=Film&bandwidth=broadband&url=%252Ffilm%252F2009%252Faug%252F22%252Ffilm-noir&rand=-2098652334&series=&system=article&tile=1818236&blockVideoAds=false&'; generateScriptTag(src); } //]]> </script> </div> </div> <div id="guardian-logo"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/" name="&lid={headerBranding}{Guardian}&lpos={headerBranding}{1}"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77956/zones/culture/images/logo.gif" height="22" width="140" alt="guardian.co.uk home"/></a> </div> <form id="search" action="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/websearch" method="get" onsubmit="return SearchForm(true, 'http://browse.guardian.co.uk/search?search=','http://www.guardian.co.uk/search/users');"> <fieldset id="web-search"> <input type="text" class="text search-field" name="web-search-field" id="web-search-field" value="Search" onclick="if(this.value=='Search')this.value='';else this.select();"/> <label for="sitesearch-radio"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77956/common/images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="1" alt="Location"/></label> <select name="sitesearch-radio"> <option value="guardian" id="search-guardian">guardian.co.uk</option> <option value="Film" id="search-section">Film</option> <option value="web" id="search-web">Web</option> </select> <input type="submit" class="submit sitesearch-submit" value="Search" name="go-guardian" id="go-guardian"/> </fieldset> </form> <div id="zones-nav"> <div id="global-nav"> <ul> <li class="first news"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/" name="&lid={globalNav}{guardian.co.uk home}&lpos={trail}{1}">News</a> </li> <li class="sport"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport" name="&lid={globalNav}{Sport home}&lpos={trail}{2}">Sport</a> </li> <li class="comment"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree" name="&lid={globalNav}{Comment is free home}&lpos={trail}{3}">Comment</a> </li> <li class="culture"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture" name="&lid={globalNav}{Culture home}&lpos={trail}{4}">Culture</a> </li> <li class="business"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business" name="&lid={globalNav}{Business home}&lpos={trail}{5}">Business</a> </li> <li class="money"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/money" name="&lid={globalNav}{Money home}&lpos={trail}{6}">Money</a> </li> <li class="life-style"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle" name="&lid={globalNav}{Life &amp; style}&lpos={trail}{7}">Life & style</a> </li> <li class="travel"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel" name="&lid={globalNav}{Travel home}&lpos={trail}{8}">Travel</a> </li> <li class="environment"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment" name="&lid={globalNav}{Environment}&lpos={trail}{9}">Environment</a> </li> <li class="blogs"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/tone/blog" name="&lid={globalNav}{Guardian blogs | All guardian.co.uk blogposts}&lpos={trail}{10}">Blogs</a> </li> <li class="video"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/multimedia" name="&lid={globalNav}{Multimedia home}&lpos={trail}{11}">Video</a> </li> <li class="users"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/community" name="&lid={globalNav}{Users home}&lpos={trail}{12}">Community</a> </li> <li class="jobs"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/" name="&lid={globalNav}{Jobs}&lpos={trail}{13}">Jobs</a> </li> <li class="last shop"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/readeroffers?DCMP=ILC-shoptopnav040809" name="&lid={globalNav}{Shop}&lpos={trail}{14}">Shop</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div id="nav-bar"> <div id="crumb-nav"> <ul> <li id="crumb1"><a class="first-second" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture" name="&lid={crumbNavigation}{Culture}&lpos={crumbNavigation}{1}">Culture</a></li> <li id="crumb2"><a class="first-end" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film" name="&lid={crumbNavigation}{Film}&lpos={crumbNavigation}{2}">Film</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="box"> <div id="article-header"> <div id="main-article-info"> <h1>Whodunit?</h1> <p id="stand-first" class="stand-first-alone">It's a world of scheming vixens, lonesome gumshoes and wheedling informers. Someone's to blame for film noir, but who? Matthew Sweet lines up the suspects</p> </div> <ul id="content-actions"> <li class="third-party-tool no-comments "> <a id="buzzlink" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzz?publisherurn=the_guardian665&targetUrl=http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/aug/22/film-noir&summary=%3Cp%3EIt%27s+a+world+of+scheming+vixens%2C+lonesome+gumshoes+and+wheedling+informers.+Someone%27s+to+blame+for+film+noir%2C+but+who%3F+%3Cstrong%3EMatthew+Sweet%3C%2Fstrong%3E+lines+up+the+suspects%3C%2Fp%3E&headline=Who's to blame for film noir? Matthew Sweet lines up the suspects |Film |The Guardian">Buzz up!</a> </li> <li class="third-party-tool"> <a id="digglink" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://digg.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Ffilm%2F2009%2Faug%2F22%2Ffilm-noir&title=Who%27s+to+blame+for+film+noir%3F+Matthew+Sweet+lines+up+the+suspects">Digg it</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div id="content"> <ul class="article-attributes multi-pub"> <li class="byline"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/matthewsweet" name="&lid={contentTypeByline}{Matthew Sweet}&lpos={contentTypeByline}{1}">Matthew Sweet</a> </li> <li class="publication"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian" name="&lid={contentTypeByline}{The Guardian}&lpos={contentTypeByline}{2}">The Guardian</a>, Saturday 22 August 2009 </li> </ul> <div id="article-wrapper"> <div class="image"> <img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Film/Pix/pictures/2009/8/21/1250869035341/Kiss-Me-Deadly-001.jpg" width="460" height="276" alt="Kiss Me Deadly"/> <p class="caption">Blame the French … Kiss Me Deadly. Photograph: Allstar Collection/Cinetext</p> </div> <p>The hero who's on the way to the gallows, and knows it. The dame with the automatic pistol slipped in her garter. The creepy informer with the leering smile and eyes like two hard-boiled eggs on a plate. The private dick who wouldn't recognise gentility if it criticised the way he drank bourbon from a teacup. When we see these guys on the screen, we know we're in the world of film noir, that most unmistakable of movie genres. It's a monochrome, moral-free world that flourished between the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the fall of senator Joe McCarthy. It's a world populated by women who love manicures more than husbands, and by men who are so world-weary that they're surprised by nothing, except a client who tells the truth at the first interview. It's the world conjured just by the titles of these pictures: Farewell My Lovely, Kiss Me Deadly, Build My Gallows High. But who can we nail for inventing the genre in the first place? Who summoned its conventions into existence? Who unleashed all that darkness upon Hollywood? Let's line up the suspects. In it up to their necks, all of them.</p><h2>The French</h2><p>We don't talk about American Pie as a brut-dehors comedy. We don't think of Laurel, Hardy and Harold Lloyd as the kings of bâton-de-claque. So why do we do we do the Gallic bottom-lip thing when we speak of a genre that's full of characters whose idea of continental sophistication is a few extra onions on their hot dog? Film noir was born in California, but the christening was held in Paris. The credit for the coinage customarily goes to Nino Frank and Jean-Pierre Chartier, a pair of critics for a left-leaning, pointy-headed movie mag called L'Ecrain Français. In 1946, French audiences were busy catching up on all the Hollywood pictures that they'd missed during the Occupation: in a few short weeks they saw Barbara Stanwyck seduce Fred MacMurray into killing her husband for cash (Double Indemnity), Dick Powell's Philip Marlowe taking punches and syringes and falling into a "crazy coked-up dream" (Farewell My Lovely) and Bogey snogging the face off a lying no-good two-faced Mary Astor (The Maltese Falcon). A new genre was suddenly more visible in France than it had been to anyone on the other side of the Atlantic. Frank and Chartier took their inspiration from the roman noir - French detective fiction that was always published under sinister dark covers. It's appropriate that they did: if the Americans had named the genre for themselves then they would have been forced to call it Black Cinema, and there weren't many in 1940s Hollywood who wanted to go there ...</p><h2>Dashiell Hammett</h2><p>Dash wrote the pulp fiction that Hollywood juiced for noir plots. They were stories about cheap detectives and cheaper crooks; people who weren't so comfortable in rooms with carpets. Hammett had been a Pinkerton detective, so he wasn't faking it. But it took a while for Hollywood to produce an adaptation that preserved the toxic cynicism of his writing. The first screen version of The Maltese Falcon was a good-natured lark - more interested in sex than intrigue. The second was a Bette Davis comedy called Satan Met A Lady. Then in 1941 John Huston cast Humphrey Bogart as Sam Spade - not the blond Mephistopheles of Hammett's imagination, but a world-weary guy who's seen enough to know that what seems to be good and true is just a lie waiting to be exposed. And that's the essence of noir.</p><h2>Hitler</h2><p>Creating the conditions for a new kind of American cinema wasn't one of Hitler's policy aims; you won't find a pitch for The Postman Always Rings Twice anywhere on the pages of Mein Kampf. But the darkness that Nazism brought to Europe is the same darkness that cloaks the characters of film noir. You'll find the evidence in the biographies of the émigré talents who shaped the genre. Billy Wilder fled Berlin the week that the Reichstag burned. A year later Fritz Lang was called in for a meeting with the propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels, who told him that the Führer loved his work and wanted Lang to become the film-maker-in-chief of the Nazi state. The director made his excuses and left for America, though not quite as quickly as he claimed in his memoirs. Robert Siodmak, director of The Killers, was a refugee from Nazism, as was the composer he employed on the film, the Hungarian Miklós Rósza, who had encountered the Führer in person. He once watched a Nazi dad push his eight year-old into Hitler's presence with the words, "This is the greatest moment of your life." The boy burst into tears and refused to salute. The father slapped his son in the face and dragged him away. The Killers begins with a pair of trench-coated hitmen arriving in a small town; they're working for a mobster, but their silhouettes suggests they might easily be from the SS.</p><h2>Nosferatu</h2><p>Film noir used shadows and bars of light to carve up the frame almost to the point of abstraction. Like fear and paranoia, that expressionist technique is something that came from Europe in the baggage of émigré film-makers - developed in the 1920s at the German film studio UFA. Watch the first true noir, Stranger On The Third Floor and you'll see the heritage on display: Peter Lorre, former UFA star, creeping around a shabby boarding house where the lighting gives him Nosferatu talons.</p><h2>The vice admiral</h2><p>Chuichi Nagumo was leader of the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, after which California declared a state of emergency. A blackout was imposed; Hollywood was plunged into darkness; materials and electricity were rationed. And in this twlight imposed by the actions of the admiral, film noir thrived; not just because it was attuned to the times, but because light was in short supply.</p><h2>Rosie the Riveter</h2><p>The femmes fatales we meet in noir - Rita Hayworth in Gilda, Mary Astor in The Maltese Falcon, Ava Gardner in The Killers - were also a product of war. For women in the audience they were images of empowerment. Rosie the Riveter showed her muscle and yelled, "We can do it!" from a thousand propaganda billboards. Lana Turner in The Postman Always Rings Twice was a poster girl for independence of a different kind. She plays a sun-worshipping housewife who has made an ill-advised wartime marriage to a much older man, but maybe the new mechanic (a grease-smeared sex monkey played by John Garfield), can fix things? How many women, sitting in the darkened cinema with their desires and their ice-cream tub, thought about solving their own problems in this way?</p><h2>Jack Warner</h2><p>Boss of the studio that produced some of the best noirs, Warner was the man ultimately responsible for one of the greatest, The Big Sleep. Halfway through filming the picture, its star, Humphrey Bogart, found himself puzzling over the death of a character called Sean Regan. Someone had bumped him off, but he couldn't work out whodunit. The script didn't seem to say. So he asked the director, Howard Hawks. Hawks couldn't give him an answer. So Hawks began firing off telegrams to the writers who had been hired to adapt Raymond Chandler's novel. All that came back down the wire were shrugs. Then came a furious communication from Jack Warner. Not to express his disgust that three screenwriters and one director had managed to film a story with a dirty great hole in it, but to complain that they were all spending too much money on 10-cent telegrams. His ruling established one of the defining qualities of film noir: what matters is that there is suspicion, betrayal, paranoia, carnality, blackmail, murder and lies; who is responsible is a whole lot less important.</p><p>• Matthew Sweet's documentary The Rules Of Film Noir is on BBC4, tonight at 9pm</p> </div> </div> <div id="related"> <ul id="article-toolbox-side"> <li class="printable"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/aug/22/film-noir/print" rel="nofollow" id="printlink" class="printable rollover" title="Link to a printer-friendly version" name="&lid={pageToolbox}{Printer-friendly version}&lpos={pageToolbox}{1}"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77956/common/images/icon_print.gif" alt="Print this" class="trail-icon"/><span>Printable version</span></a></li> <li><a class="rollover sendlink" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/email/351870398" title="Opens an email form" name="&lid={pageToolbox}{Email a friend}&lpos={pageToolbox}{2}"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77956/common/images/icon_email-friend.gif" alt="" class="trail-icon"/><span>Send to a friend</span></a></li> <li><a class="rollover sharelink" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/share/351870398" title="Opens a share this page in a new window" name="&lid={pageToolbox}{Share this content}&lpos={pageToolbox}{3}"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77956/common/images/icon_share.gif" alt="" class="trail-icon"/><span>Share</span></a></li> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/users/clippings/add?r2PageId=1264832" id="clippable" title="Sends this page to your clippings file" class="rollover anchor-based-login-required package-required-YCLD" name="&lid={pageToolbox}{Clip this content}&lpos={pageToolbox}{4}"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77956/common/images/icon_clip.gif" alt="" class="trail-icon"/><span>Clip</span></a></li> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/contactus/351870398" class="rollover contactlink" title="Displays contact data for guardian.co.uk" name="&lid={pageToolbox}{Contact us}&lpos={pageToolbox}{5}"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77956/common/images/icon_email-us.gif" alt="" class="trail-icon"/><span>Contact us</span></a></li> <li class="resize"> <img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77956/common/images/icon_font.gif" alt="" class="trail-icon"/> <a href="/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/accessibility" id="larger-sidebar" title="Increase text size">larger</a> | <a href="/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/accessibility" id="smaller-sidebar" title="Decrease text size">smaller</a> </li> </ul> <div class="toolbox-popup" id="send-email"> <div class="send-inner"> <div class="share-top"> <h3>Email</h3> <span><a class="close-toolbox-send-email" href="#send-email">Close</a></span> </div> <div> <form method="post" name="emailthis" id="emailthis" action="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/email/351870398"> <fieldset> <div> <label for="to">Recipient's email address</label> </div> <input type="text" name="to" maxlength="64" value=""/> </fieldset> <fieldset> <div> <label for="name">Your first name</label> </div> <input type="text" name="firstName" maxlength="64" value=""/> </fieldset> <fieldset> <div> <label for="name">Your surname</label> </div> <input type="text" name="surname" maxlength="64" value=""/> </fieldset> <fieldset> <div> <label for="note">Add a note (optional)</label> <br/><span id="warning-side"></span> </div> <textarea name="note" cols="25" rows="5" onkeyup="formCheckerSide(this,250)"></textarea> </fieldset> <div class="inputrow"> <input type="submit" value="Send"/> </div> <p class="ip_logged">Your IP address will be logged</p> </form> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toolbox-popup" id="send-share"> <div class="send-inner"> <div class="share-top"> <h3>Share</h3> <span><a class="close-toolbox-send-share" href="#send-share">Close</a></span> </div> <ul> <li><a class="digg" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Ffilm%2F2009%2Faug%2F22%2Ffilm-noir&title=Whodunit%3F" name="lid={share}{Digg}">Digg</a></li> <li> <a class="reddit" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://reddit.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Ffilm%2F2009%2Faug%2F22%2Ffilm-noir&title=Whodunit%3F" name="lid={share}{reddit}">reddit</a> </li> <li> <a class="google" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.google.com/bookmarks/mark?op=edit&bkmk=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Ffilm%2F2009%2Faug%2F22%2Ffilm-noir&title=Whodunit%3F" name="lid={share}{Google Bookmarks}">Google Bookmarks</a> </li> <li> <a class="twitter" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://twitter.com/home?status=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Ffilm%2F2009%2Faug%2F22%2Ffilm-noir" name="lid={share}{Twitter}">Twitter</a> </li> <li> <a class="delicious" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://del.icio.us/post?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Ffilm%2F2009%2Faug%2F22%2Ffilm-noir&title=Whodunit%3F" name="lid={share}{del.icio.us}">del.icio.us</a> </li> <li> <a class="stumbleupon" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Ffilm%2F2009%2Faug%2F22%2Ffilm-noir&title=Whodunit%3F" name="&lid={pageToolboxShare}{StumbleUpon}&lpos={pageToolboxShare}{1}">StumbleUpon</a> </li> <li> <a class="newsvine" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed&save?popoff=0&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Ffilm%2F2009%2Faug%2F22%2Ffilm-noir&h=Whodunit%3F" name="&lid={pageToolboxShare}{Newsvine}&lpos={pageToolboxShare}{2}">Newsvine</a> </li> <li> <a class="livejournal" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.livejournal.com/update.bml?subject=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Ffilm%2F2009%2Faug%2F22%2Ffilm-noir" name="lid={share}{livejournal}">livejournal</a> </li> <li> <a class="facebook" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Ffilm%2F2009%2Faug%2F22%2Ffilm-noir" name="lid={share}{Facebook}">Facebook</a> </li> <li> <a class="mixx" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.mixx.com/submit?page_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Ffilm%2F2009%2Faug%2F22%2Ffilm-noir" name="lid={share}{Mixx}">Mixx it!</a> </li> </ul> <div class="clear"></div> </div> </div> <div class="toolbox-popup" id="contact"> <div class="send-inner"> <div class="share-top"> <h3>Contact us</h3> <span><a class="close-toolbox-contact" href="#contact">Close</a></span> </div> <div class="col first"> <div class="capsule sponsored-features"> <ul class="trail trailblock tri"> <li class="normal first "> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> Contact the Film editor<br><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/mailto:film.editor@guardianunlimited.co.uk">film.editor@<br>guardianunlimited.co.uk</a> </div> <div class="trailtext"> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> <ul> <li> Report errors or inaccuracies: <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/mailto:reader@guardian.co.uk">reader@guardian.co.uk</a> </li> <li> Letters for publication should be sent to: <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/mailto:letters@guardian.co.uk">letters@guardian.co.uk</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="col"> <ul> <li> If you need help using the site: <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/mailto:userhelp@guardian.co.uk">userhelp@guardian.co.uk</a> </li> <li> Call the main Guardian and Observer switchboard: <br/><span>+44 (0)20 3353 2000</span> </li> <li> <ul> <li> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://adinfo-guardian.co.uk/">Advertising guide</a> </li> <li> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/syndication/">License/buy our content</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="relatedlinks" class="capsule"> <h3 class="first"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film" name="&lid={inlineKeyword}{Film}&lpos={inlineKeyword}{1}">Film</a></h3> <h3><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture" name="&lid={inlineKeyword}{Culture}&lpos={inlineKeyword}{2}">Culture</a></h3> <div id="tones"> <h3 class="first"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/tone/features" name="&lid={inlineKeyword}{Features}&lpos={inlineKeyword}{3}">More features </a></h3> </div> </div> </div> <ul id="article-toolbox"> <li class="printable"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/aug/22/film-noir/print" rel="nofollow" id="printlink" class="printable rollover" title="Link to a printer-friendly version" name="&lid={pageToolbox}{Printer-friendly version}&lpos={pageToolbox}{1}"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77956/common/images/icon_print.gif" alt="Print this" class="trail-icon"/><span>Printable version</span></a></li> <li><a class="rollover sendlink" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/email/351870398" title="Opens an email form" name="&lid={pageToolbox}{Email a friend}&lpos={pageToolbox}{2}"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77956/common/images/icon_email-friend.gif" alt="" class="trail-icon"/><span>Send to a friend</span></a></li> <li><a class="rollover sharelink" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/share/351870398" title="Opens a share this page in a new window" name="&lid={pageToolbox}{Share this content}&lpos={pageToolbox}{3}"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77956/common/images/icon_share.gif" alt="" class="trail-icon"/><span>Share</span></a></li> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/users/clippings/add?r2PageId=1264832" id="clippable" title="Sends this page to your clippings file" class="rollover anchor-based-login-required package-required-YCLD" name="&lid={pageToolbox}{Clip this content}&lpos={pageToolbox}{4}"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77956/common/images/icon_clip.gif" alt="" class="trail-icon"/><span>Clip</span></a></li> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/contactus/351870398" class="rollover contactlink" title="Displays contact data for guardian.co.uk" name="&lid={pageToolbox}{Contact us}&lpos={pageToolbox}{5}"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77956/common/images/icon_email-us.gif" alt="" class="trail-icon"/><span>Contact us</span></a></li> <li class="article-history"><a href="#" title="View the history of this article" class="rollover historylink" name="&lid={pageToolbox}{Article history}&lpos={pageToolbox}{6}"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77956/common/images/icon_history.gif" alt="" class="trail-icon"/><span>Article history</span></a></li> </ul> <div class="toolbox-popup" id="send-email"> <div class="send-inner"> <div class="share-top"> <h3>Email</h3> <span><a class="close-toolbox-send-email" href="#send-email">Close</a></span> </div> <div> <form method="post" name="emailthis" id="emailthis" action="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/email/351870398"> <fieldset> <div> <label for="to">Recipient's email address</label> </div> <input type="text" name="to" maxlength="64" value=""/> </fieldset> <fieldset> <div> <label for="name">Your first name</label> </div> <input type="text" name="firstName" maxlength="64" value=""/> </fieldset> <fieldset> <div> <label for="name">Your surname</label> </div> <input type="text" name="surname" maxlength="64" value=""/> </fieldset> <fieldset> <div> <label for="note">Add a note (optional)</label> <br/><span id="warning-side"></span> </div> <textarea name="note" cols="25" rows="5" onkeyup="formCheckerSide(this,250)"></textarea> </fieldset> <div class="inputrow"> <input type="submit" value="Send"/> </div> <p class="ip_logged">Your IP address will be logged</p> </form> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toolbox-popup" id="send-share"> <div class="send-inner"> <div class="share-top"> <h3>Share</h3> <span><a class="close-toolbox-send-share" href="#send-share">Close</a></span> </div> <ul> <li><a class="digg" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Ffilm%2F2009%2Faug%2F22%2Ffilm-noir&title=Whodunit%3F" name="lid={share}{Digg}">Digg</a></li> <li> <a class="reddit" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://reddit.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Ffilm%2F2009%2Faug%2F22%2Ffilm-noir&title=Whodunit%3F" name="lid={share}{reddit}">reddit</a> </li> <li> <a class="google" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.google.com/bookmarks/mark?op=edit&bkmk=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Ffilm%2F2009%2Faug%2F22%2Ffilm-noir&title=Whodunit%3F" name="lid={share}{Google Bookmarks}">Google Bookmarks</a> </li> <li> <a class="twitter" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://twitter.com/home?status=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Ffilm%2F2009%2Faug%2F22%2Ffilm-noir" name="lid={share}{Twitter}">Twitter</a> </li> <li> <a class="delicious" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://del.icio.us/post?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Ffilm%2F2009%2Faug%2F22%2Ffilm-noir&title=Whodunit%3F" name="lid={share}{del.icio.us}">del.icio.us</a> </li> <li> <a class="stumbleupon" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Ffilm%2F2009%2Faug%2F22%2Ffilm-noir&title=Whodunit%3F" name="&lid={pageToolboxShare}{StumbleUpon}&lpos={pageToolboxShare}{1}">StumbleUpon</a> </li> <li> <a class="newsvine" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed&save?popoff=0&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Ffilm%2F2009%2Faug%2F22%2Ffilm-noir&h=Whodunit%3F" name="&lid={pageToolboxShare}{Newsvine}&lpos={pageToolboxShare}{2}">Newsvine</a> </li> <li> <a class="livejournal" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.livejournal.com/update.bml?subject=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Ffilm%2F2009%2Faug%2F22%2Ffilm-noir" name="lid={share}{livejournal}">livejournal</a> </li> <li> <a class="facebook" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Ffilm%2F2009%2Faug%2F22%2Ffilm-noir" name="lid={share}{Facebook}">Facebook</a> </li> <li> <a class="mixx" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.mixx.com/submit?page_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Ffilm%2F2009%2Faug%2F22%2Ffilm-noir" name="lid={share}{Mixx}">Mixx it!</a> </li> </ul> <div class="clear"></div> </div> </div> <div class="toolbox-popup" id="contact"> <div class="send-inner"> <div class="share-top"> <h3>Contact us</h3> <span><a class="close-toolbox-contact" href="#contact">Close</a></span> </div> <div class="col first"> <div class="capsule sponsored-features"> <ul class="trail trailblock tri"> <li class="normal first "> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> Contact the Film editor<br><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/mailto:film.editor@guardianunlimited.co.uk">film.editor@<br>guardianunlimited.co.uk</a> </div> <div class="trailtext"> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> <ul> <li> Report errors or inaccuracies: <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/mailto:reader@guardian.co.uk">reader@guardian.co.uk</a> </li> <li> Letters for publication should be sent to: <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/mailto:letters@guardian.co.uk">letters@guardian.co.uk</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="col"> <ul> <li> If you need help using the site: <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/mailto:userhelp@guardian.co.uk">userhelp@guardian.co.uk</a> </li> <li> Call the main Guardian and Observer switchboard: <br/><span>+44 (0)20 3353 2000</span> </li> <li> <ul> <li> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://adinfo-guardian.co.uk/">Advertising guide</a> </li> <li> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/syndication/">License/buy our content</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toolbox-popup" id="history-byline" style="width: 460px"> <div class="send-inner"> <div class="share-top"> <h3>About this article</h3> <span><a class="close-toolbox-history-byline" href="#history-byline">Close</a></span> </div> <div class="section"> <h1>Who's to blame for film noir? Matthew Sweet lines up the suspects</h1> This article was first published on <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian" name="&lid={historyByline}{The Guardian}&lpos={historyByline}{3}">guardian.co.uk</a> at 00.01 BST on Saturday 22 August 2009. It appeared in <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian" name="&lid={historyByline}{The Guardian}&lpos={historyByline}{4}">the Guardian</a> on <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2009/aug/22" name="&lid={historyByline}{The GuardianSaturday 22 August 2009}&lpos={historyByline}{2}">Saturday 22 August 2009</a> on p6 of the <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2009/aug/22/theguide/features" name="&lid={historyByline}{Features}&lpos={historyByline}{1}">Features</a> section. It was last updated at 00.07 BST on Saturday 22 August 2009. </div> </div> </div> <div id="advertiser-container"> <script type="text/javascript"> google_ad_client = 'ca-guardian_js'; google_ad_channel = 'Film'; google_max_num_ads = '3'; </script> <div id="google-ads-container" class="capsule advertiser-links" style="display: none;"></div> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if (isExternalSystemOn("googleadsense")) { generateScriptTag("http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"); } // ]]> </script> </div> </div> <div id="promo">  <div id="rightslot1" class="hide-on-popup"> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if(isExternalSystemOn("displayads")) { var src = 'http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://ads.guardian.co.uk/js.ng/spacedesc=rightslot1&comfolder=art&keywords=%2CFilm%2CCulture%2Bsection%2C&site=Film&bandwidth=broadband&url=%252Ffilm%252F2009%252Faug%252F22%252Ffilm-noir&rand=1908307828&series=&system=article&tile=1818236&blockVideoAds=false&'; generateScriptTag(src); } //]]> </script> </div> <div id="attention-data"> <h2>Latest from film</h2> <div id="att-toggle"> <ul class="tab-toggle"> <li> <a href="#att-most-viewed">Most viewed<b></b></a> </li> <li> <a href="#att-latest" class="inactive">Latest<b></b></a> </li> <li> <a href="#att-most-commented" class="inactive">Most commented<b></b></a> </li> </ul> <div id="att-panes"> <div id="att-most-viewed" class="att-tabs att-toggle-pane"> <div class="capsule" id="most-viewed"> <div id="most" class="tabs-container"> <p>Last 24 hours</p> <ol> <li class="first"> <span class="rank">1.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/aug/24/cameron-diaz-jennifer-aniston">Why are Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Aniston treated so differently?</a> </li> <li> <span class="rank">2.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/aug/23/almodovar-cruz-film-interview">Pedro Almodóvar and Penélope Cruz … the mentor and the muse</a> </li> <li> <span class="rank">3.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/aug/23/inglourious-basterds-philip-french">Inglourious Basterds | Film Review</a> </li> <li> <span class="rank">4.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/aug/19/inglourious-basterds-review-brad-pitt-quentin-tarantino">Film review: Inglourious Basterds</a> </li> <li> <span class="rank">5.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/competition/2009/aug/14/cultural-trips-quentintarantino">Win a trip for two to Tarantino's Los Angeles</a> </li> <li class="more-most-viewed"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/mostviewed">More top stories</a> </li> </ol> </div> </div> </div> <div id="att-latest" class="att-tabs att-toggle-pane initially-off"> <ol> <li class="first"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2009/aug/24/heath-ledger-joker-mental-health" name="&lid={latestFromSection}{David Cox on representing mental illness in the movies}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="small mask"> <img alt="Joker" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Film/Pix/pictures/2009/8/21/1250863467378/Joker-001.jpg" width="140" height="84" class="image-in-trail "/> </a> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2009/aug/24/heath-ledger-joker-mental-health" name="&lid={latestFromSection}{David Cox on representing mental illness in the movies}&lpos={trail}{2}" class="link-text">Chippy shrinks should leave the movies alone</a> </li> <li> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/aug/24/susan-boyle-robin-williams" name="&lid={latestFromSection}{Robin Williams slated to play Susan Boyle in film biopic}&lpos={trail}{3}" class="link-text">Robin Williams keen to play Susan Boyle</a> </li> <li> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/aug/24/inglourious-basterds-brad-pitt-quentin-tarantino" name="&lid={latestFromSection}{box office}&lpos={trail}{4}" class="link-text">Inglourious Basterds triumph over District 9 at US box office</a> </li> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/all">All today's stories</a></li> </ol> </div> <div id="att-most-commented" class="att-tabs att-toggle-pane initially-off"> <p>Last 24 hours</p> <ol> <li><span class="rank">1.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2009/aug/21/avatar-footage-screening-review-3d-james-cameron" name="&lid={mostCommentedFromSection}{Avatar: a first review of the footage of James Camerons 3D UFO saga }&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text">Avatar: a first review of footage from James Cameron's 3D space opera | Ben Child</a> </li> <li><span class="rank">2.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2009/aug/19/obama-joker-heath-ledger-poster" name="&lid={mostCommentedFromSection}{rg}&lpos={trail}{2}" class="link-text">Did they make Barack Obama the Joker because he blows up a hospital? | Peter Bradshaw</a> </li> <li><span class="rank">3.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2009/aug/21/werner-herzog-david-lynch" name="&lid={mostCommentedFromSection}{The view: Growing old gracefully with David Lynch and Werner Herzog}&lpos={trail}{3}" class="link-text">The view: Growing old gracefully with David Lynch and Werner Herzog</a> </li> <li><span class="rank">4.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2009/aug/24/heath-ledger-joker-mental-health" name="&lid={mostCommentedFromSection}{David Cox on representing mental illness in the movies}&lpos={trail}{4}" class="link-text">The Dark Knight shows why chippy shrinks should leave the movies alone | David Cox</a> </li> </ol> </div> </div> </div> </div> <iframe src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818if_/http://www.sofacinema.co.uk/visitor/iframe/top5.html" height="310" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="margin-bottom: 6px;"></iframe> <div class="capsule reader-offers sponsored-features commercial"> <ul> <h3>Great DVDs from the Guardian shop</h3> <li> <img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818im_/http://roffers.guim.co.uk/mall/GOMoviemail/customerimages/products/t_22696.jpg" alt="The Sagas of Noggin The Nog"/> <h5><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardianoffers.co.uk/mall/productpage.cfm/GuardianOffers/22696/149566">The Sagas of Noggin The Nog</a></h5> <p>Oliver Postgate's much-loved magical TV series in a 2 DVD set.</p> <p class="price">From: £28.99</p> </li> <div class="links"> <ul class="reader-offers-links"> <li class="first"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardianoffers.co.uk/mall/departmentpage.cfm/GuardianOffers/_202042/1/This%2520week%2527s%2520Guardian%2520and%2520Observer%2520reviews">This weeks Guardian reviewed DVDs</a></li> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardianoffers.co.uk/">Browse the Guardian reader offers shop</a></li> </ul> </div> </ul> </div> <div id="find-a-film" class="capsule "> <h3>Film and cinema search</h3> <div class="searchFilm"> <h4>Find a film</h4> </div> <div class="searchFilmForm"> <form action="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://browse.guardian.co.uk/search/Film" method="get"> <label>Film title:</label> <p> <input name="search" type="text" class="text"/> <input type="submit" value="Find"/> </p> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/index/movies/a">Films A-Z</a> </form> </div> <form action="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/cinemasearch" method="GET" id="cinema-search"> <h4>Cinema listings</h4> <div id="searchByCinema"> <div class="searchCinema"> <label for="tbx-location">UK place name or postcode:</label> <input id="tbx-location" type="text" name="location" class="text"/> <input type="submit" value="Find"/> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://guardianlistings.press.net/venues.php">Cinemas A-Z</a> </div> </div> </form> </div> <div id="review-tone-override" class="pickabletag"> </div> <div class="capsule" id="latest-reviews"> <h3>Latest reviews</h3> <ul id="first-review"> <li class="heading "> <h4> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/aug/23/i-love-you-beth-cooper" name="&lid={latestReviews}{One black mark, one gold star}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text">I Love You, Beth Cooper</a> </h4> </li> <li class="trailtext"><p><p>This is a familiar tale of a bright nerd and the attractive cheerleader he yearns for, writes <strong>Philip French</strong></p></p></li> </ul> <ul> <li class="review"> <ul> <li class="heading"> <h4> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/aug/23/dance-flick-review" name="&lid={latestReviews}{<b>TANGLED UP IN BLUE</b> TOP BREAKUP ALBUMS}&lpos={trail}{2}" class="link-text">Dance Flick</a> </h4> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="review"> <ul> <li class="heading"> <h4> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/aug/23/chiko-film-review" name="&lid={latestReviews}{<b>SPAINS FIRST COUPLE</b> PEDRO ALMOD&Oacute;VAR PEN&E}&lpos={trail}{3}" class="link-text">Chiko</a> </h4> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="review"> <ul> <li class="heading"> <h4> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/aug/23/scarface-film-review" name="&lid={latestReviews}{Pedro and Pe ... the mentor and the muse}&lpos={trail}{4}" class="link-text">Scarface</a> </h4> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="review"> <ul> <li class="heading"> <h4> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/aug/23/shorts-film-review" name="&lid={latestReviews}{<b>FROM STATION TO STARDOM</b> AN ACTRESSS LUCKY BREAK}&lpos={trail}{5}" class="link-text">Shorts</a> </h4> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/film+tone/reviews" id="more-reviews-link">More film reviews</a> </div> <div class="capsule bookshop-books sponsored-features commercial"> <h3>Free P&P at the Guardian bookshop</h3> <ul class="books"> <li class="odd"> <div class="book-cover"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardianbookshop.co.uk/BerteShopWeb/viewProduct.do?ISBN=9780571245062" name="&lid={bookshop}{Blue Moment|picture|Film}&lpos={bookshop}{1}"> <img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818im_/http://static.guim.co.uk//thirdparty/bookshop/musicandfilmA/9780571245062.jpg" alt="Blue Moment" height="100"/> </a> </div> <div class="book-text"> <ul> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardianbookshop.co.uk/BerteShopWeb/viewProduct.do?ISBN=9780571245062" name="&lid={bookshop}{Blue Moment|link|Film}&lpos={bookshop}{2}">Blue Moment</a></li> <li class="book-price">£14.99 with free UK delivery</li> </ul> </div> </li> <li> <div class="book-cover"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardianbookshop.co.uk/BerteShopWeb/viewProduct.do?ISBN=9781862079427" name="&lid={bookshop}{Perfecting Sound Forever|picture|Film}&lpos={bookshop}{3}"> <img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818im_/http://static.guim.co.uk//thirdparty/bookshop/musicandfilmA/9781862079427.jpg" alt="Perfecting Sound Forever" height="100"/> </a> </div> <div class="book-text"> <ul> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardianbookshop.co.uk/BerteShopWeb/viewProduct.do?ISBN=9781862079427" name="&lid={bookshop}{Perfecting Sound Forever|link|Film}&lpos={bookshop}{4}">Perfecting Sound Forever</a></li> <li class="book-price">£20.00 with free UK delivery</li> </ul> </div> </li> </ul> <ul class="vertical-links"> <li> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardianbookshop.co.uk/BerteShopWeb/showSubCategories.do?categoryCode=29" name="&lid={bookshop}{Browse more film and music books}&lpos={trail}{5}" style="display: inline;">Browse more film and music books</a> </li> <li> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/buybooks" name="&lid={bookshop}{Buy books}&lpos={trail}{6}" style="display: inline;">Buy books from the Guardian Bookshop</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="capsule" id="most-viewed"> <div id="most" class="tabs-container"> <h3>Most viewed on guardian.co.uk</h3> <ul class="tab-toggle javascript-on"> <li id="most-1-link"> <a href="#most-1" class="active">24 hours<b></b></a> </li> <li id="most-2-link"> <a href="#most-2" class="inactive">7 days<b></b></a> </li> <li id="most-blogged-tab"> <a href="#most-3" class="inactive">Most talked about<b></b></a> </li> </ul> <div class="pane-wrapper"> <div id="most-1" class="most-pane tab-toggle-pane"> <h3 class="js-hider">24 hours</h3> <ol> <li class="first"> <span class="rank">1.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/aug/23/ashes-england-cricket-team">Ashes: England v Australia – day four as it happened | John Ashdown and Andy Bull</a> </li> <li> <span class="rank">2.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/aug/23/gordon-brown-letter-gaddafi-lockerbie">Gordon Brown in new storm over freed Lockerbie bomber</a> </li> <li> <span class="rank">3.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/aug/23/apple-tablet-steve-jobs-touchscreen">Steve Jobs's new trick: the Apple tablet</a> </li> <li> <span class="rank">4.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/aug/22/ashes-england-australia-fifth-test-day-three">Ashes: England v Australia - day three as it happened! | Rob Smyth</a> </li> <li> <span class="rank">5.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/aug/23/england-win-ashes-oval-test-australia">Paradise regained as England capture the Ashes once more</a> </li> <li class="more-most-viewed"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/mostviewed">More top stories</a> </li> </ol> </div> <div id="most-2" class="most-pane tab-toggle-pane initially-off"> <h3 class="js-hider">7 days</h3> <ol> <li class="first"> <span class="rank">1.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/aug/21/ashes-live-england-australia-cricket-over-by-over">Ashes: England v Australia - day two | Andy Bull and Rob Smyth</a> </li> <li> <span class="rank">2.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/aug/20/ashes-live-updates">Ashes: England v Australia - day one as it happened | Andy Bull and Rob Smyth </a> </li> <li> <span class="rank">3.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/aug/23/ashes-england-cricket-team">Ashes: England v Australia – day four as it happened | John Ashdown and Andy Bull</a> </li> <li> <span class="rank">4.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/aug/22/ashes-england-australia-fifth-test-day-three">Ashes: England v Australia - day three as it happened! | Rob Smyth</a> </li> <li> <span class="rank">5.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/aug/23/gordon-brown-letter-gaddafi-lockerbie">Gordon Brown in new storm over freed Lockerbie bomber</a> </li> <li class="more-most-viewed"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/mostviewed">More top stories</a> </li> </ol> </div> <div id="most-3" class="most-pane tab-toggle-pane initially-off"> <h3 class="js-hider hidden">Most talked about</h3> <textarea id="technorati-most-blogged-template" style="display:none;"> <ol> {for blog_item in blogs} <li{if blog_item_index="(blogs.length" - 1)} class="last" {elseif blog_item_index="0}" class="first" { if}> <span class="rank">${parseInt(blog_item_index) + 1}.</span> <p> <a href="${blog_item.link.linkhref}"> ${blog_item.article.title} </a> <b><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://technorati.com/search/${blog_item.link.linkhref}?partnerid=440">(${blog_item.linkcount}{if blog_item_index == 0} technorati links{/if})</a></b> </p> </li> {/for} </ol> </textarea> <script type="text/javascript"> addEvent(null, 'load', function () { if(isExternalSystemOn("technoratiMostBlogged")){ var templateRenderer = new guardian.r2.TechnoratiTemplateRenderer(); var tabId = "most-3"; var technoratiMostBloggedView = new guardian.r2.TechnoratiMostBloggedView("technorati-most-blogged-template", "most-3-technorati-most-blogged-div", tabId, templateRenderer); var technoratiMostBloggedService = new guardian.r2.TechnoratiMostBloggedService(5); new guardian.r2.TechnoratiController(technoratiMostBloggedView, technoratiMostBloggedService); } }); </script> <div id="most-3-technorati-most-blogged-div" class="technorati-most-blogged javascript-on"> <ol><li><p>Loading …</p></li></ol> </div> <div class="meta javascript-on"> <p class="more-on"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://technorati.com/publications/www.guardian.co.uk%2F?roundup" name="&lid={technorati/networkFrontMostBlogged}{More}&lpos={technorati/networkFrontMostBlogged}{1}">More</a></p> <p class="technorati"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://technorati.com/" name="&lid={technorati/networkFrontMostBlogged}{Technorati most blogged}&lpos={technorati/networkFrontMostBlogged}{2}">Today's rising blog posts from <img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77956/common/styles/wide/images/powered-by-technorati.gif" width="76" height="13" alt="Technorati"></a></p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="sponsored-features" class="capsule sponsored-features commercial"> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ function showSponsoredFeatures() { var sponsoredFeatureComponent = document.getElementById('sponsored-features'); if(sponsoredFeatureComponent) { sponsoredFeatureComponent.style.display = 'block'; } } //]]> </script> <ul class="trail trailblock tri"> <li class="major-heading"> <h3>Sponsored features</h3> </li> <li class="normal image odd"> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818js_/http://ads.guardian.co.uk/js.ng/spacedesc=sponsoredfeature1&comfolder=art&keywords=%2CFilm%2CCulture%2Bsection%2C&site=Film&bandwidth=broadband&url=%252Ffilm%252F2009%252Faug%252F22%252Ffilm-noir&rand=-1255198348&system=article&blockVideoAds=false"></script> </li> <li class="normal image"> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818js_/http://ads.guardian.co.uk/js.ng/spacedesc=sponsoredfeature2&comfolder=art&keywords=%2CFilm%2CCulture%2Bsection%2C&site=Film&bandwidth=broadband&url=%252Ffilm%252F2009%252Faug%252F22%252Ffilm-noir&rand=-1691482001&system=article&blockVideoAds=false"></script> </li> </ul> </div> <div id="global-jobs" class="capsule jobsbox"> <h3><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/?gusrc=gu_jobs_box_Film&link=Film_jbx_logo" name="&lid={rules/jobsBox}{Guardian Jobs}&lpos={rules/jobsBox}{1}"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77956/common/images/guardianjobs.gif" alt="Guardian Jobs"/></a></h3> <ul class="tab-toggle javascript-on"> <li id="global-jobs-1-link"> <a href="#global-jobs-1" class="active">UK<b></b></a> </li> <li id="global-jobs-2-link"> <a href="#global-jobs-2" class="inactive">USA<b></b></a> </li> </ul> <div class="pane-wrapper"> <div id="global-jobs-1" class="global-jobs-pane tab-toggle-pane"> <h3 class="js-hider">UK</h3> <div class="capsule jobsbox"> <form action="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/searchjobs/" onsubmit="return doSearchAllSubmitUK( this );"> <fieldset> <input type="text" class="text plain-search" id="freetext-searchalljobs" name="freetext" value="Search all jobs" onfocus="this.value='';"/> <input type="hidden" name="keyword" id="keyword-searchalljobs" value=""/> <input type="submit" class="submit" name="go" value="Go"/> <input type="hidden" name="gusrc" value="gu_jobs_box_Film"/> <input type="hidden" name="link" value="Film_jbx_go"/> </fieldset> </form> <p class="find-a-job"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/?gusrc=gu_jobs_box_Film&link=Film_jbx_brsesec" name="&lid={jobsBox}{Browse all jobs}&lpos={jobsBox}{1}">Browse all jobs</a> </p> <ul class="jobs"> <li class="odd"><h4> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/job/900956/creative-pa?RSSSearch=0&gusrc=gu_jobs_box_Film&link=Film_jbx_vac" name="&lid={jobsBox}{Creative PA|Film}&lpos={jobsBox}{2}">Creative PA</a></h4> <p><span class="employer">aquent marketing services.</span> <span class="location">isleworth middlesex.</span> <span class="wage">up to £12 per hour.</span> </p> </li> <li><h4> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/job/849062/senior-account-manager?RSSSearch=0&gusrc=gu_jobs_box_Film&link=Film_jbx_vac" name="&lid={jobsBox}{Senior Account Manager|Film}&lpos={jobsBox}{3}">Senior Account Manager</a></h4> <p><span class="employer">af selection.</span> <span class="location">northampton.</span> <span class="wage">£26-32,000.</span> </p> </li> <li class="odd"><h4> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/job/900128/digital-creative-brand-manager?RSSSearch=0&gusrc=gu_jobs_box_Film&link=Film_jbx_vac" name="&lid={jobsBox}{Digital Creative Brand Manager|Film}&lpos={jobsBox}{4}">Digital Creative Brand Manager</a></h4> <p><span class="employer">aquent marketing services.</span> <span class="location">london.</span> <span class="wage">Up to £50-65k.</span> </p> </li> </ul> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ function doSearchAllSubmitUK( form ) { var jobsSectionToSearch = ''; var freeText = ''; var searchTextField = document.getElementById( 'freetext-searchalljobs' ); var keywordElem = document.getElementById( 'keyword-searchalljobs' ); var isSectionSearch = function() { return jobsSectionToSearch != ''; } var textIsModified = function() { if( isSectionSearch() ) { return ( searchTextField.value != 'Search all ' + freeText + ' jobs' ); } return ( searchTextField.value != 'Search all jobs' ); } if( !textIsModified() ) { keywordElem.value = ''; if( isSectionSearch() ) { form.action = 'http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/jobs/null'; return true; } form.action = 'http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/'; return true; } keywordElem.value = searchTextField.value; if (isExternalSystemOn("hbx")) { _hbLink( '{jobsbox-searchalljobs}', '{jobsbox-searchalljobs}{1}' ); } return true; } //]]> </script> </div> </div> <div id="global-jobs-2" class="global-jobs-pane tab-toggle-pane initially-off"> <h3 class="js-hider">USA</h3> <div class="capsule jobsbox"> <form action="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardianjobs.com/" onsubmit="return doSearchAllSubmitUSA( this );"> <fieldset> <input type="text" class="text plain-search" id="freetext-searchalljobs" name="q" value="Search all jobs" onfocus="this.value='';"/> <input type="hidden" name="keyword" id="keyword-searchalljobs" value=""/> <input type="submit" class="submit" name="go" value="Go"/> <input type="hidden" name="gusrc" value="gu_jobs_box_Film"/> <input type="hidden" name="link" value="Film_jbx_go"/> </fieldset> </form> <p class="find-a-job"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/?gusrc=gu_jobs_box_Film&link=Film_jbx_brsesec" name="&lid={jobsBox}{Browse all jobs}&lpos={jobsBox}{1}">Browse all jobs</a> </p> <textarea id="jobs-box-usa-textarea" style="display:none;"> {for result in results} <li> <h4> <a href="${result.url}">${result.jobtitle}</a> </h4> <p> <span class="description">${ result.snippet }</span> <span class="location">${ result.state }</span> </p> </li> {/for} </textarea> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ var userip = '67.202.59.141'; var country = 'usa'; var isUSA = (country.toLowerCase() == 'usa') ? true : false; var jobsBoxView = new guardian.r2.JobsBoxView('jobs-box-usa', 'jobs-box-usa-textarea'); var jobsBoxService = new guardian.r2.JobsBoxService('%22Film%22', userip); /* category, location */ var jobsBoxController = new guardian.r2.JobsBoxController(jobsBoxView, jobsBoxService, isUSA); //view, service, locationIsUSA //]]> </script> <ul id="jobs-box-usa" class="jobs"> <li class="javascript-on">Loading jobs...</li> </ul> <p class="attribution javascript-on"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.indeed.com/">jobs</a> by <a title="Job Search" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.indeed.com/"><img alt="Indeed job search" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77956/common/images/icon_usjobs.gif" width="54" height="19"/></a></p> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ function doSearchAllSubmitUSA( form ) { var jobsSectionToSearch = ''; var freeText = ''; var searchTextField = document.getElementById( 'freetext-searchalljobs' ); var keywordElem = document.getElementById( 'keyword-searchalljobs' ); var isSectionSearch = function() { return jobsSectionToSearch != ''; } var textIsModified = function() { if( isSectionSearch() ) { return ( searchTextField.value != 'Search all ' + freeText + ' jobs' ); } return ( searchTextField.value != 'Search all jobs' ); } if( !textIsModified() ) { keywordElem.value = ''; if( isSectionSearch() ) { form.action = 'http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardianjobs.com'; return true; } form.action = 'http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardianjobs.com'; return true; } keywordElem.value = searchTextField.value; if (isExternalSystemOn("hbx")) { _hbLink( '{jobsbox-searchalljobs}', '{jobsbox-searchalljobs}{1}' ); } return true; } //]]> </script> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="intrusive"> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if(isExternalSystemOn("displayads")) { buildIntrusiveAd('http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://ads.guardian.co.uk', 'broadband', '-805567274', 'art', '%2CFilm%2CCulture%2Bsection%2C', '%252Ffilm%252F2009%252Faug%252F22%252Ffilm-noir', 'Film', 'article', 'false', '1818236'); } //]]> </script> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> google_ad_client = 'ca-guardian_js'; google_ad_channel = 'Film'; google_max_num_ads = '3'; </script> <div id="google-ads-container" class="capsule advertiser-links" style="display: none;"></div> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if (isExternalSystemOn("googleadsense")) { generateScriptTag("http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"); } // ]]> </script> </div> <div id="footer" class="film footer"> <ul id="footer-links"> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://syndication.guardian.co.uk/" name="&lid={areas/common/footer}{License/buy our content}&lpos={areas/common/footer}{1}">License/buy our content</a> | </li> <li><a href="/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/Users/help/article/0,,933905,00.html" name="&lid={areas/common/footer}{Privacy policy}&lpos={areas/common/footer}{2}">Privacy policy</a> | </li> <li><a href="/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/Users/help/article/0,,933909,00.html" name="&lid={areas/common/footer}{Terms/conditions}&lpos={areas/common/footer}{3}">Terms & conditions</a> | </li> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://adinfo-guardian.co.uk/" name="&lid={areas/common/footer}{Advertising guide}&lpos={areas/common/footer}{4}">Advertising guide</a> | </li> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/accessibility" name="&lid={areas/common/footer}{Accessibility}&lpos={areas/common/footer}{5}">Accessibility</a> | </li> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/index/subjects/a" name="&lid={areas/common/footer}{A-Z index}&lpos={areas/common/footer}{6}">A-Z index</a> | </li> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/insideguardian" name="&lid={areas/common/footer}{Inside guardian.co.uk blog}&lpos={areas/common/footer}{7}">Inside guardian.co.uk blog</a> | </li> <li><a href="/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/Guardian/information/0,,711853,00.html" name="&lid={areas/common/footer}{About guardian.co.uk}&lpos={areas/common/footer}{8}">About guardian.co.uk</a> | </li> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://dating.guardian.co.uk/s/" name="&lid={areas/common/footer}{Join our dating site today}&lpos={areas/common/footer}{9}">Join our dating site today</a></li> </ul> <ul id="copyright-links"> <li>guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2009</li> </ul>  <form id="section-selector" method="post" action="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/redirect/1,,,00.html"> <fieldset> <label for="go-to">Go to: </label> <select id="go-to" name="Url"> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk home</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk">UK news</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world">World news</option> <option value="http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/index.html?gusrc=gpd">Comment is free blog</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/blog">Newsblog</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog">Sport blog</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/cultureblogs/roundup">Arts & Entertainment blog</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/audio">Audio & podcasts</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/inpictures">In pictures</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/video">Video</option> <option value="http://browse.guardian.co.uk/search">Archive search</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture">Arts & entertainment</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books">Books</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/business">Business</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/education">EducationGuardian.co.uk</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment">Environment</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/film">Film</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Football</option> <option value="http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/">Jobs</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/katine">Katine appeal</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle">Life & style</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media">MediaGuardian.co.uk</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/money">Money</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music">Music</option> <option value="http://observer.guardian.co.uk">The Observer</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics">Politics</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/science">Science</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/shopping">Shopping</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/society">SocietyGuardian.co.uk</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport">Sport</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/index/talk/0,,,00.html?gusrc=gpd">Talk</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology">Technology</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel">Travel</option> <option value="http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/?gusrc=gpd">Been there</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/emailservices/0,,1368460,00.html">Email services</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/index/subjects/a">Special reports</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian">The Guardian</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/series/northerner">The Northerner</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/series/wrap">The Wrap</option> <option value="http://adinfo-guardian.co.uk/?gusrc=gpd">Advertising guide</option> <option value="http://www.ogenterprises.co.uk/?gusrc=gpd">Compare finance products</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/crossword/0,,,00.html?gusrc=gpd">Crossword</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/feedback/0,,,00.html?gusrc=gpd">Feedback</option> <option value="http://www.guardiangardencentre.co.uk/?gusrc=gpd">Garden centre</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/pressoffice/0,,,00.html?gusrc=gpd">GNM Press Office</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/graduate/0,,1777545,00.html">Graduate</option> <option value="http://www.guardianbookshop.co.uk/BerteShopWeb/home.do?gusrc=gpd">Bookshop</option> <option value="http://www.guardianecostore.co.uk/guardian/default.aspx?gusrc=gpd">Guardian Ecostore</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/guardianfilms">Guardian Films</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/headlineservice/0,,,00.html?gusrc=gpd">Headline service</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/gu_contacts/0,,180767,00.html">Help / contacts</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/information/0,,,00.html?gusrc=gpd">Information</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/values/0,,,00.html?gusrc=gpd">Living our values</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/newsroom/0,,,00.html?gusrc=gpd">Newsroom</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/notesandqueries/0,,,00.html?gusrc=gpd">Notes & Queries</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/promotions">Promotions</option> <option value="http://www.guardianoffers.co.uk/mall/GuardianOffers/?gusrc=gpd">Reader Offers</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/page/readerseditor">Readers' editor</option> <option value="http://dating.guardian.co.uk/s/?gusrc=gpd">Soulmates dating</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/styleguide">Style guide</option> <option value="http://syndication.guardian.co.uk/?gusrc=gpd">Syndication services</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/bookatrip">Travel offers</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/TV/0,,,00.html?gusrc=gpd">TV listings</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/weather">Weather</option> <option value="http://www.gnmcareers.co.uk/fe/tpl_GuardianNews01.asp">Working for us</option> <option value="http://www.guardianweekly.co.uk/?gusrc=gpd">Guardian Weekly</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/public/0,,,00.html?gusrc=gpd">Public</option> <option value="http://www.learnthings.co.uk/">Learn</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.backissuenewspapers.co.uk/default.aspx?gusrc=gpd">Guardian back issues</option> <option value="http://www.observer.backissuenewspapers.co.uk/default.aspx?gusrc=gpd">Observer back issues</option> <option value="http://guardianprofessional.co.uk/?gusrc=gpd">Guardian Professional</option> </select> <input type="submit" value="Go"/> </fieldset> </form> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript"> // <![CDATA[ if (isExternalSystemOn("pluck")) { serverUrl = "http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://sitelife.guardian.co.uk/ver1.0/Direct/Process"; generateScriptTag("http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77956/common/scripts/pluck.js"); } // ]]> </script> <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript"> // <![CDATA[ if(isExternalSystemOn("pluck")) { ensurePackage("guardian.r2.pluck"); guardian.r2.pluck.PluckApplicationContext.getInstance = (function () { var profilePageUser = { id : "", name : "", pageUrl : "http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/users/" }; var loggedOnUser = { id : "", name : "" }; var articleInfo = { articleId : "351870398", pageUrl : "http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/aug/22/film-noir", pageTitle : "Whodunit?", sectionKeyWordId : "8804", sectionName : "Film", commentingClosed : false , commentRecommendingClosed: false , premoderation : false , isChalkboard : false }; var chalkboardInfo = { articleId : "", pageUrl : "http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/aug/22/film-noir", pageTitle : "Chalkboard", sectionKeyWordId : "8804", sectionName : "Film", commentingClosed : false, commentRecommendingClosed: false, premoderation : false, isChalkboard : true }; var filmInfo = { filmKey : 'Film:' }; var env = { pageId : "1264832", commentsSignUpUrl : 'http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://users.guardian.co.uk/signup/tr/1,,-720,00.html', cookieDomain : '.guardian.co.uk', staticRoot : 'http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77956/common/', userProfileUrlPrefix : "http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/users", addClippingsUrl : "http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/users/clippings/add", commentDataUrl : "http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/external/commentdata/keywords", topKeywordsUrl : "http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://www.guardian.co.uk/external/users/topkeywords" }; var parameters = { commentPage : 1 , scrollToComments : false , showAllComments : null , commentId : null , goToLastComment : false , showCommentBox : false , isEditProfilePage : ( false ), searchString : ( null ) }; if(document.location.hash === '#allcomments') { parameters.showAllComments = true; } var serverData = { articleInfo : articleInfo, chalkboardInfo : chalkboardInfo, filmInfo : filmInfo, env : env, profilePageUser : profilePageUser, parameters : parameters, loggedOnUser : loggedOnUser }; var ctx = new guardian.r2.pluck.PluckApplicationContext(serverData); return function(){ return ctx; }; })(); } // ]]> </script> <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript"> // <![CDATA[ if(isExternalSystemOn("pluck")) { var ctx = guardian.r2.pluck.PluckApplicationContext.getInstance(); ctx.buildControllers("PluckCommentCountController") } // ]]> </script> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if(isExternalSystemOn("revsci")) { ensurePackage("guardian.r2.revsci"); guardian.r2.revsci.cookieDomain = '.guardian.co.uk'; guardian.r2.revsci.gu_geo_country = 'usa'; guardian.r2.revsci.siteName = 'Film'; guardian.r2.revsci.commercialFolder = 'Art' addEvent(null, 'load', function () { importScript('http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://js.revsci.net/gateway/gw.js?csid=E05516', function() { importScript('http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77956/common/scripts/revsci.js', function() { rs_initTracking(); }, 1) }, 1) }); } // ]]> </script> <noscript> <div><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818im_/http://pix01.revsci.net/E05516/a3/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/noscript.gif" alt=""/></div> </noscript> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if(isExternalSystemOn("sophusthree")) { addEvent(null, 'load', function () { importScript("http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77956/common/scripts/sophusThree-tracking.js", function() {}); }); } // ]]> </script> <div id="cookie"> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if(isExternalSystemOn("displayads")) { var src = 'http://web.archive.org/web/20090824141818/http://ads.guardian.co.uk/js.ng/spacedesc=cookie&comfolder=art&keywords=%2CFilm%2CCulture%2Bsection%2C&site=Film&bandwidth=broadband&url=%252Ffilm%252F2009%252Faug%252F22%252Ffilm-noir&rand=-602773743&series=&system=article&blockVideoAds=false&'; generateScriptTag(src); } //]]> </script> </div> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Who's to blame for film noir? Matthew Sweet lines up the suspects | Film | The Guardian