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Film noir

2 stages from French to English.

Today it means a style of dark, cynical crime film

Where does the word "film noir" come from? It comes from French film noir, adopted directly into English (1950s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
film noir
French · 1946
"black film"
the French critic Nino Frank coined it for the dark Hollywood crime films that reached Paris after the war
2
Stage 2 of 2
film noir
English · 1950s
"dark crime film"
taken up by film critics for the genre
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Read the full story

Film noir’s story begins in French: film noir meant “black film.” The French critic Nino Frank coined it for the dark Hollywood crime films that reached Paris after the war. It reached English by 1950s as film noir. Taken up by film critics for the genre. Today, film noir means a style of dark, cynical crime film.