Film Noir Television

For a sample list of available titles and additional research resources at UCLA please download our expanded collection profile

Considered by some to be a movement and others a genre, the classic period of film noir stretched from 1941 to 1958, bookended by the seminal films The Maltese Falcon and Touch of Evil.  Film noir (or literally "black film"), a term coined by the French film critic Nino Frank, was often used to describe films that exhibited low-key black and white cinematography reminiscent of German Expressionism and plots centered around moral ambiguity and a rampant fear of sexuality.  Often described and studied strictly in terms of its filmic manifestations, many of the stylistic aesthetics and narrative techniques of noir were prevalent on American television in such programs ranging from crime dramas (Johnny Staccato, The Man With a Camera, 77 Sunset Strip), andpolice procedurals (Dragnet, Naked City, The Untouchables), to science fiction anthologies (The Outer Limits, The Twilight Zone). 

Many of these programs not only exhibit noir style, but showcase the artistic efforts of many film noir luminaries. John Brahm (The Lodger, Guest in the House) directed episodes of both Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Twilight Zone. Joseph Cotten (The Third Man, Shadow of a Doubt) appeared in episodes of both Alfred Hitchcock Presents and 77 Sunset Strip.  Ida Lupino (High Sierra, On Dangerous Ground) directed episodes of both The Fugitive and The Untouchables.  Lee Marvin (The Big Heat, The Killers) appeared on both M Squad and The Untouchables while Gerd Oswald (Crime of Passion) and Joseph Stefano (Psycho) worked together on The Outer Limits.