The 20 Most Visually Stunning American Noir Films Ever

1950s

12. Sunset Boulevard (1950)
Cinematography by John F. Seitz

Sunset Boulevard

 

13. The Asphalt Jungle (1950)
Cinematography by Harold Rosson

The Asphalt Jungle (1950)

 

14. Night and the City (1950)
Cinematography by Mutz Greenbaum

night-and-the-city

 

15. The Hitch-Hiker (1953)
Cinematography by Nicholas Musuraca

The Hitchhiker (1953)

 

16. Riot in Cell Block 11 (1954)
Cinematography by Russell Harlan

riot in cell block 11

 

17. Kiss Me Deadly (1955)
Cinematography by Ernest Laszlo

 

18. The Night of the Hunter (1955)
Cinematography by Stanley Cortez

night-of-the-hunter-gothic

 

19. Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
Cinematography by James Wong Howe

Sweet Smell of Success (1957)

 

20. Touch of Evil (1958)
Cinematography by Russell Metty

Touch of Evil (1958)

Other notable achievements (because this list can’t be endless):

D.O.A (1950); Panic in the Streets (1950); Union Station (1950); Try and Get Me (1950); 711 Ocean Drive (1950); Gun Crazy (1950); No Way Out (1950); Highway 301 (1950); Dark City (1950); The Gunfighter (1950); Where the Sidewalk Ends (1950); The Furies (1950); Armoured Car Robbery (1950); Mystery Street (1950); Caged (1950); The Big Carnival (1951); Fourteen Hours (1951); Strangers on a Train (1951); The Mob (1951); The Racket (1951); The Prowler (1951); The Enforcer (1951); On Dangerous (1951); M (1951); He Ran All the Way (1951); Detective Story (1951); The Bad and the Beautiful (1952); The Sniper (1952); Beware, My Lovely (1952); The Narrow Margin (1952); Clash By Night (1952); Scandal Sheet (1952); Sudden Fear (1952); Beat the Devil (1953); I Confess (1953); Pick Up on South Street (1953); Niagara (1953); The Blue Gardenia (1953); Split Second (1953); The Big Heat (1953); Angel Face (1953); Crime Wave (1954); Suddenly (1954); Rear Window (1954); Human Desire (1954); The Big Knife (1955); Murder is my Beat (1955); The Desperate Hours (1955); Black Tuesday (1955); The Harder They Fall (1956); The Killing (1956); Nightfall (1956); The Wrong Man (1956); While the City Sleeps (1956); Attack (1956); Crime in the Streets (1956); Edge of the City (1957); Compulsion (1959);