Ashley SeymourFilm NoirPaper #2Duration: May 5, 2014Direction: Paranoia, ambiguity and changing valuesThree quintessential films featuring elements of noir include: The Big Combo, Stranger on the Third Sol and Out of the Past. The Big Combo is about the protagonist and police lieutenant, Diamond, who investigates mob boss Mr. Brown. Even though Diamond is ordered to end the affair, he makes one last attempt by going after Mr. Brown's daughter, Susan Lowell. The Stranger on the Third Floor tells the story of a journalist, Michael Ward, who witnesses the murder of a café owner allegedly committed by Joe Briggs. The film chronicles Michael's struggles to overcome his guilt that Joe Briggs might actually be innocent. Finally, Out of the Past is about Jeff Bailey, a man with a mysterious past that catches up with him. Jeff must confront his past, including coming face to face with Whit Sterling, a man encompassing corruption and danger. These films embody the characteristics of a film noir, as they feature similar aesthetic choices, particularly in terms of direction. Direction includes lighting effects, set layout, and the use of urban settings in film noir. For example, these films use: rain and wet streets, low-key lighting – also known as chiaroscuro – high contrast images, obtuse shadows, endless nights and stark light/dark contrasts using black and white. These effects cause film noir to emit distorted, asymmetrical, and dark moods, which are important characteristics of film noir. In Out of the Past, one of the most obvious uses of mise-en-scene is the addition of chiaroscuro. For example, Kathy Moffat's character depicts this in the scene when she comes across Jeff Bailey for the second time, while she is in the middle of paper ...... -in-scene to emphasize the themes of the film. and emotions. We can even take into consideration that the cinematographer's use of light is not only important when it is used, but also when it is not. Visually, mise-en-scène allows filmmakers to guide the audience through the story, making the story powerful and memorable, while depicting the mood, tone, and dimensions of the imagery. These techniques also highlight themes of paranoia, anxiety and angst, as well as dual identities and shifting values. Essentially, the mise-en-scene is successful in that it undermines the typical shot of a film and then creates a visually unstable environment by splashing the screen with low lighting, shadows, and ambiguous landscapes. This visually compelling footage and images all evoke the principles of safety and security, creating a noir atmosphere..