Film Noir

Film Noir is to be referenced in regard to the Hollywood Cinema section as it applied to 'Blade Runner' and 'The Lady From Shanghai'.

Features of Film Noir:
Femme Fatale - manipulative female that often lures and manipulates the protagonist into compromising positions
Protagonist - often a detective or private investigator, there is always a fall of some sort, often through losing control he becomes morally ambiguous
Reflects the time and place it was made - eg, in the 1940s everything had a very dark downbeat tone due to the struggles of WWII. Moving into the 50s the more conspiratorial movement began due to the Cold War's influence.
Typically shot in black and white with minimalistic lighting. This was due to shortages during the war so they couldn't afford fill light. German Expressionist elements in this style fed in during and after WWII when people fled Germany. This introduced the harsh angles, backlighting and low-key effects.
Film Noir arose during the 1940s after the war to reflect the mood of the world at the tie. It wasn't identified as a movement until after it had passed.