The Lady From Shanghai Scene Analysis

The Studio Era of Hollywood 

Lasting between 1930 and 1948, the "Studio Era" refers to the introduction and domination of a the Studio System, which was a method of film production which saw only a small number of select studios producing a majority of the films at the time, and in large amounts. 

These studios, also known as the "Major Studios" included what was known as "The Big Five" and "The Little Three", these 8 studios controlling 95% of the films shown in the US. The Big Five included:

1. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayor
Established in 1924.

2. Paramount Picture Corp.
Established as distribution company in 1914.

3. Fox Film Corporation/20th Century Fox
Established in 1913 but began producing films in 1915.

4. Warner Brothers 
Established in 1924.

5. RKO Radio Pictures Incorporated 
An "immediate major", established in 1928.

The "Little Three" referring to:

1. Universal Pictures 
Formed in 1915.

2. United Artists 
Established in 1919.

3. Columbia 
Established in 1924.

Film Noir 

Literally meaning 'black film'

The mood/atmosphere is often black and pessimistic, differing to typical glamorous Hollywood films at the time. It's visual aesthetic is very distinctive, featuring high contrast and it's stock characters include beautiful femme females and private detective (usually investigating corrupting police).

The term was first used in 1975 by Italian critic Neno Bruno and was influenced by Geraman Expressionism, first emerging in hollywood in early 1948 during the end of WW2 and the years shortly after. This type of film quickly gained much popularity due to the fat it could be cheaply made and had a very usual (for the time) pessimistic outlook on the world due to the brutality of the War.

Film Noir has a unique   visual style including:

•  Dark + Light
•  Shadows 
•  Silhouettes 
•  Blinds and Bars (to create a feeling of entrapment) 
•  Strange camera angles (Called Dutch angles, to create feeling of unease)
•  High contrast 
•  Black and white (reflecting the extremist/one-or-the-other views of film makers) 

It also includes such visual factors and techniques, many of which are still used today:

•  Rain 
•  Night 
•  Cityscapes 
•  Smoke/Cigarettes 
•  Urban areas/streets  
•  Cars 
•  Guns 

Film Noir illustrates such narrative elements:

•  Flashbacks
•  Voice over from the protagonist (to voice inner feelings go isolation)
•  Complicated and twisting plots + subplots 
•  Sudden reverses of fortune 
•  Circular narrative 
•  A network of minor characters 
•  Tragic endings