NOIR or NOT?
Posted: January 12th, 2023, 2:04 am
https://www.silverscreenoasis.com/oasis3/
https://www.silverscreenoasis.com/oasis3/viewtopic.php?t=7253
Like I said: "Johnny Guitar has some noir themes".CinemaInternational wrote: ↑January 12th, 2023, 5:13 pm Johnny guitar didn't feel like a noir to me; its a technicolor Western after all.
One difference is that Leave Her to Heaven is like most noirs, set in the then-present, whereas Johnny Guitar exists in a world of casinos, saloons, and saloon girls.jamesjazzguitar wrote: ↑January 12th, 2023, 6:42 pmLike I said: "Johnny Guitar has some noir themes".CinemaInternational wrote: ↑January 12th, 2023, 5:13 pm Johnny guitar didn't feel like a noir to me; its a technicolor Western after all.
For me, "noir" is more than just the visuals. Take Leave Her to Heaven; that is set in the west (Arizona desert). That film is in color. Would you say "its a technicolor Western after all"?
As for Johnny Guitar; this is the type of film I find impossible to label\categorize. Thus I just call it a Nick Ray camp classic.
Good point. It made me think what point I've been trying make to you; How about this: If someone asked you, "hey I see Johnny Guitar is going to be shown, what type of film is it?", and they were told "its a technicolor Western made in the 50s". My assumption is this person would be expecting a film along the lines of The Big Country, Shane, The Searchers, and the Man of the West. After they had watched Johnny Guitar they would come back and say "hey, how come you mislead me?!".CinemaInternational wrote: ↑January 13th, 2023, 6:15 pmOne difference is that Leave Her to Heaven is like most noirs, set in the then-present, whereas Johnny Guitar exists in a world of casinos, saloons, and saloon girls.jamesjazzguitar wrote: ↑January 12th, 2023, 6:42 pmLike I said: "Johnny Guitar has some noir themes".CinemaInternational wrote: ↑January 12th, 2023, 5:13 pm Johnny guitar didn't feel like a noir to me; its a technicolor Western after all.
For me, "noir" is more than just the visuals. Take Leave Her to Heaven; that is set in the west (Arizona desert). That film is in color. Would you say "its a technicolor Western after all"?
As for Johnny Guitar; this is the type of film I find impossible to label\categorize. Thus I just call it a Nick Ray camp classic.
jamesjazzguitar wrote: ↑January 13th, 2023, 6:30 pm So while Johnny Guitar is a technicolor Western, I don't label it as such because it is such an oddball film in so many ways. E.g. what other western are the two leading antagonist woman?
Thanks for pointing out Gunslinger to me. This 1956 Roger Corman directed film looks like a fun romp. I'm a fan of Beverly Garland so to see her as a gun toting Marshal is up my alley. Also has John Ireland as the love interest. (again, another gender switch).EP Millstone wrote: ↑January 17th, 2023, 3:58 pmjamesjazzguitar wrote: ↑January 13th, 2023, 6:30 pm So while Johnny Guitar is a technicolor Western, I don't label it as such because it is such an oddball film in so many ways. E.g. what other western are the two leading antagonist woman?
More surprising to me than some labeling JOHNNY GUITAR as a noir was Joyce Carol Oates caling the movie "arguably Hollywood's Worst Movie" and "mind-bogglingly awful."CinemaInternational wrote: ↑January 12th, 2023, 5:13 pm Johnny guitar didn't feel like a noir to me; its a technicolor Western after all.
jamesjazzguitar wrote: ↑January 13th, 2023, 6:30 pmCinemaInternational wrote: ↑January 13th, 2023, 6:15 pmjamesjazzguitar wrote: ↑January 12th, 2023, 6:42 pm
E.g. what other western are the two leading antagonist woman?