Re: RARA-AVIS: Naked Kiss

Dave (birdlives@earthlink.net)
Wed, 09 Sep 1998 16:54:42 -0700 "The Naked Kiss" is a freak of noir nature, like almost all of Fuller's
pictures ... they're unique and idiosyncratic, that's why he's such an
auteur. The most traditional noir he probably ever did was "Pickup On
South Street," or "Underworld, USA," the latter being closer to the
gangster genre.

The problem with "Gun Crazy," and "Martha Ivers" is that they are
certainly noir heroines, in a sense. Or, the more classic way to put it
is that they are "Femme Fatales." Bart is the hero in "Gun Crazy,"
Laurie the instrument of his downfall. Neither are truly the lead of
each picture.

I haven't seen it, but "The Blue Gardenia" by Fritz Lang is supposed to
be one of the few noirs that feature a female hero. There's an essay on
it in a collection called "Women In Film Noir," I believe.

Dave

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