Film Noir: Bringing Darkness to Light

Jul 18, 2006

1h 8m

★ 7.1

Overview

Film Noir burrows into the mind; it's disorienting, intriguing and enthralling. Noir brings us into a gritty underworld of lush morbidity, providing intimate peeks at its tough, scheming dames, mischievous misfits and flawed men - all caught in the wicked web of a twisted fate.

Genres

Documentary

Film Noir: Bringing Darkness to Light Trailers

No Trailers found.

Cast

Self

John Alton

Self

Drew Casper

Self

Roger Deakins

Self

John Debney

Self

Edward Dmytryk

Self

James Ellroy

Self

Glenn Erickson

Self

William Goldman

Self

Jane Greer

Self

Christopher McQuarrie

Self

Frank Miller

Self

Christopher Nolan

Working men and women leave through the main gate of the Lumière factory in Lyon, France. Filmed on 22 March 1895, it is often referred to as the first real motion picture ever made, although Louis Le Prince's 1888 Roundhay Garden Scene pre-dated it by seven years. Three separate versions of this film exist, which differ from one another in numerous ways. The first version features a carriage drawn by one horse, while in the second version the carriage is drawn by two horses, and there is no carriage at all in the third version. The clothing style is also different between the three versions, demonstrating the different seasons in which each was filmed. This film was made in the 35 mm format with an aspect ratio of 1.33:1, and at a speed of 16 frames per second. At that rate, the 17 meters of film length provided a duration of 46 seconds, holding a total of 800 frames.

7.5

Boundless

Nov 2, 2013

As Hong Kong's foremost filmmaker, Johnnie To himself becomes the protagonist of this painstaking documentary exploring him and his Boundless world of film. A film student from Beijing and avid Johnnie To fan, Ferris Lin boldly approached To with a proposal to document the master director for his graduation thesis. To agreed immediately and Lin's camera closely followed him for over two years, capturing the man behind the movies and the myths. The result is Boundless, a candid profile of one of Hong Kong's greatest directors and a heartfelt love letter to Hong Kong cinema.

6.6

Das Boot Revisited: An Underwater Success Story

Jan 10, 2021

In 1981, a film about the misadventures of a German U-boat crew in 1941 becomes a worldwide hit almost four decades after the end of the World War II. Millions of viewers worldwide make Das Boot the most internationally successful German film of all time. But due to disputes over the script, accidents on the set, and voices accusing the makers of glorifying the war, the project was many times on the verge of being cancelled.

7.0

Un film (autoportrait)

May 23, 1984

The shooting diary of a film shot in France and in the United States. Using photos of Paris and of New York City, excerpts of his former films, statements by friends of his and shooting sequences of the film itself, tormented filmmaker Marcel Hanoun has made a heterogeneous and unclassifiable film about the difficulty of filming.

0.0

Miyazaki, Spirit of Nature

May 9, 2025

A documentary that focuses on Hayao Miyazaki’s deep connection to nature and the environmental themes expressed through his films.

8.0

The Unknown Peter Sellers

Apr 25, 2000

Documentary about the life and career of a comic genius, Peter Sellers.

10.0

Reimagining A Buffalo Landmark

Apr 12, 2019

The Richardson Olmsted Campus, a former psychiatric center and National Historic Landmark, is seeing new life as it undergoes restoration and adaptation to a modern use.

6.0

Hellborn

Jan 1, 1993

Conrad Brooks discusses "Hellborn," his unfinished movie with Ed Wood, and other projects

0.0

Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life

Apr 26, 1981

Former Disney child star Hayley Mills returns to the Walt Disney Studio for a look at the techniques of animated film production, with various veteran Disney animators illustrating said techniques.

5.8

Room 999

Oct 5, 2023

In 1982, Wim Wenders asked 16 of his fellow directors to speak on the future of cinema, resulting in the film Room 666. Now, 40 years later, in Cannes, director Lubna Playoust asks Wim Wenders himself and a new generation of filmmakers (James Gray, Rebecca Zlotowski, Claire Denis, Olivier Assayas, Nadav Lapid, Asghar Farhadi, Alice Rohrwacher and more) the same question: “is cinema a language about to get lost, an art about to die?”

0.0

Thirty-Three

Jul 1, 2024

Film 33 is the most advanced film class in a community college where the entire class teams up to make a short film. In 2023 Spring, the 23rd short film is being made. This epic documentary details the highs and lows of the production of this short film, and all the dramatic events that occurred.

6.7

Bricks in Motion

Jan 1, 2016

BRICKS IN MOTION is a feature length documentary that explores the lives of individuals involved in the hobby of creating stop-motion animated films with LEGO® bricks and other building toys. Filmed in five countries around the world, the film is a journey through the creative life and struggles of a diverse community of storytellers as they bring their spectacular visions to life.

0.0

Remembering Ragtime

Nov 16, 2004

Memories from the making of the classic Milos Forman film "Ragtime".

6.5

In the Shadow of Hollywood: Race Movies and the Birth of Black Cinema

Sep 15, 2007

This documentary captures the sounds and images of a nearly forgotten era in film history when African American filmmakers and studios created “race movies” exclusively for black audiences. The best of these films attempted to counter the demeaning stereotypes of black Americans prevalent in the popular culture of the day. About 500 films were produced, yet only about 100 still exist. Filmmaking pioneers like Oscar Micheaux, the Noble brothers, and Spencer Williams, Jr. left a lasting influence on black filmmakers, and inspired generations of audiences who finally saw their own lives reflected on the silver screen.

8.0

Sunset Boulevard: A Look Back

Jul 1, 2002

Film critics, actors, film historians and other personalities share their experiences and curious stories on the acclaimed Billy Wilder's masterpiece "Sunset Blvd."; its cultural importance by being one of the most iconic and revolutionary films ever made and a picture that still stands the test of time.

10.0

Queen Victoria's Letters: A Monarch Unveiled

Nov 13, 2014

This is the story of Queen Victoria as never heard before; a psychological insight of the woman told through her own words, her experiences recounted solely through her personal diaries and letters.

7.8

Happy Birthday Mr Bean

Jan 10, 2021

A celebratory documentary looking back at the 30 years since comedy legend Mr Bean landed on our screens. This documentary explores the magic behind this unlikely hero.

0.0

They Bite!: The Making of Critters

Nov 27, 2018

Documentary about the original 1986 film Critters. Features interviews with actors Dee Wallace, Don Opper, Terrence Mann, and Lin Shaye; producer Barry Opper; writer Brian Muir; critter designers and voice actors; and many more.

6.2

The Greatest Knight - William the Marshal

Mar 26, 2014

The fascinating story of knighthood, told through the extraordinary life and times of William Marshal, whom many consider the world's greatest knight. From Europe's medieval castles to the holy city of Jerusalem, presenter Thomas Asbridge explores William's incredible life, revealing a rip-roaring adventure story in the spirit of King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table. In a career that spanned half a century, this English soldier and statesman served some of Christendom's greatest leaders, from Eleanor of Aquitaine to Richard the Lionheart. Marshal fought in battles across Europe, survived court intrigue and exile, put his seal to the Magna Carta and proved to be the best friend a king could have, remaining loyal to those he served through disaster and victory. Then at the age of 70, despite all the odds, he saved England from a French invasion.