The Best Film Noirs

The original cycle of film noirs is typically assigned the dates of 1941 to 1958. Over these years, several hundred crime dramas that shared thematic and stylistic traits were made in Hollywood. Some of the recognizable themes include detective stories, flashbacks, voice-overs, murder, and the "femme fatale." Visually, the films were united by the use of low-key lighting and high contrast black and white cinematography. Today, many of these films are classics of the crime and detective genres, and their influence carries over into the "neo-noir" genre.RELATED: The Best Alfred Hitchcock Movies

The Maltese Falcon is usually identified as the first true film noir. It came out in 1941 and starred Humphrey Bogart as P.I. "Sam Spade." He becomes tangled up in a web of criminals and a femme fatale who are after the rare "Maltese Falcon" statuette. Bogart would go on to star in multiple classic film noirs.

This highly influential film noir stars Robert Mitchum as a former P.I. whose past comes back to haunt him. Out of the Past is a classic and masterful example of the noir "flashback" style. Kirk Douglas and Jane Greer co-star in the 1947 film from director Jacques Tourneur.RELATED: Remake of Robert Mitchum's Night of the Hunter Is In The Works

Often cited as one of the greatest films of all time, Double Indemnity tells the story of insurance salesman "Walter Neff," played by Fred MacMurray. "Neff" crosses paths with Barbara Stanwyck's "Phyllis Dietrichson," with whom he becomes caught up in a deadly insurance fraud scheme. From director Billy Wilder, this one is a timeless masterpiece!

In The Big Sleep, Humphrey Bogart took on the role of iconic noir detective "Philip Marlowe" - a creation of detective fiction novelist Raymond Chandler. This classic from 1946 finds "Marlowe" investigating an impenetrable series of events in the criminal underworld. William Faulkner co-wrote the screenplay for the film, which co-stars Lauren Bacall. CHECK THIS OUT: The Best Classic Western Films

At 68 minutes, Detour (1945) keeps it short and sweet, but compelling nonetheless. Tom Neal stars in the film as "Al Roberts," a musician who's forced to react after chance occurrences gravely implicate him in a murder. Detour is also in the public domain, meaning you can watch it online for free. Film noirs were also a popular type of "B film," and Detour is one of the best of them.

Humphrey Bogart had another memorable leading role in Nicholas Ray's In a Lonely Place from 1950. He stars as "Dixon Steele," a writer with a volatile and potentially murderous temper. "Steele" develops a relationship with his neighbour (played by Gloria Grahame), but she begins to grow suspicious of just what he might be capable of. The film is ranked among Bogart's best performances.

Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis star in this icy drama from 1957. In Sweet Smell of Success, Lancaster's "J.J. Hunsecker" is a ruthless and powerful newspaper columnist with a fixation on his sister's love life. Curtis co-stars as his press agent who's willing to do anything to make it big in the city. This lesser-known film's status has grown in the decades since its release.

The Big Combo is remembered as one of the greatest technical achievements of the film noir cycle. Shot by legendary cinematographer John Alton, the movie follows a police officer (Cornel Wilde) who tries to take down a notorious crime lord. Watch The Big Combo for one of the most stylized film noirs out there! (Some even suggest that Casablanca borrowed from the film's climax.)READ MORE: The Best Classic Movies on Netflix Right Now

Kiss Me Deadly is an unconventional yet thoroughly entertaining film noir from 1955. It stars Ralph Meeker as P.I. "Mike Hammer," who gets caught up in a crime after he picks up a hitchhiker. The story eventually shifts focus to a mysterious deadly weapon which produces the film's memorable climax - which was later referenced in Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction.