Film Noir is a genre of cinematography popularized in the 40s-50s. This genre emphasizes mystery, cynical heros, and pessimism, and crime. It was especially common among American thriller and detective films during this era. There is a particularly general scene I imagine when I think of this genre.
The detective has had a long day at his work. He has struggled with solving the mysteries of the murder of the Robinsons, which took place last week. He has collected the basic information of this case, as well as interviewed numerous people, from neighbors, to friends, to even the mailman. His boss is nagging him to finish solving this case or move on, but the detective is determined. He goes to his local bar, the one he always visits after a long day. He goes up to the bartender who he frequently talks with about his job, “I’ll have the usual,” he says. The bartender pours him a bourbon whisky, his favorite. “Still holding on to that Robison case?” the bartender asks. The detective nods. “I just feel like I’m missing one small detail to this whole thing.” he explains. “I have all the information on how they died, I just need to find the killer…” As he takes a sip of the bourbon, he recognizes a peculiar scent. He recalls a case he covered last year, where a rich businessman was poisoned one night at a dinner party. The poison! He slowly looks up, then meets the bartenders eyes. “I guess you were too slow to realize this time,” he says. Before the detective could say anything, he falls to the floor.
(the detective didn’t die at the end!)