New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Christmas Noir ?

post #1 of 15
12/16/08 at 4:00pm
Thread Starter 
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?
Reply
post #2 of 15
12/16/08 at 4:02pm
Thread Starter 

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.
Reply
post #3 of 15
12/16/08 at 4:10pm

Re: Christmas Noir ?

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) How about a hugely enjoyable noir spoof?
Reply
post #4 of 15
12/16/08 at 6:48pm

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.
Reply
post #5 of 15
12/16/08 at 6:49pm

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.
Reply
post #6 of 15
12/16/08 at 6:57pm

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.
Reply
post #7 of 15
12/16/08 at 9:56pm

Re: Christmas Noir ?

THE ICE HARVEST, perhaps?
Reply
post #8 of 15
12/17/08 at 2:35am

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.
Reply
post #9 of 15
12/17/08 at 8:03am

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!
Reply
post #10 of 15
12/17/08 at 8:36am

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.
Reply
post #11 of 15
12/17/08 at 8:41am

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.
Reply
post #12 of 15
12/17/08 at 10:03am

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.
Reply
post #13 of 15
12/17/08 at 10:06am

Re: Christmas Noir ?

I agree with the above-- I, THE JURY is the quintessential Christmas film noir.
Reply
post #14 of 15
12/17/08 at 3:26pm

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!!!
Reply
post #15 of 15
12/17/08 at 9:27pm

Re: Christmas Noir ?

"Blast of Silence"
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: DVD