The Silver Screen Oasis

Wow! I'm excited that there is a Joyce Compton book out there! Thanks Robert SO much for this info!

You're welcome, Wendy. Truth to tell, I had you in mind when I posted that.

Well, then! Thank you even more!

This intends absolutely no disrespect to other posters, but you could drive yourself brain scrambled crazy worrying about what is and isn't noir!

Red, the truth is that Noir and all other genres are irrelevant. All that exists are movies that are good, and those that are not.

Hear hear!

Yep, I love thrillers but have stopped wasting time figuring out what can be called a noir or not. Don't care any more. I think I was put off the category when folk started talking about neo-noir,western noir, British noir!

There are some movies one person calls comedy, another calls drama. When that happens, chances are it's a good show!

Quite right, kingrat. I am an "auteurist" from way back, and it has certainly not escaped my attention that the best of the films usually called noir are almost invariably those directed by Fritz Lang, Robert Siodmak, Billy Wilder, or Jacques Tourneur (the latter reminding us that you don't have to be German). However, it is also clear to me that a director's best films are again almost invariably those in which the actors are perfectly cast and working at their best. Of course, I'm talking about Joan Bennett, Edward G. Robinson, Dan Duryea, Burt Lancaster, Barbara Stanwyck, Fred MacMurray, Robert Mitchum, and Jane Greer (among others who rose to the occasion during those years). I think you know very well which specific films I have in mind.

I think you know very well which specific films I have in mind.

SON OF FLUBBER?

Is that the one that Siodmak made after Son of Dracula?

Well said, kr.

A Woman's Face is excellent

Yes it is. Did Joan Crawford ever make a movie that wasn't at least interesting? Lord, that woman made some good choices!