The laconic antihero, the femme fatale, homburgs, trench coats, and revolvers... Film noir has a very unique look. It's a style of Hollywood crime drama that emerged in 1940 and continued until about 1959—an era generally regarded as the "classic period" of American film noir. These shadowy thrillers featured twisted plots and unhinged characters, where success wasn't always obtained through legal means.
Recognized for their low-key, black-and-white visual style, these pictures explored the darkest recesses of society, a world where duplicity and desire often went hand-in-hand with malevolence and murder. So, what movies best exemplify the style and iconography of classic film noir? Click through the following gallery to revisit classics of the genre.