The Cozy Mystery List Blog

Cozy Mystery (and Other Favorite) Books, Movies, and TV

Film Noir … Alley

January 18, 2019

I am finding myself watching movies I didn’t used to watch. In the past I watched Barbara Stanwyck and Bette Davis types of movies. I also gravitated towards movies with famous duos such as Katherine Hepburn/Spencer Tracy or Doris Day/Rock Hudson. However, there were some movies I never thought I’d find myself watching. While I enjoyed mystery movies, there was a certain type I avoided: film noir. Good grief, I didn’t even give film noir movies a chance!

Enter Eddie Muller…

If you haven’t seen Eddie Muller on the Turner Classic Movies Channel yet, then you’re in for a very informative and interesting treat. Muller presents a film noir every Saturday night which is re-aired the next morning on TCM. He presents terrific pre-movie and post-movie film noir information.

Dashiel Hammett’s Sam Spade and Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe are probably the most recognizable examples of Film Noir movies. Film Noir seems to be based on hardboiled pulp fiction mysteries (not Cozies). If you’ve spent any time in a library or second-hand bookstore looking at the very old paperback mystery covers you have probably come across novels that could be translated into  film noir movies. Many of the covers featured beautiful, seductive, scantily-clothed women (“femmes fatales”), possibly with a prominent revolver somewhere on the book cover.

For those of you who have access to TCM, do yourself a favor and check Eddie Muller’s time-slot out. Once I watched one of his Noir Alley shows, I was hooked!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

27 Comments - Click Here to Read the Comments or to Add Another

Comments

  1. Michael says

    January 18, 2019 at 9:23 am

    New to Film Noir? Are you in for a treat!!! Robert Mitchum, Sarah Miles, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall!! Some of the best actors Hollywood ever produced. I love the way Bogart uses body language to express emotion. I don’t even bother to watch modern movies. They just don’t act that good any more.

    I have all of Raymond Chandlers and Dashiell Hammets books and many of their movies in my collection.

    Thanks for bringing up the subject!

    Reply
    • Danna - cozy mystery list says

      January 18, 2019 at 12:38 pm

      Michael, I watched “Macao” with Robert Mitchum and Jane Russell yesterday. That was such a (film noir) treat!

      Reply
  2. Trish L. says

    January 18, 2019 at 10:07 am

    I record TCM for film noir movies with Eddie Muller! I just love retro mysteries. I’m happy you discovered this.

    Reply
    • Danna - cozy mystery list says

      January 18, 2019 at 12:36 pm

      Trish, I have been watching “regular” mystery movies on TCM for years, however, I never gave the film noir movies much notice. That was a mistake!

      Reply
  3. Lora says

    January 18, 2019 at 10:48 am

    Nothing to do with film noir, but I thought that you might like to know that Hallmark will air two new mystery movies Sunday night starting at 7 PM EST. One is a Ruby Herring mystery and the other is called Murder 101 with Jill Wagner as the star.

    Reply
    • Danna - cozy mystery list says

      January 18, 2019 at 12:34 pm

      Lora, thanks for letting us know about these Hallmark mystery movies.

      Reply
      • Lora says

        January 18, 2019 at 8:05 pm

        Looks like there will only be one of those movies will be airing Sunday night. Hallmark can be a bit confusing at times.

        Reply
  4. Sharon in MD says

    January 18, 2019 at 11:06 am

    I agree, Danna. I have been watching Eddie Muller and his TCM film noir movies probably since he started presenting them! lol! I love old movies, especially mysteries, and of course film noir. He is so informative, and I have learned so much about each movie he presents. I love the way he gives the background on the directors, the studios, actors, and the rest of the crew.

    Reply
    • Danna - cozy mystery list says

      January 18, 2019 at 12:33 pm

      Sharon, I’m sorry I didn’t follow film noir movies before. I just “found out” about the Eddie Muller Noir Alley time slots and am so happy I did! I wish TCM would show repeats of the movies he has presented in earlier times. He makes the movies even more fun to watch!

      Reply
  5. Patrick McIntosh says

    January 18, 2019 at 2:03 pm

    I love Noir Alley with all of the trivia & interviews Eddie Muller does to give us more about such detective classics.

    I hope the Eddie Muller can suggest to TCM that they come out with Noir Alley T-shirt.

    Reply
    • Danna - cozy mystery list says

      January 19, 2019 at 5:35 am

      Patrick, I’m glad to hear there are other fans of Noir Alley on the site already!

      Reply
  6. Vicki says

    January 18, 2019 at 2:20 pm

    Funny just a couple of nights ago on You Tube I saw a Robert Mitchum movie called Farewell my lovely which is a Phillip Marlowe Film Noir. I don’t know why I never watched any before but I was hooked. Then a Stacey Keach as Mike Hammer. I never realized how much I like that style.

    Reply
    • Danna - cozy mystery list says

      January 19, 2019 at 5:34 am

      Vicki, it’s definitely a type of movie I think more people should give a try!

      Reply
  7. Karen Notbusch says

    January 18, 2019 at 4:05 pm

    I’m hooked on Eddie Muller too. Love those old movies with great plots and characters plus dialog that can be understood. I’m a fan of good mysteries whether cozy or noir.

    Reply
    • Danna - cozy mystery list says

      January 19, 2019 at 5:32 am

      Karen, that’s definitely a good guideline – if it’s good, it’s good.

      Reply
  8. Martha Knox says

    January 18, 2019 at 5:47 pm

    I loved the Maltese Falcon. Wonderful movie and book.

    Reply
    • Danna - cozy mystery list says

      January 19, 2019 at 5:33 am

      Martha, that’s definitely one of the great noir classics!

      Reply
  9. Judi says

    January 19, 2019 at 9:29 am

    I’ve been hooked since I took the TCM film noir course. Never bothered before then, but I’m hooked now! And really live to listen to Eddie give the details on that marvelous set! Enjoy

    Reply
    • Danna - cozy mystery list says

      January 21, 2019 at 12:53 am

      Judi, it’s definitely a great series that I’ve been enjoying so far!

      Reply
  10. Debra Lawson says

    January 19, 2019 at 11:37 am

    You are in for a treat. Film noir is my favorite movie genre, with “Double Indemnity” (featuring the aforementioned Barbara Stanwyck) topping the list, but there are so many more! I am quite familiar with Eddie Muller and have taken an online film noir class a couple of years ago — and had a great time. The bonus was learning about films noir that were somewhat off the beaten path, but excellent examples of the genre, nonetheless; and discovering films that were on the cusp of film noir and some other genres that were wonderful. Thank you very much for your post!

    Reply
    • Danna - cozy mystery list says

      January 21, 2019 at 12:50 am

      Debra, I’m definitely looking forward to learning more about film noir! As a “beginner” at this point, I’m just glad to be seeing the more “classic” examples. Though I might venture into the more obscure novels and movies later!

      Reply
      • Debra Lawson says

        January 21, 2019 at 8:32 am

        Danna, I am delighted. Thanks so much!

        Reply
  11. Donna McLean says

    January 19, 2019 at 1:17 pm

    The Maltese Falcon, The Third Man, Double Indemnity, The Blue Dahlia, Laura, Gilda, I can go on forever about film noir! You have a LOT to look forward to seeing for the first time, Danna.

    Reply
    • Danna - cozy mystery list says

      January 21, 2019 at 12:51 am

      Donna, I’m definitely looking forward to seeing many of these for the first time (I have seen some due to other interests)!

      Reply
      • Donna McLean says

        January 23, 2019 at 1:21 pm

        It seems that the best films and books of a genre can transcend their boundaries. I don’t care for Westerns at all, but Shane is one of my all time favorite films. When it’s on, I drop everything to watch it!

        Reply
  12. Betty Boop says

    January 29, 2019 at 4:13 pm

    I want to know when will Noir Alley start again with Eddie and why cant I get a schedule for the Noir movies for all the months like last year

    Reply
    • Danna - cozy mystery list says

      February 1, 2019 at 3:53 am

      Betty, I don’t know if I can really help you here – I’m just a fellow fan after all!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please don't tell us about Cozy Mystery authors or books you don't enjoy.

Please use a nickname or your first name and last initial (unless you are an author and want your full name to appear).

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search the Site

Subscribe to Blog Post Email Alerts

  • Cozy Mystery Blog Home
  • Cozy Mystery Site
  • Soon to be Released Mysteries
  • Cozies by Themes
  • New Mystery Releases
  • New Mystery Series
  • Cozy Mystery Recommendations
  • Most Popular and Recommended Cozy Mystery Series
  • Free & Cheap Kindle Mystery Books
  • Holiday Mystery Book Lists
  • What Is a Cozy?
  • TV and Movies
  • Author Interviews
  • Cozy-Mystery.com on Facebook

Recent Posts

  • Three New Cozy Mystery Authors Added to the Site
  • Upcoming Mysteries on Turner Classic Movies for April 2023
  • March 20 to March 26, 2023
  • March 6 to March 19, 2023
  • Ellie Alexander: Sloan Krause Mysteries

Recent Comments

  • Danna - cozy mystery list on Ellie Alexander: Sloan Krause Mysteries
  • Danna - cozy mystery list on Upcoming Mysteries on Turner Classic Movies for April 2023
  • Danna - cozy mystery list on Victoria Thompson: Gaslight Mystery Series
  • Claire on Mystery Books Theme: Main Sleuth Who Is a Doctor…
  • Wendi White on Victoria Thompson: Gaslight Mystery Series

Cozy Mystery List Home | Affiliate Disclosure | Cozy Mystery Blog Home  | Cozy Mystery Blog Sitemap | Privacy Policy  | Contact Me   | About |

Copyright © 2006-2023, Cozy-Mystery.Com, All rights reserved.
A Guide to Cozy Mystery Books, Movies, and TV


MENU
  • Cozy Mystery Blog Home
  • Cozy Mystery Site
  • Soon to be Released Mysteries
  • Cozies by Themes
  • New Mystery Releases
  • New Mystery Series
  • Cozy Mystery Recommendations
  • Most Popular and Recommended Cozy Mystery Series
  • Free & Cheap Kindle Mystery Books
  • Holiday Mystery Book Lists
  • What Is a Cozy?
  • TV and Movies
  • Author Interviews
  • Cozy-Mystery.com on Facebook