Florida Noir Films

Noir is a genre describing films and books that generally revolve around cynical characters in corrupt situations. Most famous are the detective films from the 1940's; the tough guy cop or a fallen hero, a dame on the take, within a dark, almost foreboding setting. Think Maltese Falcon.

Florida noir films are a genre of films that take place in the sunshine state, yet have this same type of quality: broken characters in equally twisted, or dark situations. There is always a dilemma. Often there is a good guy vs. bad guy, and with Florida noir, a backdrop of windswept, stormy oceans and old Florida surroundings adding to the mystery and danger.

The most famous Florida noir would be Key Largo, with Humphrey Bogart. He's a good guy, complicated in his own right, yet comes up against the gangster's at the hotel. There is a Florida hurricane brewing, if not equal to the heated tension within the hotel as the gangsters hold everyone hostage. There is a buildup of tension, exactly as the hurricane builds up, and affects the characters and plot as well.

One may also find a famous pairing in the noir films of powerful actors. Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall in Key Largo, Joseph Cotton and Marilyn Monroe in Niagara, and any noir film with Orson Wells in general, powerhouse casting.

The old time noir films are special, because of the black and white film used, adding to the dark quality in general. Yet there are some modern films that have that classic noir appeal, such as "Body Heat," with Kathleen Turner and William Hurt. Her character was a classy-looking lady, who played it cool but had an ulterior motive. Hurt, the somewhat beguiled lawyer, who should know better when it comes to breaking the law, infatuated with the siren woman, as she draws him into her web of deceit, these are all examples of the inner workings of the noir formula, one that makes for memorable scenes on the big screen and are a part of Hollywood nostalgia.