question of the day: Could there ever be a detective film noir with a ... - Flick Fil

[Film Noir Press - Noir news from the internet]

The other day, reader Drave tweeted at me:

Has there ever been a detective noir flick with a female lead and a homme fatale? I'm having trouble thinking of one.

I can’t think of one either. And I figured it would be interesting to throw the query out to the readership and see if anyone can think of one. But I suspect you’re all going to have trouble coming up with even one title that fits these criteria because of the more interesting side of the question:
Could there ever be a detective film noir with a female lead and a homme fatale?
A hardbitten woman detective isn’t a stretch -- in fact, we see characters who verge close to this on television quite frequently these days. It’s the homme fatale bit that’s harder to see working in a serious way (though it could likely worth well in a parody or comedy). The notion of women as dangerous to men -- in a metaphoric way, when it comes to sex and romance, and literally, when wielding a smoking gun -- works because it’s an unexpected exaggeration male anxiety. The notion of men as literally fatally dangerous to women is... well, an actual fact of life for far too many women to feel like it could serve a similar archetypal purpose that the femme fatale character serves in film noir.

As always, I’d be delighted to be proven wrong by a really good film noir with a homme fatale.
What do you think?
(If you have a suggestion for a QOTD, feel free to email me. Responses to this QOTD sent by email will be ignored; please post your responses here.)



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[Steve-O]

does anyone have an answer for this? I can't think of any off the top of my head. My best guess would be Phantom Lady... not an official detective but she certainly got the job done.

Could there ever be a detective film noir with a female lead and a homme fatale?

[Nighthawk]

Hitchcock's Shadow of a Doubt (1943) probably comes closest.

[Steve-O]

yeah.. but not a true detective really. I think there are a few grade z ones where the girl is the dicks assistant.

edit: Crime by Night may qualify... I have to see it to be sure though.

[Harry Fabian]

Oh, there is a movie with a female lead. She is a undercover reporter on assignment from an out of state newspaper/magazine to infiltrate some sort of hate group. Or maybe they are communists? I thought the newspaper was in Chicago and the hate group was in the East. Wow, I can't think of the name of it. I don't recall if there is a true homme fatale. I know that she has a "boyfriend" in the hate group. I know the film is listed in Keaney's Film Noir Guide. I'll have to look it up later.

[Harry Fabian]

Violence (1947) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039960/ appears to be the movie I was thinking of. I don't remember it real well, I'd have to watch it again to see if it really fits. It's available from wbshop and is remastered-but I think it's MOD.

[Steve-O]

Violence (1947) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039960/ appears to be the movie I was thinking of. I don't remember it real well, I'd have to watch it again to see if it really fits. It's available from wbshop and is remastered-but I think it's MOD.

She turns out to be the victim.. and has to be saved. So this wouldn't qualify. I believe Michael O'Shea and Sheldon Leonard battle over her.