Etienne Borgers (freeweb@rocketmail.com)
Sun, 29 Aug 1999 22:22:50 -0700 (PDT)
Like I said in my previous message, there are other SF films
beside what I cited as SF under Noir influence in it.
On my web page there is an extension to the HB/Noir
film lists giving the recommended SF films, and there you
will find Alphaville and Zardoz listed as well
(plus others).
The references of Alphaville to Noir are obvious and part of
Godard filming is even done with Noir aesthetic. Zardoz is HB
by some sides of its plot and Noir in its general intentions.
Even if this film is not reaching fully its goal, it is IMO a
very interesting work by John Boorman.
On the contrary, 'Kiss Me Deadly' is a Noir film. A crime
film by Robert Aldrich, with Spillane's PI. It is not a SF
film, even if it carries some surreal settings. It's a
pivotal film for the evolution of Noir on screen... and the
film value is way above the book.
The Last Man on Earth (1964) is not a very good film.
'Omega Man' (1971) is better but not on par with the novel.
Matheson scripted many serials for TV and also films. He was
very good with spooky tales, this explaining maybe why this
is the aspect of his talent that some critics, readers,
viewers and even some film makers remember the most. This is
probably why for some people Romero's film seems to be based
on 'I am a Legend', but this is very superficial and only by
a coincidence of part of the plot (group of "vampires"
assaulting entrenched humans...)Nothing from the deeper layer
of matheson's novel. FORBIDDEN PLANET (1956) is an excellent
SF film, one of the bests of this period, but definitely not
Noir... even if it carries some pessimistic traits. It was
said at the time that the storyline was taken from
Shakespeare's "Tempest".
Influence of Noir films on other genres is not limited to SF,
and Western film is a domain with a larger number of films
under that influence. Some of these films were discussed in
the past here on Rara Avis. Other genres influenced by Noir:
war films and in a lesser way action/adventure movies. The
latter being often closer to HB for obvious reasons.
I listed films for each category "under influence" on my web
pages.
To be noted, as already said, that many interesting film
makers did genre-crossing, which explain partially the Noir
influences.
E.Borgers Hard-Boiled Mysteries http://www.geocities.com/Athens/6384
---Juri Nummelin <jurnum@utu.fi>
wrote:>
(based on a previous posting from E.Borgers >>)
> > I also consider 'I am a Legend' by the
great
Matheson
> > not only a masterpiece of American SF,
but
definitely
> > a novel of Noir inspiration. But Matheson
was> >
crossing genres, as you know.
>
>SNIPPED
>
> > The film based on it: Omega Man, is
totally
> > different, kept only some Noir
traits.
> > But still OK (but not great) ...if you ignore
the
> > novel.
>
> Filmographies claim that George Romero's "Night
of
the Living Dead" was
> loosely based on "I Am Legend". I haven't read
the
book or seen "Omega
> Man", do they really relate?
>
SNIPPED
>
> In the fifties there were a couple of film
noirs
that told about the
> nuclear disasters: "Kiss Me Deadly", "The City
of
Fear" and "Panic in the
> Streets". Could they be classified as SF?
What
about "The Forbidden
> Planet"?
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