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Christmas Noir ?

#1
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12/16/08 at 4:00pm
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Quote:
Lady in the Lake(1947):
Reporter: Did I wish you a Merry Christmas?
Marlowe: Yeah.
Reporter: Okay, the crack still goes.

I know there must be other noirs that take place during Christmas season or use the holidays as a setting, but right now Lady In the Lake (WHV DVD) is the only one I can think of. Not quite feverish enough, but a genuine noir that derives some humor out of the incongruity of Christmas in hot and dry Los Angeles.

Any suggestions?
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"... little by little the look of the country changes because of the people we admire."
dialog in HUD (1963)
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#2
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12/16/08 at 4:02pm
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Re: Christmas Noir ?

... how could I forget On Dangerous Ground. Sitting right in front of me in the same box set as Lady In the Lake.

There must be other Christmas noirs.
http://www.3dfilmpf.org/
"... little by little the look of the country changes because of the people we admire."
dialog in HUD (1963)
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#3
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12/16/08 at 4:10pm
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Re: Christmas Noir ?

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) How about a hugely enjoyable noir spoof?
Dave hören... auf, Wille stoppen Sie Dave..., Stoppen Sie Dave..., Mein Gehirn geht..., Ich bin Gefühl es..., Ich bin Gefühl es..., Ich bin ängstlich Dave...
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#4
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12/16/08 at 6:48pm
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Re: Christmas Noir ?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard--W
... There must be other Christmas noirs.

There's "Christmas Holiday" from 1944 in which Deanna Durbin (of all people!) turns to prostitution after her no-good husband Gene Kelly is convicted of murder. He escapes from prison over a Christmas holiday, hence the title.

Written by Herman Mankiewicz, it's similar to his script for Citizen Kane in its non-linear depiction of events that have happened in the past.

I wish this one would come out on DVD! Gale Sondergaard is excellent, as always, playing Durbin's mother-in-law who has a relationship with her son that borders on incestuous.

Pretty heavy stuff! With a title like "Christmas Holiday" it's no wonder fans expecting a light Deanna Durbin-Gene Kelly musical were caught off guard.
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#5
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12/16/08 at 6:49pm
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Re: Christmas Noir ?

Not on DVD (and not an American Noir) but worth tracking down is CASH ON DEMAND a Hammer Christmas film in which Peter Cushing plays a bank manager whose family has been kidnapped and is being held for ransom on Christmas Eve.
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#6
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12/16/08 at 6:57pm
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Re: Christmas Noir ?

I would say Deanna Durbin's LADY ON A TRAIN qualifies, that is available on DVD. The very deceptively-titled (and very bleak) CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY also starring Deanna Durbin and Gene Kelly is a film noir. It has been years since I have seen it.
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#7
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12/16/08 at 9:56pm
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Re: Christmas Noir ?

THE ICE HARVEST, perhaps?
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#8
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12/17/08 at 2:35am
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Re: Christmas Noir ?

The best one is I, the Jury (1953), which has a great running gag: each time the scene changes, a Christmas card is used to announce the next location.
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#9
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12/17/08 at 8:03am
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Re: Christmas Noir ?

I have an R2 of CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY, and it is a most unusual film. An adaptation by Herman J. Mankiewicz (CITIZEN KANE) of a W, Somerset Maugham novel it is told with flasbacks within flashbacks. Durbin plays a nightcub "hostess" whose murderous husreband (Kelly) escapes from prison. There is a more than hint of incest in Kelly's relationship with his mother (Gale Sondergaard) and the film introduced Frank Loesser's "Spring Will Be A Late This Year" to the screen. Durbin also sing's Irving Berlin's perenniel "Always." Altogether, a fascinating film. Sad that Universal is no longer interested in releasing Durbin or Noir films to DVD!

Charles Hoyt

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#10
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12/17/08 at 8:36am
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Re: Christmas Noir ?

As soon as I saw the thread title, I thought of CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY. Very interesting film that I also wish was on R1 DVD.
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#11
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12/17/08 at 8:41am
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Re: Christmas Noir ?

Although not really a Christmas movie, Kiss Of Death does take place around Christmas. If I recall correctly, the opening off-screen narration emphasises that.
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#12
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12/17/08 at 10:03am
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Re: Christmas Noir ?

One of the documentaries on the Legacy edition of PSYCHO pointed out that the second unit photography of Pheonix picked up Christmas decorations of downtown. The date given after the titles is December before the zoom into John Gavin's hotel room.

Charles Hoyt

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#13
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12/17/08 at 10:06am
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Re: Christmas Noir ?

I agree with the above-- I, THE JURY is the quintessential Christmas film noir.

-J. Theakston

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#14
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12/17/08 at 3:26pm
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Re: Christmas Noir ?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Charles H
Sad that Universal is no longer interested in releasing Durbin or Noir films to DVD!

Universal did such a great job with their Noir collection--all of them were worth buying. I hated that it didn't continue.

I also want more Durbin.

It'd be great if we could get Christmas Holiday and I, the Jury on DVD in R1!!!
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#15
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12/17/08 at 9:27pm
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Re: Christmas Noir ?

"Blast of Silence"
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