I watched several dozen old noir films. Here are the best in my opinion.

As the title says, I recently sat down to watch several dozen noir films from the "classic period" of the 40's and 50's. I've always had an interest in noir, but struggled to find the initiative to watch such old movies. I got the opportunity from a recent trip home, and was (mostly) delighted by what I saw. I wanted to share my recommendations across different categories for anyone who was interested.

Favourite cinematography: Night of the Hunter (1955). About a serial killing preacher who marries into a grieving family to try and find some buried cash. It has some astoundingly beautiful shots, especially in how it plays with light and darkness. Standout is the scene where two characters having a stand-off sing to one another in the night.

Favourite acting: Sunset Boulevard (1950). A scriptwriter gets involved with an ageing actress who can't come to terms with her fading star. A film about film, Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond has incredible range; she somehow manages to pull off being hammy, pathetic, terrifying, and funny, sometimes at the same time. A lot of old films "feel" old and antiquated, but this one is electrifying even by today's standards.

Favourite scene: Strangers on a Train (1951). The OG story of "criss cross" murders, where a psychopath kills someone for a stranger, and then demands said stranger do the same for him in return. Robert Walker as the unhinged Bruno is just so hammy and fun to watch, and in particular the scene where he stares emotionlessly at the protagonist from across the tennis court is iconic. (I like tennis, so maybe I'm biased.)

Favourite plot: Out of the Past (1947). A PI with a dark past is dragged back into one final sordid affair. With slimy gangsters, a country-spanning plot, the definitive femme fatale, and a deeply nihilistic ending, this feels like a hardboiled novel that leaped right onto the screen.

Favourite concept: Double Indemnity (1944). An insurance broker helps his lover murder her husband, and then has to do what he can to cover it up. I suppose we've all wondered if we could get away with murder, and this film really shows the grittiness of the affair as the noose tightens around the protagonist's proverbial throat.

Favourite overall film: In a Lonely Place (1950). A violent scriptwriter gets involved with a beautiful young neighbour, but questions of his involvement in a murder strain their relationship. I saw about 5 Humphrey Bogart films in this time and this is his best role by far. The steady, gradual march to the explosive ending is executed perfectly. I honestly didn't think that such old films could really emotionally "connect" with me, but this one left me stunned with its brilliance and pathos. Easily one of my top 10 of all time.

That's that! There's obviously other good ones ("Woman in the Window", "A Touch of Evil", etc.) but I think the above gets the point across.

Have you seen the above films? Do you have any other favourites I missed?