Summary
Film noirmay have had its heyday during the 1940s and 1950s, but since then, many genre classics have been remade for modern viewers. Through dark, gritty, and incredibly creative concepts, film noirs enthralled audiences with their sinister portrayals of urban environments, shocking criminal happenings, and alluring femme fatales, meaning it’s no surprise that filmmakers want to revisit these stories time and time again. While it’s often hard to outdo the original, plenty of remakes of classic noirs were worthy follow-ups that added something new to the previously told story.
Thebest film noirs of all timeincluded some of the greatest movies ever made, which meant it was only enviable that some of them would be remade. In some cases, classic film noirs have been remade numerous times as characters such asThe Big Sleep’siconic Detective Philip Marlowe have been a consistent source of material for Hollywood directors. While the genre’s classic period may be long over,film noirs have remained popular through endless remakesand reimaginings of acclaimed hardboiled stories.
The Killers
Cast
The Killers (1964) is a crime thriller directed by Don Siegel, featuring Lee Marvin, Angie Dickinson, and John Cassavetes. The film follows two hitmen investigating why their latest target did not flee from his impending death. As they delve deeper, they uncover a web of betrayal and deceit. Adapted from Ernest Hemingway’s short story, this is a remake of the 1946 film and marks Ronald Reagan’s final acting role.
The iconic Ernest Hemingway storyThe Killershas been adapted for the screen several times, most notably with Burt Lancaster in 1947 and again in 1964 with Lee Marvin and Ronald Reagan in his final film role before entering politics. This story was about two hitmen who, after their victim didn’t attempt to escape being murdered, tried to uncover the mystery of who ordered the hit and what their intentions were. The original version was a film noir classic that pleased even Hemingway himself, who was famously often unimpressed with adaptations of his work.
Ernest Hemingway said of the 1947 version ofThe Killers: “It is a good picture and the only good picture ever made of a story of mine,” (viaFar Out.)
The 1964 version ofThe Killerswas also an impressive success and a worthy remake that stood as one of Lee Marvin’s best films. This version ofThe Killersoutdid its 1940s counterpart in many ways, as it was a more streamlined and vivid adaptation of Hemingway’s story. However, both versions were true must-watch classics that showcased the appeal of the film noir genre.
12 Best Lee Marvin Movies Ranked
From Point Blank to The Dirty Dozen to The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, there are a bunch of great Lee Marvin movies for fans to enjoy.
Thieves Like Us
Thieves Like Us (1974) is a crime drama directed by Robert Altman. The film follows the lives of three convicts who break out of prison and embark on a series of bank robberies in Depression-era Mississippi. Featuring Keith Carradine, Shelley Duvall, and John Schuck, the film explores the complexities of crime, loyalty, and human relationships against a backdrop of social upheaval.
The 1940s was the true heyday of film noir, which featured classics of the genre, such as Nicolas Ray’sThey Live By Night. As one of the very first “couple on the run” movies, it acted as a forerunner to later classics likeBonnie and Cydleor Terrence Malick’sBadlands. While this film noir may have inspired subsequent films, it was also directly remade by the New Hollywood auteur Robert Altman asThieves Like Usin a version that retained the title of Edward Anderson’s original 1937 novel.
Thieves Like Uswas a worthy remake that featured one of the lateShelley Duvall’s best movies, where she played the garageman’s daughter Keechie, who fell in love with the small-time bank robber Bowie (Keith Carradine.) A story of crime and romance,Thieves Like Usfeatured two men who broke out of prison and restarted their criminal ways by robbing banks across the Depression-era American South. With a solid script and story,Altman beautifully captured the intensity of 1930s Americawith powerful visuals and a unique sense of style.
The Big Sleep
The Big Sleep (1978) is a neo-noir mystery film directed by Michael Winner, starring Robert Mitchum as private detective Philip Marlowe. The film is based on Raymond Chandler’s novel and follows Marlowe as he is hired by a wealthy family to unravel a complex web of blackmail, murder, and intrigue. Set in London, the movie features an ensemble cast including Sarah Miles, Candy Clark, and Richard Boone.
While it was never going to live to the timeless appeal of Humphrey Bogart’s definitive performance as Detective Philip Marlowe, the 1978 remake ofThe Big Sleephad a lot going for it. AsRobert Mitchum’s second time portraying Detective Marlowe, followingFarewell, My Lovelyin 1975, this marked the only time an actor had played the character more than once. With a story moved from Los Angeles to London, this more modern adaptation was able to overtly address the themes of homosexuality and pornography from Raymond Chandler’s original novel that had only been subtly hinted at in the 1940s version.
Bogart was always going to be a tough act to follow, and it’s impossible not to compare Mitchum to this timeless portrayal, but he gave a strong performance as the hardboiled detective. What’s most impressive about this updated version ofThe Big Sleepwas how visually stunning it looked as it captured the seedy underbelly of 1970s London. Sadly, without Bogart and Bacall at the helm,The Big Sleepwas always going to come in second place, but it’s still definitely worth checking out for lovers ofPhilip Marlowe movies.
No Way Out
No Way Out is a suspenseful political thriller directed by Roger Donaldson. Released in 1987, it stars Kevin Costner as Lt. Commander Tom Farrell, who becomes embroiled in a high-stakes Pentagon cover-up following a murder. Gene Hackman and Sean Young co-star in this intricate tale of deception, intrigue, and betrayal within the corridors of power.
The acclaimed film noirThe Big Clockwas remade asNo Way Outin 1987, which updated the events of the United States Department of Defense in Washington, D.C., during the Cold War.The Big Clockblended elements of screwball comedy with a noir style as a magazine tycoon committed murder and tried to pin it on an innocent. WhileNo Way Outleaned more into an action thriller premise as contemporary politics were brought into its story of a witchhunt and coverup after a politician killed his mistress.
Director Roger Donaldson put a modern spin on the dense, inquisitive style of the 1940s with a talented cast that included Kevin Cosner and Gene Hackman. With many twists and turns and a clever script,No Way Outwas more than a worthy follow-up ofThe Big Clock, surpassing the original in many ways. It’s no surprise that Cosner became such a major star in the years followingNo Way Out, as his screen presence and charisma shone through every scene.
6D.O.A. (1988)
Remake of: D.O.A. (1950)
The 1950 film noir classicD.O.A.told the story of a poisoned man trying to discover the culprit of his own impending murder. With a strong concept and incredible style, Edmond O’Brien gave a strong performance as Frank Bigelow, a protagonist who, in a stunning twist on the genre conventions, was both the detective and victim in his own case.D.O.A.has been remade several times with various updates, such as the 1969 Australian thrillerColor Me Deador even as a modern action movie withCrankin 2006, starring Jason Statham.
However, the most straightforward adaptation was the 1988 movieD.O.A.,which sawDennis Quad star as the college professor Dexter Cornell, who found himself positioned as his personal and professional life fell apart around him. This version ofD.O.A.borrowed a lot from its predecessors as it powerfully updated its story for the 1980s. While it does not quite live up to the original,D.O.A.was a witty remake with strong supporting performances from Meg Ryan and Charlotte Rampling.
5Narrow Margin (1990)
Remake of: The Narrow Margin (1952)
The original film noirThe Narrow Marginwas an intense game of cat-and-mouse set abroad to train as a gang of mobsters sought to kill a gangster’s widow before she could testify against them. This thrilling classic was then remade asNarrow Marginby director Peter Hyams with Gene Hackman and Anne Archer. Updated for contemporary times, this modern noir remake maintained much of what made the original work so well while also taking influence from other films, such asAlfred Hitchcock’s mysteryThe Lady Vanishes.
Narrow Marginhighlighted Hyams’s skill for directing action sequences, keeping the tension high throughout while Archer attempted to evade her would-be assassins on board a train to Vancouver. As pure escapist fun,Narrow Marginswas a total success and a worthy remake, but it was always filled with so many tropes and cliches that it failed to truly live up to its potential. Most importantly,Narrow Marginhad a unique sense of humor that helped it stand apart from the seriousness of its predecessor.
Cape Fear
A remake of the 1962 movie of the same name, which itself was based on a John D. MacDonald novel, Cape Fear tells the story of a convicted rapist who is looking to get even with the lawyer who helped to put him away for 14 years. Many of the cast of the original movies make cameo appearances, including both Martin Balsam and Gregory Peck.
One fascinating remake was Martin Scorsese’s 1991 take on the psychological thrillerCape Fear, whereRobert De Niro took up the role of the psychopathic ex-con previously played by Robert Mitchum. As a type of B-movie noir that leaned into elements of horror movies, the originalCape Fearwas a trailblazing film that depicted the threat of sexual assault and controversial violence with the backing of a sinister score by Bernard Herrmann. As a remake made almost three decades later, Scorsese’s version was able to lean even more heavily into the darkest sides ofCape Fear’sunnerving story.
While De Niro had played complex and violent characters before, his characterization of the convicted rapist Max Cady showcased new levels of terror. As a big-budget remake with a major Hollywood star, impressive special effects, and strong production values, Scorsese’sCape Fearwas an impressive foray into horror movie territory. This version ofCape Fearwas a challenging, dark, and worthy remake of the underappreciated gem of 1960s film noir horror.
Kiss of Death
Kiss of Death (1947) is a film noir directed by Henry Hathaway, featuring Victor Mature as Nick Bianco, a small-time crook who cooperates with the authorities to secure a better life for his daughters. Richard Widmark’s portrayal of the menacing Tommy Udo marks his debut and has since become iconic. The film explores themes of redemption and crime, set against the backdrop of post-war New York City.
Henry Hathaway’sKiss of Deathwas a 1947 film noir about a criminal who refused to rat on his former partner in crime as he was assured his wife and children would be looked after, but all this changed when his wife died under mysterious circumstances. With shocking intensity,Kiss of Deathwas a dark noir thriller that received a 1995 loose remake from director Barbet Schroeder. While the remake retained the essential essence of its character dynamics, the 1990s version ofKiss of Deathwas almost unrecognizable from the original regarding style and aesthetics.
Schroeder’sKiss of Deathwas a star-studded crime drama that boasted performances from David Caruso, Samuel L. Jackson, Helen Hunt, and Stanley Tucci. However, the true scene stealer was Nicolas Cage, who, in the same year he took home the Best Actor Oscar forLeaving Las Vegas, was truly at the top of his game.Kiss of Deathwas worth watching for Cage’s performanceas the psychotic mobster Little Junior Brown alone and was a worthy, albeit vastly different, remake.
The Ladykillers
An eccentric, if not charming Southern professor and his crew pose as a classical ensemble in order to rob a casino, all under the nose of his unsuspecting but sharp old landlady.
The remake of one ofAlec Guinness’ best movies,The Ladykillerswas an enjoyable retread of the 1955 British film noir Ealing comedy reimagined for an American audience. With Tom Hanks as Professor Goldthwaite Higginson Dorr, this underrated Coen Brothers movie captured the spirit of the original while giving Hanks a chance to showcase a new side to his comedic talents. In the same way that the original saw a gang of criminals exploiting the kindness of an eccentric older lady, this version ofThe Ladykillerssaw the gang misrepresenting themselves as church musicians while they plotted the perfect crime.
The Ladykillersremake was packed with humor as it utilized the absurdity of concept to keep viewers laughing throughout its swift runtime. WhileThe Ladykillerswas a mostly faithful remake, it alsomaintained the Coen Brothers' unique sense of styleas it was littered with off-the-wall characters and a dark sense of humor. It must be admitted thatThe Ladykillersfalls short of the Coen Brothers' greatest remake,True Grit, but in terms of pure entertainment, this was a worthy rehash of the original.
Nightmare Alley
Based on the 1946 novel of the same name, Nightmare Alley follows drifter Stan Carlisle (Bradley Cooper) as he joins a carnival in order to learn the art of grifting. Addicted to the thrills and the potential for personal gain, Stan takes his show on the road accompanied by fellow carnival worker Molly (Rooney Mara), where he makes a living as a false medium and mentalist. Stan is soon drawn into a much darker web of opportunity that sees him risk it all for one big score.
The 1947 version ofNightmare Alleywas truly one of the most unique and interesting film noirs of its era, as it showcased the rise and fall of the seedy traveling carnival’s barker, Stan Carlisle. With a brutally cynical story and an astounding lead performance from Tyrone Power,Nightmare Alleywas a box office flopwhen it was released but gradually built up a reputation as a hidden gem of film noir. As an unappreciated classic, it made sense that Guillermo del Toro revived the story for modern audiences.
Del Toro’sNightmare Alleywas a worthy remake, starring Cate Blanchett and Bradley Cooper in a version that maintained thefilm noirappeal of the original. However, this version was also imbued with Del Toro’s unique vision and sense of style, as modern special effects allowed him to depict the story with a level of grandeur that was impossible in the 1940s. With vivid colors and existential descent into a world of madness,Nightmare Alleywas an impressive cinematic spectacle and a loving tribute to the original.
