Film Noir and Firefly

POSTED BY: BYTEMITE
UPDATED: Wednesday, July 23, 2014 03:03
VIEWED: 5950
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BYTEMITE

Tuesday, May 14, 2013 8:48 PM

Yep.

Been thinking about the influences of the genre on Firefly, found this. Minus the monochrome this fits pretty well.

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/SoYouWantTo/WriteAFilmNoir

Just replace "detective" with "smuggler" and I think you just about have it.

EBFIDDLER

Thursday, May 16, 2013 4:39 AM

Interesting little article there. I read it and I could certainly see Firefly fitting into the 'Noir' genre in many ways. Although with the Western setting for many of the episodes, there's waaaay too much sunshine for a proper noir. I suppose someone with more cinema knowledge than I have could easily name a bunch of Noir Westerns, and tell me if the sun shines as brightly in them as in other Westerns. The other thing about Firefly that's not quite so noir is the sense of humor -- as Joss said, "I'm very much of the 'make it dark, make it grim, make it tough,' but then, for the love of God, tell a joke." Don't recall quite so many jokes in most noir I've seen. Except, of course, Guy Noir.

FLORALBUNNY

Thursday, May 16, 2013 7:07 PM

Not sure tvtropes would agree, but I think "Unforgiven" is the noir-est Western I've ever seen.

bun

ECGORDON

Thursday, May 16, 2013 9:08 PM

I can think of quite a few noir westerns; Blood on the Moon, High Noon, 3:10 To Yuma (original), Winchester '73, The Naked Spur, The Man From Laramie.

I have never thought of Firefly as noir, although Serenity comes closer to that style.

wo men ren ran zai fei xing.

BYTEMITE

Thursday, May 16, 2013 9:58 PM

There's lots of sunshine except on the ship, where it's very chiaroscuro.

Noir has it's jokes but it's usually fit into the clever metaphors used by the fast talking narrator. Occasionally there's puns or snark spoken out loud.

JEWELSTAITEFAN

Thursday, July 17, 2014 4:05 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by ecgordon:
I have never thought of Firefly as noir, although Serenity comes closer to that style.

I agree with this, and it helps me understand my feelings toward the two.

GWEK

Thursday, July 17, 2014 6:00 PM

Although it share some individual elements, Firefly (and even Serenity) isn't really noir.

Angel: The Series (especially the first season, if I recall correctly, before the "family" element comes in strong) is Joss's most actively noirish attempt.

For an alternate intersection of Firefly and noir, see Cowboy Bebop.

BYTEMITE

Thursday, July 17, 2014 8:34 PM

Yeah, I know, I was just making some comparisons and I thought it was interesting how much overlap there is.

AGENTROUKA

Tuesday, July 22, 2014 11:28 PM

Doesn't Joss specifically mention Noir as a style inspiration for Serenity in the movie commentary, and how Inara fits as the connection between Western and Noir as the "woman left behind"?

BYTEMITE

Wednesday, July 23, 2014 3:03 AM

I don't actually remember. I think there are definitely some tropes that overlap.