American Cinema

Season 1 Episode 7: Film Noir

These cynical and pessimistic films from the 1930s and '40s touched a nerve in Americans. Historians link the genre's overriding paranoia to Cold War-related angst over the nuclear threat and the Hollywood blacklist. In addition, a cinematographer demonstrates the creation of noir lighting, which gave films their peculiar look and emphasized the themes of corruption and urban decay.

Genre:

Documentary

Seasons:

1

Episodes:

13

Cast:

John Lithgow

Quality:

HD

Duration:

55 min

First Air:

1994

Rating:

8.3