Understanding Film Noir

Film Noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywoodcrime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Film Noir was created in America and hit it's high point in the 1940's and 50's, but was created in the 1930's. The first Film Noir film was Morocco (1930). Although they were generally made between the era of 1940's - 50's, Film Noir movies are still being made, for example, Sin City (2005). Film Noir is "Black Film" in French which links to their convention cinematography as the films were originally all in black and white. Recent Film Noirs are still in  black and white, but Sin City for example had hints of red too. Film Noirs usually fit genres such as thriller, crime, melodrama, romance, and mystery. 

Examples of original film noirs.

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So what are the typical conventions of a film noir?

I used my own knowledge and the slide share below to include the conventions of a film noir.

Film noir codes & conventions from jonsaward

I like this slide share as it includes images that link correctly with the different conventions, which makes it easier to understand. Also, the slide shares theme is black, white and red, which are typical conventional colours for a film noir, which is clever.