The convention of key noir.

During class we watched 'The double idemnity' and 'The killers', both fairly well known. These films have similar key points that made them a certain genre. In this case  film noir. In this post I will talk about the 'convention of key noir' which will include origins, key character types, narratives, editing, sound, mise-en-scene and camera composition of film noir.
Origins ~ Film noir is often set in the 1930's or 1940's, since this period was during the war all the violence within the film was seen as normal and acceptable.
Key character types ~ In a film noir there are normally two main characters, male and female with a romantic sexual attraction.
Male - usually the hero/anti hero. (This is someone who should be a hero but has dark methods)  The hero/anti hero male usually has a manly profession ie detective, reporter, insurance man, boxer. Who unintentionally gets involved in crime. The hero/anti hero will get in to trouble or become a broken man.
Female - usually glamorous, overly sexual character. They are called the femfatale.
The femfatal more then not will die at the end of the film, which is where the 'fatal' part in the name came from.
Narratives ~ Film Noir is often innovated in narrative techniques. 'Double Indemnity' is marked by two movements: of real time and remembered time.
Editing ~ Film noirs are all black and white, there will be experimental lighting ie light coming through things (re-fracted through window blinds etc) and there will be a extreme contrast between dark and light.
Nearly every film noir end with it being a flashback with the hero's perspective.
Mis-en-scene ~ Characters will be playing a lot of card games.
There would be strong fashion (make up and suits) so you can tell what era it's from..
Camera and composition ~There isn't usually anything technical about the camera for a film noir, there will be more or less just straight forward shots.
Sound ~There will be narration in a film noir to tell us what the hero is thinking and to tell us about the suituation.