Film Noir

Film Noir (French phrase meaning black film or cinema) is a term for movies mostly made between the early 1940s and the early 1950s – movies such as The Maltese Falcon, Double Indemnity, Laura, and In a Lonely Place. They were photographed in back and white with moody and dramatic lighting, and were typically dark thrillers, crime dramas, and murder mysteries. They usually featured a hard-boiled male character who encountered various femme fatales.

These films were highly stylized and showed the influence of earlier German expressionist cinema. Common themes were the dark side of human nature, cynicism, and doomed love. Visual cues included intense low-key lighting, ominous shadows, and unusual camera angles.

Hats worn by the characters in Film Noir movies featured dramatic and often angular silhouettes and wide brims with womens’ veiled hats employed to great effect.

Written by TheSpectrum

1930s film noir hat

Courtesy of rue_de_la_paix

c. 1932 Miss Sally Milgrim wool film noir hat

Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

1930s / 1940s silver metallic film noir hat

Courtesy of mags_rags

1940s New York Creations film noir hat

Courtesy of vivavintageclothing

1940s YoungTowners black felt/satin film noir hat

Courtesy of thespectrum

1940s Stylist Chicago film noir hat

Courtesy of vivavintageclothing

1940s felt film noir hat

Courtesy of pinkyagogo

1940s film noir hat

Courtesy of denisebrain

1940s straw film noir hat

Courtesy of thespectrum

1940s felt film noir hat with scarf

Courtesy of vivavintageclothing

1940s olive green film noir veiled hat

Courtesy of thespectrum

1940s New York Creations film noir hat

Courtesy of alleycats

1940s Lilly Daché film noir hat

Courtesy of Rue_de_la_Paix

c. 1950 film noir wool hat

Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

1950s Camillia film noir pagoda hat

Courtesy of vivavintageclothing