Kiss the Blood Off My Hands

Abstract

Following World War II, American cinema became increasingly focused on darker themes in its studio offerings, especially compared to some of the blatantly propagandistic movies that studios produced during the war years. Films dealing with crime, disillusionment, and violence treated audiences to less than flattering portraits of American values, citizens, and society in general. Termed film noir by French film critics in the 1940s, this genre of American movies showcased the talents of some of Hollywood’s most innovative directors, talented screenwriters, and popular actors and created pictures of lasting importance that exerted tremendous influence on later generations of filmmakers. Directors such as John Huston, Edward Dmytryk, Elia Kazan, and Jules Dassin all created memorable contributions to film noir and cast stars such as Humphrey Bogart, John Garfield, Alan Ladd, Burt Lancaster, and Rita Hayworth in challenging roles. Even with the war behind them, American audiences appeared to want alternatives to pure celluloid escapism that characterized many Hollywood products and were interested in themes that questioned notions of societal stability and morality.