Early-Phase Noir & the Legacy of John Alton

David · #1 08-23-2005, 01:04 PM

I watched "The Street With No Name" yesterday, an early, baroquely shot noir from Fox starring Mark Stevens, Richard Widmark & one of my favorite character actors, Ed Begley.

The photography has all of John Alton's trademark chiaroscuro, long angles, overhead shots, & distorted features, but Alton didn't shoot it! Just goes to show that Alton's seminal work with Anthony Mann on such noirs as "T-Men" & "Raw Deal" had, even by 1948, influenced the rest of the pack.

Long live the great legacy of John Alton!

SuzeQuze · #2 08-23-2005, 01:23 PM

Well, so far, the only 40s film I've seen is Beauty and the Beast so I cannot contribute directly to your topic, David. I loved BATB though. I do understand why Stevie said in her demo that it sort of falls apart in the last few minutes but it did not spoil it for me. We should do a version of that film with Stevie's music, that would kick!

amber · #3 08-23-2005, 01:32 PM

I'll be darned, I think I watched a documentary about him. Or at least part of it was. Anyway, I agree, very innovative, with a lasting legacy.
Also a just a pleasure to watch. Did he always work for Fox? I just looked at his filmography. I was thinking he could've added so much to many of the old Warner Bros. flicks...

David · #4 08-23-2005, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

I loved BATB though. I do understand why Stevie said in her demo that it sort of falls apart in the last few minutes but it did not spoil it for me.

When shown the film, Garbo is reported to have said, "Gif me back my beast."

SuzeQuze · #5 08-23-2005, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

When shown the film, Garbo is reported to have said, "Gif me back my beast."

You do sort of miss him! "Take back that cad!"

David · #6 08-23-2005, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amber

I'll be darned, I think I watched a documentary about him. Or at least part of it was. Anyway, I agree, very innovative, with a lasting legacy.
Also a just a pleasure to watch. Did he always work for Fox? I just looked at his filmography. I was thinking he could've added so much to many of the old Warner Bros. flicks...

Alton was lower down the budgetary chain, where pitch-black shadows could hide a multitude of budgetary deficiencies. Burnett Guffey is about as great as Alton, but less appreciated for his noir, the result of which is that a number of grubby, incisive noirs of his haven't been released on video or DVD.

amber · #7 08-23-2005, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

Alton was lower down the budgetary chain, where pitch-black shadows could hide a multitude of budgetary deficiencies. Burnett Guffey is about as great as Alton, but less appreciated for his noir, the result of which is that a number of grubby, incisive noirs of his haven't been released on video or DVD.

I thought that might be the case. I notice many of his earlier films were spanish language.

BombaySapphire3 · #8 08-24-2005, 05:31 AM

I apprecaite film noir . I'll have to see if I can catch any of these earlier films .To me film noir usually means a Warner Brothers film most often adapted from a James N Cain novel with the male protagonist and or antagonist and femme fatale slinking or running around on Los Angeles or San Francisco streets on a rainy night.I guess that was just the Hollywood comercial zenith of the genre though.