Deconstruction of Male Actors

Film Noir Actors and Characters 

 

Lead Male actor: In film noir the usual conventions are a lead male actor, usually depicted as a cynical, cold hearted and realistic man. They are usually detectives, private eyes, or policeman and often are involved in a story line and attempt to solve a crime/problem.They cross paths with the 'femme fatale' who hinder their investigation of some kind. 

Anti-hero: Sometimes the 'anti-hero' and the detective/private eye/policemen are the same people but when they're characters who lack heroic attributes of a typical hero, but the audience identifies as the hero of the movie. The character is often conflicted with some questionable morals and is defected in some way, sometimes even lacking courage, honesty and loyalty which are the common attributes of a heroic character. They are tough but compassionate and often displays vulnerability and weakness but challenges the society he lives in.  

 

Humphrey Bogart

 



In one of lead role in 'The Big Sleep' Bogart played a hard-boiled private detectives, with a complicated case and once it's over he gets blackmail and threats. 

 

 

Evaluation:

 

A key point to take away from this deconstruction, would be that the perfect candidate should be modelled around the actor Humphrey Bogart. In order to fulfil the role as a 'hard-boiled' private detective, the actor must be middle aged man who is mature looking.     

Character Profile - Film Noir

Main Characters

Femme fatale/ seductress

The femme fatale is often dressed in a tight red dress and is seen wearing red lipstick. This character is mainly used to lure the protagonist into her own plots which often creates more tension between the male characters and causes trouble. The main protagonist is normally seen falling for the femme fatale. Usually the femme fatale's plot backfires on her and she ends up in danger or is murdered.

Villain

The villain is normally seen plotting to hurt, kill or ruin someone's life. They usually have a reason for causing misery but sometimes they do it for fun.

Protagonist

The main protagonist is often a detective and a lonely male. He is usually out to solve a crime but gets disturbed by the femme fatale along the way. The protagonist is shown as hard-hearted and non-emotional to show his masculinity and conform to stereotypes of men and women in this era.

Other Characters

• Police
• Gangsters
• Corrupt characters

Characters in Sin City