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Early Noir Films

Check this page for long form, human written reviews of films released during the ‘Early Noir’ period. Early Noir films were released between roughly 1931 and 1940.

the-green-cockatoo-1937-review

Film Noir

The Green Cockatoo (1937): Graham Greene Takes Flight

Shot in 1937 and first released in 1939, The Green Cockatoo is the 2nd in a string of 21 Graham Greene stories to be adapted into motion pictures.

By Tod Molloy

original-scarface-review-1932

Film Noir

The Original ‘Scarface’ (1932) Review: The World Is Yours

Released to fanfare and derision in April 1932, Howard Hawks’ brilliant Scarface is the ultimate Pre-Code gangster movie.

September 5, 2023

baby-face-1933-film-review

Film Noir

‘Baby Face’ (1933): Baby Puts The Censors In The Corner

A decade before ‘Double Indemnity,’ Barbara Stanwyck brought the Pre-Code era to a close with her sultry turn in Warner’s ‘Baby Face.’

July 24, 2023

city-streets-1931-gary-cooper

Film Noir

‘City Streets’ (1931) Review: Gangster Cowboy Noir

Released by Paramount Pictures in April 1931, Rouben Mamoulian’s City Streets is an overlooked classic of the Pre-Code era.

July 5, 2023

the-public-enemy-1931-review

Film Noir

‘The Public Enemy’ (1931) Review: Pre-Code Beer and Blood

With a $150,000 budget and box office returns exceeding $550,000, The Public Enemy followed Little Caesar in a string of commercially successful gangster films.

June 29, 2023

little-caesar-1931-review

Film Noir

‘Little Caesar’ (1931) Review: A Brutal Slice Of Early Noir

Based on the novel by W.R. Burnett, Little Caesar paved the way for films like The Godfather, Mean Streets and King Of New York.

June 20, 2023

blood-money-pre-code-noir-review

Film Noir

‘Blood Money’ (1933) Review: Pre-Code Crime With Drops Of Gangster Noir

Derided by censors upon its 1933 release, Blood Money was one of Old Hollywood’s final Pre-Code films.

June 4, 2023

fritz-lang-m-1931-noir-review

Film Noir

Fritz Lang’s ‘M’ (1931): Birth Of The Film Noir Anti-Hero

4 years after his visionary science fiction film “Metropolis,” Austrian-born Fritz Lang delivered his expressionistic suspense masterpiece, “M.”

May 20, 2023

too-late-to-die-early-blog

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