I. INTRODUCTION:
In Harlem Nights, a policeman Phil Cantone is on a mission to make a profit from a popular illegal casino in Harlem that is doing pretty good, and taking away bussiness for other nearby clubs.
II. CHARACTERISTICS AND CONVETIONS OF THE FILM THAT LINK TI CLASSIC FILM NOIR
A. Violence and Crime
1. Several people are killed
2. Casino is burned down
3. Clubs are rubbed for cash
B. Nervousness and anxiety in the atmosphere
C. Setting is like classic noir
1. Darkness
2. Shadows
3. Lightning
D. Corrupt policem
E. Femme Fatale character
III. Elements of Film that link back to neo noir
A. Policeman is corrupt and serves as a detective
1. More anti hero than hero
B. Criminals get away with their crimes
1. Criminals get away with murder
2. No one pays for their crimes
C. Black people are in this film
D. Film is in color
SOURCE #1:
According to Andy Willis in the article Neo-Noir , Willis believes "like the post war American society which produced the original cycle of noirs, neo-noir emerged from a moment of social anxiety and reflects a wider loss of faith in those charged with organizing and running society for the benefit of its members(pg.65 from the website film international).
SOURCE #2:
According to Mark T Conard in the article "The Philosophy of Neo Noir" conard states "In the neo noir universe, the lines between right and wrong and good and evil are blurred, and the detectives and the criminals frequently mirror each others most debilitating personality traits. The neo noir detective-- more anti hero than hero-- is frequently a morally compromised and spiritually shaken individual whose pursuit of a criminal masks the search for lost or unattainable aspects of the self ( from the website Mark T Conard).
