British and French film noir

What is the course about?

This online film studies course looks at the film noir style reconfigured in British and French cinema, broadly from the 1930s to the 1960s. Having established a working definition of the noir style and its operations in the classical American film style we will note its presence in these European filmmaking contexts, and the way in which they have tended to give rise to a highly differentiated form, one informed by the traditions of each of these film industries - while also noting the occasional imitation of the American style, a kind of hyphenated form, straining between the classical and the traditions of the two European cinemas. We will also be thinking about the various phases, or periods, of the film noir in British and French cinema, for example, the expressionist and gothic phase of the late 1940s and the subsequent move to realism where British cinema is concerned, and the so-called 'social noir' of French cinema in the 1950s. In addition, we will note instances of an anticipation of the film noir style, an essentially a post war style, in the poetic realist French cinema of the 1930s, and a cycle of crime and mystery films in British cinema of the 1930s, while considering the legacy of the style in both British and French cinema after the 1960s.

Films on the course may include:
Le Jour se Lève (1939), Les Diaboliques (1955), Lift to the Scaffold (1958), Le Doulos (1962), Alphaville (1965), Le Samouraï (1967), Le Boucher (1970), Diva (1981);
They Drive by Night (1938), Gaslight (1940), Brighton Rock (1947), The Third Man (1949), Night and the City (1950), Hell Drivers (1957), Nightmare (1963), Get Carter (1970)
A full list of films will be supplied at the start of the course.

This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone can be used if you don't have a computer but please note the experience may be less optimal.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.

What will we cover?

• The film noir style in British and French cinema
• Key areas of development in British and French cinema, 1930s - 1960s
• Themes and issues in British and French film noir
• Film noir and genre
• Key films and filmmakers
• Critical accounts of British and French film noir.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

• Describe and assess the film noir style in British and French cinema
• Identify and assess key areas of development in British and French film noir from 1930s to the 1960s
• Identify and assess a range of themes and issues in British and French cinema film noir
• Describe and assess the film noir style in a range of genres in British and French cinema
• Identify key films and filmmakers
• Evaluate a range of critical accounts British and French film noir.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

The course is suitable for all levels and you do not require any particular skills - just an enthusiasm for film and discussing film. The course will provide an introduction to the subject but will also be useful for those wishing to build on existing knowledge in the subject area.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

Screenings of extracts from films, talks by the tutor, reading materials, small and large group discussions. It might also be a good idea to see what you can find out about the subject in advance of the class but this is not essential.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

You will require a pen and paper (or laptop/device) but the tutor will provide all other materials such as handouts. The tutor will show extracts from films and you do not have to obtain them.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

Look for other Film Studies courses on our website at www.citylit.ac.uk/History, Culture and Writing/Film Studies.