The Roots of Noir
This series, which continues through May, is presented in conjunction with The Art Institute of Chicago’s exhibit “Edward Hopper.” Included are films that reflect Hopper’s admiration for the film noir genre and other American crime films that fed into the noir movement of the 1940s. Check our May Gazette for upcoming films in The Roots of Noir.
All Art Institute of Chicago members pay only $7 admission to any show in "The Roots of Noir" series!
THE GLASS KEY
1942, Stuart Heisler, USA, 85 min.
With Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake
“A remarkably successful Hammett adaptation”--Tom Milne, Time Out Film Guide.
Based on the 1931 Dashiell Hammett novel that was also the inspiration for the Coen brothers’ MILLER’S CROSSING, this precursor of the film noir movement stars Ladd as the loyal aide to a political boss (Brian Donleavy) who falls hard for the sultry daughter (Lake) of a reform gubernatorial candidate. The film’s perverse highlights include a scene in which Ladd humiliates a troublesome news editor in front of the latter’s young wife, and a sadomasochistic beating doled out to Ladd by thug William Bendix. 35mm. (MR)
Sunday, April 6, 3:00 pm
Monday, April 7, 6:00
DOUBLE INDEMNITY
1944, Billy Wilder, USA, 106 min.
With Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck
The origins of film noir are appropriately shadowy, but the earliest movie universally acknowledged as a noir classic is DOUBLE INDEMNITY. Based on James M. Cain’s often imitated story of an insurance agent (MacMurray) who connives with a faithless wife (Stanwyck) to bump off her husband, Wilder’s still-potent classic (co-written by Raymond Chandler) is notable for its crackling dialogue and evocative sense of place--Thom Andersen’s LOS ANGELES PLAYS ITSELF cited it as the first movie to make Los Angeles a genuine character. 35mm. (MR)