20 of the Best 1950s Film Noir Movies You’ll Love
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Elements of film noir and the 20 best 1950s film noir movies
This post is all about the best 1950s film noir movies
Hard boiled detectives, sexy femme fatales, a heist that that is likely to go wrong… if you’re a fan of film noir movies, you know there isn’t another genre quite like it.
We pulled together 20 of our favorite 1950s film noir movies.
So grab some popcorn and take a seat while you find your next favorite film noir.
What exactly is a film noir?
The term film noir is a bit of a strange term, it literally means “black film” or “dark film” in French.
The visual style has roots in german expressionism and is often shot with dark shadows, giving the films a “dark” feeling.
While some argue that film noir has to be a literal black and white film, there are other film noirs that are in color.
Therefore it’s not just the color that defines the genre, but there are other elements and themes that help define the genre.
Film noirs are also usually focused on the darker side of life or criminal underground in an urban setting, often San Francisco or New York.
This could be a heist about the take place, a detective working on a case, an affair, a murder, a robbery, or any combination! …the list goes on.
This “dark” feeling in film noirs was a stark comparison to other movies set in the 1950s like musicals which were lighthearted and happy.
Some common elements of film include:
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The Femme Fatale
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A gorgeous dame that often has questionable motives, often the gangster’s moll.
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Hardboiled lead
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The male lead is often a detective or police officer, or a fall guy.
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Gritty storyline
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The story is often centered around some sort of crime that occurred or is being planned.
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Hardboiled dialogue
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Snappy dialogue between characters is common in film noir. Witty comebacks are common.
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Film noirs were creative in working within the code restrictions at the time.
As a result, film noirs often have a sad ending, as no character was allowed to get away with murder.
So, spoiler alert! Unless the lead character isn’t that bad, or turns around during the film, don’t expect them to get away with murder in a 1940s or 1950s film noir movie.
When someone commits a murder in a film noir, you know it’s not going to end well for them.
Film noirs became popular in the early 1940s thanks to classic noir films like The Maltese Falcon and Double Indemnity.
The trend continued into the 1950s before fading in the 1960s.
Occasionally we get a modern or “neo” film noir like Sin City, (which incidently went all out on the film noir theme and was even filmed in black and white) Nightmare Alley, The Prisoners, and Gone, Baby Gone.
For 1940s film noirs, you might like:
Best 1950s Film Noir #1: In a Lonely Place
A classic murder investigation and who-done-it film with a snappy dialogue and a gorgeous femme fatale. Directed by Nicholas Ray, starring Humphrey Bogart and Gloria Grahame.
Humphrey Bogart plays a screenwriter suspected of murder, and Gloria Grahame plays the femme fatale who falls in love with him but then begins to doubt his innocence upon witnessing his erratic behavior.
Other film noirs with Humphrey Bogart include The Big Sleep and Key Largo, also starring Lauren Bacall.
Best 1950s Film Noir #2: The Big Heat
A film noir directed by Fritz Lang and starring Glen Ford, Gloria Grahame, and Lee Marvin
Storyline
Glen Ford plays a cop taking on a crime mob gets heated when things become personal.
Gloria Grahame plays the femme fatale who decides she has a good side.
Best 1950s Film Noir #3: Asphalt Jungle
A heist movie, directed by John Huston, and starring Sterling Hayden, Louis Calhern, Jean Hagen, and a bit part from a young Marilyn Monroe.
Storyline
A criminal mastermind plans a heist. Once the plans go wrong, betrayals start to happen.
Best 1950s Film Noir #4: Sunset Boulevard
A dark film noir directed by Billy Wilder and starring William Holden and Gloria Swanson.
William Holden stars as a writer and Gloria Swanson stars as the aging star that becomes possessive over him.
When he falls in love with another woman, will she let him go?
Best 1950s Film Noir #5: The Big Combo
A crime film noir directed by Joseph H. Lewis, and starring Cornel Wilde, Richard Conte and Jean Wallace.
Cornel Wilde stars at as the Police Lieutenant trying to stop the crime boss Richard Conte.
Jean Wallace stars as the femme fatale who is torn between the sides.
Will she go straight for the Lieutenant, or keep her cush role as the crime boss’s babe?
Best 1950s Film Noir #6: The Blue Gardenia
A who-done-it film noir directed by Fritz Lang, starring Anne Baxter and Richard Conte.
Ann Baxter stars as a girl who wakes up in her apartment not remembering the night before, and… there is a body in the room.
Richard Conte stars as the journalist interested in both her and in getting her story.
Best 1950s Film Noir #7: Where the Sidewalk Ends
A classic film noir directed by Otto Preminger, and reuniting costars Dana Andrews and Gene Tierney from the 1940s film noir Laura.
Dana Andrews replays his role as a hard cop, determined to be on the right side of the law due to his father not being honest.
Gene Tierney plays the woman that falls for him and believes in him even when things start to get questionable.
If you like the 1940s film noir Laura, you might like:
Best 1950s Film Noir #8: The Wrong Man
A docufilm noir, based on a true story, directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Henry Fonda and Vera Miles.
Henry Fonda stars as an innocent man that is mistaken for a robber.
An attorney sets out to prove his innocence.
Best 1950s Film Noir #9: Strangers on a Train
A thriller film noir, directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Farley Granger and Robert Walker.
Farley Granger and Robert Walker play two strangers who meet on a train and discuss the exchange of murders.
One of them doesn’t take the exchange seriously, while the other one does and commits a murder.
Fun fact!
Hitchcock directed other film noirs including Shadow of a Doubt.
If you love Hitchcock films you might also like:
Best 1950s Film Noir #10: Human Desire
A film noir drama directed by Fritz Lang and starring Glenn Ford and Gloria Grahame.
Glenn Ford plays a war vet who falls for the femme fatale Gloria Grahame following a murder that causes them to meet.
Will he go along with her once he discovers her true colors?
Best 1950s Film Noir #11: Pushover
A crime film noir, directed by Richard Quine and starring Fred MacMurray and Kim Novak.
Fred MacMurray plays a police officer who falls for the femme fatale Kim Novak.
He begins muddling his work with his feelings for her, as she is the girlfriend of the crime boss that they are watching.
Will he stick to the force or decide to go with her?
Best 1950s Film Noir #12: Niagara
A rare color thriller film noir, directed by Henry Hathaway and starring Marilyn Monroe and Joseph Cotton.
Marilyn Monroe shines as the femme fatale in a rare serious role, and Joseph Cotton stars as her jealous husband who becomes involved in a murder attempt with her lover.
Complications arise when the wrong man gets murdered and the survivor is out for revengs.
Best 1950s Film Noir #13: Kansas City Confidential
A crime film noir directed by Phil Karlsen and starring John Payne, Coleen Gray, and Lee Van Cleef.
John Payne stars as an ex-con who becomes the fall guy, framed for a robbery he didn’t commit.
He sets out to find the true culprits and clear his name.
Best 1950s Film Noir #14: Sudden Fear
A thriller film noir directed by David Miller and starring Jack Palance and Joan Crawford.
Joan Crawford stars as a wealthy writer who falls for a disgruntled actor, who is younger than her.
As the newly weds begin to settle in, she begins to suspect that her new husband is trying to kill her.
Best 1950s Film Noir #15: House on Telegraph Hill
A suspense film noir directed by Robert Wise and starring Valentina Cortese, Richard Basehart, and William Lundigan.
Valentina Cortese assumes the identity of a wealthy dead friend in order to escape poverty after the prison camps in WWII.
Thinking she is the ticket to an easy life, Richard Basehart marries her to move up in society.
Things get more complicated when she begins to suspect him of having a mistress and plotting her death.
Best 1950s Film Noir #16: A Kiss Before Dying
A film noir directed by Gerd Oswald and starring Robert Wagner, Jeffrey Hunter, Virginia Leith and Joanne Woodward.
A college student seems to have pulled off the perfect murder by killing a young woman to avoid scandal.
He is determined to marry an heiress, even if it means committing murder again.
Best 1950s Film Noir #17: Touch of Evil
A suspenseful kidnapping film directed by Orson Welles, and starring Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh and Orson Welles.
Storyline
Charlton Heston and Janet Leigh play an American couple that is honeymooning in a Mexico border town when they become involved in a kidnapping and murder plot.
While not the biggest hit when released, it is now considered to be one of Orson Welles best films.
Best 1950s Film Noir #18: The Killing
A film noir directed by Stanley Kubrick and starring Sterling Hayden, Coleen Gray, Vince Edwards.
An ex-con assembles a team to plan a racetrack heist.
Will they get away with it?
Best 1950s Film Noir #19: Crime of Passion
A film noir directed by Gerd Oswald and starring Barbara Stanwyck, Sterling Hayden and Raymond Burr.
Barbara Stanwyck stars as a newspaper writer who quits her job to marry a policeman Sterling Hayden.
Her boredom with her new life and drive to advance his career leads to an affair and a murder.
Best 1950s Film Noir #20: Sweet Smell of Success
A drama film noir directed by Alexander Mackendrick and starring Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis and Susan Harrison.
A powerful newspaper writer tries to prevent his sister from marrying a jazz musician.
This is another noir that wasn’t the biggest success on release, but has risen in critics estimation over time.
Best 1950s Film Noir #21: (bonus!) She Played with Fire
A mystery film noir directed by Sidney Gilliat and starring Jack Hawkins, Arlene Dahl, Dennis Price, and Dennis Price
A love triangle and a mystery involving murder, blackmail and arson.
Arlene Dahl wears stunning 1950s fashion in the film.
For more on Arlene Dahl’s stunning fashion in the film:
She Played with Fire – Movie Recap and and Arlene Dahl’s 1950s Fashion
The post was all about the best 1950s film noir movies
Which 1950s film noir is your favorite?
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Originally published Apr 2024, updated Jun 2024
