Since I came to the group without a clue as to what
hardboiled or noir entails, I've found it easy and convenient
to work with Jim Doherty's definitions. But here a couple
months ago you mentioned something about some special char-
acteristics of noir. You didn't say much, just a passing
comment, but it piqued my interest.
I'm not interested in rekindling an old argument about what
noir is, but I would be interested if you had any thoughts on
noir beyond just the "dark and sinister atmosphere."
What provoked this request was your recent comment about
Whitfield being noir but Hammett not. Whitfield seems to let
his characters express a bit more emotion, and I can see
where this, at least in GREEN ICE, generates a fatalistic
attitude that fuels the noir atmosphere. And I can see where
maybe this is not so much present in RED HARVEST. Everybody
is so darned tough that it diminishes the foreboding
atmosphere simply because nobody much cares. But you don't
think that Hammett's MALTESE FALCON is noir, either?
Thanks, miker
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