What's the best film noir?

[Arkham House]

If one uses the term broadly, I'd have to say "Chinatown"...it may be "neo-noir" instead of the pure thing, but it's the best film noir even though it's in color...LOL...the best "real" noir, from 1940-55? I'd vote for a dark horse--Nicholas Ray's "In a Lonely Place", from 1950, with Bogart as a Hollywood screenwriter involved in murder. I think this is Bogie's best film, bar none, and a criminally underestimated movie. My honorable mentions--"Out of the Past", "Night and the City", and "Kiss Me Deadly".

[ghostsofgiants]

1. If we're including neo-noir, I'm going to say "The Man Who Wasn't There"

My favourite at least.

[peekaloo]

14. I love that film, too. I'd also add 'Blood Simple' to the list of neo-noir

:-)

[6000eliot]

2. Double Indemnity,

Laura, The Big Sleep, The Big Heat, but especially Gilda.

[devilgrrl]

3. 'A Touch of Evil'

or 'Night of the Hunter' are good noir choices.

[Rabrrrrrr]

7. That gets my vote - Touch of Evil!

I think it's the noirest of the noir.

Or at least, if not the noirest, the noirest that's still actually watchable and comprehensible as a story, of the noir.

[khashka]

4. Maltese Falcon, Double Indemnity, Chinatown

My sister! My daughter! My sister! My daughter!

Khash.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. Omigod, that scene........

It just went right through me.....so powerful....

[BlueIris]

6. Does "The Tin Drum" count?

I can't remember when that was made.

[khashka]

11. It doesn't count

but you win anyway.

It ain't noir it's just painful.

It was made in the 80's based on Gunther Grass's novel.


Khash.

[Oeditpus Rex]

8. My favorite...

Orson Welles' "The Trial," based on the Kafka novel of the same name.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057427/

[Metta]

9. M, and the Big Sleep.

Like that.

[bikebloke]

10. Rififi

Or officially "Du rififi chez les hommes". French heist film, circa 1955. I don't know if it qualifies as the best, but it's up there.

[WCGreen]

12. I really thought the Flower Drum Song was the best Film Noir

movie....

Seriously, one of my favorites is a Richard Widmark movie about an epidemic about to strike New Orleans... Can't remember the name...

Also, On the Waterfront.... Even though it has an upbeat ending...

And, lest we forget, Sin City and Batman Begins....

[AAARRRGGGHHH]

13. Memento

eom.