While the United States can indisputably lay claim to being the birthplace of film noir, arguably France and French cinema is almost as important to the development of the genre. The term 'film noir' - literally, 'dark film' - was first applied to the Hollywood crime movies of the 40s and 50s by French critic Nino Frank, who was believed to have been inspired by the French publishing imprint Serie Noire, which published translated editions of American hardboiled fiction to great commercial success. It was the French who would popularise the use of the term and in turn, create the genre framework that has become so important and influential to the history of cinema.
Arguably, the story of noir is one of the cinema of France and the USA in conversation with one another, and presented in this set are three classic French noirs from the 50s and 60s that clearly take their inspiration from the Golden Age of Hollywood noir: Henri Decoin's Chnouf (1955), Édouard Molinaro's Back Against The Wall (1958), and Marcel Bluwal's Paris Pick-up (1962).
CHNOUF
Henri (Jean Gabin, Touchez pas au grisbi) is brought in following a successful stint in the US to head up operations by gang boss Lisky. Tasked with increasing sales and reforming the drugs distribution network, he unpicks every aspect of the business, but pushers don't want to change and the cops are on his tail. From the creator of Rififi, Auguste Le Breton, and brought to the screen by Henri Decoin (Not Guilty), the influence of American noir is given a French translation as we see the then-nascent drugs trade depicted in remarkable detail. Out of the inky shadows scenery chewing support is given by a rich cast of wonderful character actors including Lino Ventura (Illustrious Corpses), Albert Rémy (The Train) and Magali Noël (Rififi).
BACK TO THE WALL
Jacques, a rich industrialist, sneaks around an apartment where he bundles up and disposes of a dead body. His troubles started three months ago, his wife, Gloria, was having an affair... To get his revenge he sends Gloria anonymous letters in a scheme to turn her against her lover, a scheme that leads to murder. Ingeniously plotted, this methodical noir by Édouard Molinaro (Witness in the City) bathes in atmospheric chiaroscuro while its pulpy thrills, adapted from the novel by Frédéric Dard (Paris Pick-up), keeps the audience guessing until the final moments. Starring Jeanne Moreau (The Bride Wore Black) as the adulterous wife, this twisty noir is made available in the UK for the first time.
PARIS PICK-UP
Recently released ex-convict Robert Herbin (Robert Hossein, Rififi) meets Marthe (Lea Massari, L'Avventura), a beautiful Italian woman and her daughter. They share some flirtatious glances and then she invites him back to her home where they discover her husband's dead body. Unable to bear witness to a crime due to his parole Robert flees. Guilty about her situation Robert stays close by where he discovers the body has inexplicably disappeared. With its tender depiction of character and relationships director Marcel Bluwal engineers gripping tension with the expertise of Hitchcock or Clouzot. Adapted from the novel by celebrated crime writer Frédéric Dard (Back to the Wall), Paris Pick-up is released for the first time outside of France.
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