MovieChat Forums > The Big Combo (1955) Discussion > Why don't they make movies like this any...

Why don't they make movies like this anymore?


Beautiful gems of films noir like this, why? Times have changed but do films necessarily need to reflect what's happening in ours? Or is it that there's no competent director/writer for such an undertaking? And when it does happen, when a pretender at the genre does show up it often relies too much on violence and crudity unlike those films from the 50s which deliver witty lines and a suave imagery.

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That, sir, is a question for the ages. I could not agree more.

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What do you mean by "movies like this"?

a) B&W film stock (with lots of smokey / misty atmosphere)?

b) Clothing & car styles from the 1950's?

c) No cursing or sexual references?

d) No computers or cell phones?

e) Themes revolving around organized crime?

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I know this post is old, but 'film noir' wasn't really a genre of film, it was more a style that became popular in low budget films for a while. Like almost every film ever made, they reflected the period in which they were made, but unlike many of the TRULY great film, most are not timeless.

The only way to make film noir now is to do so almost in parody. All filmmakers can do now is embrace the themes of the film noir, but update them for contemporary settings.

But part of the problem now is the distribution system. There are very few small, dedicated, bold distributors left (Studio Canal comes to mind) because all the others were muscled out of existence by the corporations. There are also very few cinema chains small enough to show them in.

Having said that, I do believe there is still a niche for low budget films made with an emphasis on skill and craftsmanship, it's just that no one is willing to fill it. The problem as I see it isn't with filmmakers lacking the desire to do so - low budget films would be a great training ground for up and comers in all departments - the problem is that the current studio system - the corporate system - makes it near impossible.




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It would require an audience of sophisticated grownups. What we have is an audience of chronological adults who still read comic books.

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