tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703076346434344743.post5315035981130202656..comments2023-07-01T05:05:31.938-04:00Comments on Films Worth Watching: They Live By Night (1949) - Directed by Nicholas RayJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10656287096270976604noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703076346434344743.post-78498772535005926482012-02-05T22:20:29.333-05:002012-02-05T22:20:29.333-05:00Hi Sam,
Thanks for the fantastic comments. I can ...Hi Sam,<br /><br />Thanks for the fantastic comments. I can certainly understand how it plays for some people as film noir, but I guess for me it just plays better as something. And it is quite something. You're right though, the film does have a great texture and light and dark from the Diskant's work. It does give the film a memorable visual look and feel. On Dangerous Ground, although not my favorite Ray, is another film filled with depth that tends to transcend the film noir genre.Jonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10656287096270976604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5703076346434344743.post-75670027134648891222012-02-05T16:14:48.641-05:002012-02-05T16:14:48.641-05:00George E. Diskant's moody lighting and texture...George E. Diskant's moody lighting and textured cinematography was a central ingrediant of this film's presentation. Diskant, who later filmed Ray's even greater ON DANGEROUS GROUND (one of my favorite of all noirs) was a noir wizard, as he developed his own almost existential visual style. THEY LIVE BY NIGHT is one of the greatest of the romantic crime dramas, (you are quite right to note this element as vital here Jon) and Ray's boundless energy as a then newbie was most evident, as you note youself in this exceptional appraisal of the film. I can certainly see why you are reluctant to label this as a noir, as much as you regard it in the general scheme.Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.com