I love Film Noir. I'm not sure why but I do and especially as I get older. It's the fedora's the men wear. The broad shoulders and fashions on the women. The black and white backgrounds and the stark shadows and light play. I started this though with a quote from 1975's "Farewell my Lovely" that was at least 20 years after the heyday of Film Noir and Robert Mitchum was past his prime but a natural in the role even then. The film was in color but the period sets and shots worked.
But, maybe that's why I enjoy the old gangsters and flatfoots (police) The gun molls and the wise guys. The world weary detective that has seen it all and tried it at least once. The bad girl with the heart of gold and the good girl that will split your throat and go on to the next thing. As I get older I get less romantic and more realistic. I don't expect everybody to agree with me or see the world just the way I do. I don't preach at people and don't really tolerate being preached at.
Different actors have played Raymond Chandler's creation Phillip Marlowe. From a world weary older Robert Mitchum to my favorite Humphrey Bogart in The Big Sleep. Robert Montgomery in "The Lady in the Lake" to Dick Powell in "Murder my Sweet." Then of course there's the Sam Spade character played by Bogart in The Maltese Falcon and other actors who tackled that role. I love the tough guy with a heart of gold detective's of those old books and movies.
Doesn't it bother you at all that you're married? ....Glenn Ford
What I want to know, Does it bother you?...Rita Hayworth...from "Gilda."
Of course one problem with these movies and fantasy in general is you don't see the blood and gore when a human is actually shot. You also don't see the unwanted pregnancy and the toll on others in the free sex scenes. It's fantasy. It's what we want the world to be. Cool and easy and cynical without all the messy fallout of real life. Maybe that's another reason that some of us love it. All the fuss without the muss.
Jeff Bailey: " that's not the way to win"
Kathie Moffat: "Is there a way to win?"
Jeff Bailey: "There's a way to lose more slowly." ....Out of the Past
That above movie with a younger and stronger Robert Mitchum and a very pretty Jane Greer is from 1947's "Out of the Past" Almost thirty years before Mitchum did Farewell my Lovely. So, maybe he did figure out how to lose more slowly.
I've been blogging for awhile now and I do enjoy it. I enjoy the blast from the past. But, I'm quite aware that my funny stories of my wasted youth often make me seem a little cooler and a lot more together than I really was. Maybe we all do that in our own heads. Cast ourselves a little cooler and little more worldly wise and a little less ignorant than we really were back in the day. But, maybe if we avoid jail and early death and either avoid or survive addiction we do come out a little wiser on the other side. Or at least calm down so that we lose more slowly.
That's life. Whichever way you turn,fate sticks out a foot and trips you...Tom Neal (Detour)
I've always said God doesn't balance his books every Tuesday. But, sooner or later everything seems to balance. Maybe now, maybe in another life. But, I totally get the world weary noir view of the world that I seem to be in sync with these days. The problem is that in my head I might be as cool as Humphrey Bogart and as big and tough as Robert Mitchum and as good looking as Dick Powell. But, in the mirror I keep seeing this little fat, balding 60 something year old that's had surgery on his ticker. Still, in my mind I'm still a rock star.
What do you know about anything? You probably had your bread buttered on both sides since the day you were born...Raw Deal
I don't know why some people are born blond and blued eyed or tall dark and handsome while others are born with a hunch back or a scar running down their face or to parents who don't give a damn. I honestly don't know. But, you have to get up and be better than you were yesterday. Life got a little better when I realized that I didn't have to compete with the richest or the strongest. I just had to be better than myself and at one time in my life it seemed I had nowhere to go but up. So, I got up. Well, at least I got up enough to "lose more slowly."
Didn't you hear about me Gabe? If I'd been a ranch, they would've named me the Bar Nothing. ...Rita Hayworth (Gilda)
Maybe it's the snappy comebacks and devil may care attitude of the guy's and dames of Film Noir. We all wish we were that cool don't we? I know I do. I have been able to spend more time on my interest now that I"m retired. I'm in the midst of watching old movies with plenty of wise guy's and beautiful dames and coppers and dark streets and jaded one liner's.
You know, I don't see what there is to be cagey about, Mr. Marlowe.And I don't like your manners.
I'm not crazy about yours. I didn't ask to see you. I don't mind if you don't like my manners. I don't like them myself. They're pretty bad. I grieve over them long winter evenings. "The Big Sleep."
Well, in Bama we haven't had many long winter evenings this time. We had some I guess. Maybe there is something to this global warming after all. But, i still gotta put on my old fedora and tilt the brim. I'll pass quickly past the mirror though. That little old fat guy might still be around. Until next time "Here's looking at you kid."
Peace.
Oh yeah, one extra that I was thinking of:
Curly:" I smell something awful"
Moe: You're telling me. Why don't ya take a bath sometime?
I know it's not Noir but it's one of my other passion's. A sense of humor. I try never to leave home without it.
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