For fans of the film noir genre, including myself, there is little doubt that the 1940s produced a great deal of film noir directed by many of the great film noir directors in the history of genres. It was these early noir efforts that would carry the genre well into the 1950s.
The success of the following directors is by no means limited to the 1940s, nor to film noir exclusively. Many started earlier and/or continued their success as directors for decades to come in numerous film genres.
They are listed alphabetically and I am sure you will find some of your favorites included. I’ll also suggest watching some of his most notable noir films of the decade.
Here are my favorites:
edward dmytryk – From studio messenger, to A-list director, to university professor, Dmytryk directed two of the most classic film noir titles of the 1940s. However, there was a dark side to the director’s career, as he was one of the the Hollywood Ten, a group of blacklisted film industry professionals during the McCarthy era.
Murder My Candy – 1944
Crossfire – 1947
Alfred Hitchcock – A London import whose name and films are familiar to all. A master of psychological thrillers, many of which are film noir, Hitchcock had a career that spanned more than five decades, earning him the distinction of being considered one of the most influential filmmakers of all time.
Suspicion – 1941
Shadow of a Doubt – 1943
Spellbound – 1945
John Huston – Son of actor Walter Houston, John’s career as a director, actor and screenwriter left a monumental mark on the film industry. Houston was considered to be a rebel and an ardent supporter of human rights. Houston’s off-screen exploits garnered as much attention as his movies.
The Maltese Falcon – 1941
Key Largo – 1948 (almost black)
Fritz Lang – American cinema was lucky when Lang fled Germany and the Nazis (even leaving his wife behind) to Paris and finally to the United States in 1934. He directed films in the United States for more than 20 years before a combination of factors : an economic decline for the film industry. , his reputation for being difficult to work with and abusive to actors ended his career on American soil.
Moontide – 1942 (though uncredited)
Scarlet Street – 1945
The woman in the window – 1945
Anatole Litvak – Also forced to flee Germany and the Nazis, Litvak went to the UK and then to France, before finally landing in Hollywood in 1937. His work peaked when he directed tense, suspenseful crime/noir films.
City for Conquest – 1940
Out of the Fog – 1941
Sorry wrong number – 1948
Nicholas Ray – During World War II, Ray worked on the radio helping with propaganda efforts. His first directing job was for RKO Radio Pictures in 1949; however, Ray’s best contribution to film noir would come in the next decade.
Knock on any door – 1949
They Live by Night – 1949 (this film provided Ray’s directorial debut, but was released later.)
Roberto Siodmack – His first jobs were also in Germany, and like many others, he was forced to leave with the rise of Nazism. Early success with B movies provided the opportunity to direct bigger budget films. Siodmak’s contribution to noir during the 1940s is very impressive.
Ghost Lady – 1944
Christmas Vacation – 1944 (Don’t you associate Christmas with black? Try this.)
Uncle Harry’s Strange Affair – 1945
The spiral staircase – 1945
The Assassins – 1946
The Dark Mirror – 1946
Cry of the City – 1948
Cross Cross – 1949
Jacques Turner – Born in Paris, Jacques began his career as an American director for RKO horror film legend Val Lewton. This early experience in the horror genre provided the foundation for Tourneur’s mastery of mood and atmosphere, both essential to film noir.
From the past – 1947
Berlin Express – 1948
Raoul Walsh – This Hollywood legend developed his skill as a top-tier director during the silent era and would continue for over 50 years. In the 1930s, Walsh began working for Warner Brothers, where he was introduced to and would become a master director of both crime drama and film noir.
They drive at night – 1940
High Sierra – 1941
Persecuted – 1947 (one of the few western blacks)
The Man I Love – 1947
White Heat – 1949
Orson Welles – Known as a ‘child genius’ for his work as director, co-writer, star and producer of the classic Citizen Kane, Welles is considered by many to be one of the most creative figures in film history.
Journey into Fear – 1943
Tomorrow is forever – 1946
The Stranger – 1946
The Lady from Shanghai – 1947
The Third Man – 1949
there are my favorites list film noir directors from the 1940s. If you’re a fan of film noir, or just a fan of the movies, you owe it to yourself to watch as many of these films as possible.
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