Top of the World: My 15 favourite Films Noir

Along with Screwball Comedy, Film Noir has always been one of my favourite movie genres. Well, it’s not really a movie genre, but more a current, an ideology, a style. Anyway, today I want to present you a top of my 15 most favourite Films Noir. Some of these are not often listed as favourite Noirs, so you’ll have quite an original list.

So, here we go!

1- Strangers on a Train (Alfred Hitchcock, 1951)

2- Shadow of a Doubt (Alfred Hitchcock, 1943)

3- Sunset Boulevard (Billy Wilder, 1950)

4- The Night of the Hunter (Charles Laughton, 1955)

5- Rebecca (Alfred Hitchcock, 1940)

6- Spellbound (Alfred Hitchcock, 1945)

7- 14 Hours (Henry Hathaway, 1951)

8- Gaslight (George Cukor, 1944)

9- Born to Kill (Robert Wise, 1947)

10- Gun Crazy (Joseph H. Lewis, 1950)

11- Mildred Pierce (Michael Curtiz, 1945)

12- The Dark Mirror (Robert Siodmak, 1946)

13- Angel Face (Otto Preminger, 1952)

14- Laura (Otto Preminger, 1944)

15- Crossfire (Edward Dmytryck, 1947)

Some of these films are sometimes categorized as Noirs, sometimes they are not. It always depends on the person, the book or the website. Here I’m thinking of Rebecca, 14 Hours, Gaslight and Mildred Pierce. However, they all have something “noir”, so I think they can make the list if you like them.

You might also have noticed the absence of some of the most famous, and sometimes considered greatest Films Noir of all times: Out of the Past, The Third Man, The Maltese Falcon, and Double Indemnity. These are great films, but I wouldn’t include them in my top 15, probably in a top 20. I think I prefer more “unusual” Noirs like Angel Face or Spellbound.

And, of course, many Hitchcock’s films. Well, what did you expect from me? 😉

See you soon with another top!