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From: jay@umd5.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.movies
Subject: Re: Film Noir in color
Message-ID: <509@umd5.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 14-May-85 10:27:33 EDT
Article-I.D.: umd5.509
Posted: Tue May 14 10:27:33 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 16-May-85 06:38:23 EDT
References: <107@nvuxf.UUCP>
Reply-To: jay@umd5.UUCP (Jay Elvove)
Organization: U of Md, CSC, College Park, Md
Lines: 30

I can understand why some film 'purists' prefer to prefer their 'film noir'
in its original pristine black and white.  We are talking about blacks and
whites that are difficult to appreciate today since the majority of the
extant versions of these films are n'th generation dupes with most of the
original detail (including "color") washed out.  Black and white films
made today, few and far between that they are, lack the texture of these
films made 30 to 40 years ago.  As a result, modern audiences don't
particularly care for black and white (it's mostly grey and white anyway).
But this doesn't mean that color is inappropriate to film noir.  Quite
the contrary.

I believe that color can be used creatively in the making of new
'noirish' films.  In fact, it has.  Films like 'Taxi Driver' (which is as
bleak in its world view as the darkest of the 'noir' cycle) use bright
colors in their night scenes to emphasize the sleaziness and, at the same
time, the allure of Time Square.  Scorcese mutes colors in other scenes
to suggest Travis Bickle's alienation, his loss of perspective, his loss
of the ability to perceive color.  'Chinatown', one of my personal
favorites, uses browns and greens, again to emphasize the drabness and decay
of Los Angeles.  This film is a modern day remake of every 40's film noir
that ever preceded it, relishing societal taboos that could only be hinted
at in films released during that period.  Yes, it can be done and done
effectively and even on a low budget (as 'Blood Simple' proves).  Making
a film in either color or black and white requires a conscious effort to
make the most of the pallette of choice. 

Regarding that film professor who says you can't make film noir in color,
would he be willing to elaborate further on this statement?
-- 
Jay Elvove       ..!seismo!rlgvax!cvl!umd5!jay