Crimewatch: Film Screenings

Curated and introduced by Dr Jacky Collins aka Dr Noir.

Dr Noir is a keen enthusiast of both crime fiction and crime dramas. With some of the most iconic examples in the Film Noir genre being produced in Hollywood in the 1940s and 1950s, I’ve chosen three fabulous examples to accompany Granite Noir’s 2022 programme. They might not be the first titles that spring to mind when we think of film noir, but this selection offers us an opportunity to savor fabulous performances, excellent script writing and mesmerizing camera work, all with the irresistible dark touch of noir.

Belmont Filmhouse To purchase tickets visit www.belmontfilmhouse.com or call 01224 343500

Friday 25 February, 8:30pm In a Lonely Place (1950)

With this existential endgame of a movie, Nicholas Ray provides a suspenseful tale of the darkness found in post-war Hollywood. Film icon Humphrey Bogart plays a quick-tempered script writer suspected of murder, who is provided with an alibi, and perhaps more than he bargained for, by his lovely neighbour Laurel Gray (Gloria Grahame). I chose this film for its bleak ending and the outstanding performances by the leading actors. With the perfect noir formula, Robert Siodmak’s The Killers is the film said to have launched Burt Lancaster’s career. This adaptation of Ernest Hemmingway’s short story weaves a complex tale of treachery and crime with an unfortunate ex-boxer becoming the unsuspecting victim of the criminal underworld and of the gorgeous, mysterious Kitty Collins (Ava Gardener). My reasons for including this film are the depiction of the criminal gang and the overwhelming allure of the femme fatale.

Saturday 26 February, 6pm the killers (1946)

Sunday 27 February, 6pm touch of evil (1958)

Our final film could be seen as a forerunner to those popular contemporary TV series featuring Latin American drug wars and powerful cartels. Orson Welles’ dark and sinister thriller is a perfect example of classic noir with the lone investigator having to deal with dangers on all sides in their pursuit of the truth. The gripping storyline, brooding atmosphere and incredible cinematography made Touch of Evil a must for this festival season.