Film Noire Screenplay

The Drowned Man

Int Detective Office - Mid-day

Dark room with only a blinded window letting in blades of light, which are shining on the main detective, smoking a thick cigar and looking idly around the office.

Mcgriff :(Narrative) The names Vance Mcgriff, Chief detective of the New York Police Department, years' 1922, February, and its been a pretty dry month.

Close up on the telephone, as it begins to ring - all is silent beside the ringing of the phone. Then switches to a over the shoulder shot as Mcgriff reaches for the phone

Mcgriff : N-Y-P-D Detective department, this is Detective Mcgruff speaking, how can I help you?

Woman : The drowned man is in the lake -

The call ends abruptly, before Mcgruff has even a chance to speak, in anger, he throws down the phone, looking back at the window

Mcgriff : (Narrative) The same damn call almost everyday now for two weeks, cryptic. We've investigated but have no clue what it could mean, In the office we think its just some prank, but its hard to say. We don't even got any reports of a missing persons. Nor  report of a drowned person.

Mcgruff turns around, we have an over the shoulder shot of him looking at the door as there is a loud knock. This is followed by a closeup of the door as the knocking continues, then a Policeman enters through the door, he is a large, burly man, with a thick mustache and sideburns, speaking in a serious yet concerned tone.

Police Chief : Detective Mcgriff, you got any time on your hands? There has been a body fished up from the lake, it looks pretty fresh too, you need to come investigate!

Mcgriff : You say fresh, you mean like it seems pretty recent?

Police Chief : Yeah, it was found washed up by the banks by some guy walking his dog,

Mcgriff : I see -

Police Chief : You coming?

Mcgriff : Yeah, yeah, I'll be  minute, let me get my stuff and I'll be right out

Police Chief : 'Right, Just hurry up about it.

The Police Chief exits through the door, leaving it open behind him, letting in light from the interior corridor. Mcgriff slowly walks over the the window, and peaks out the blinds, looking out of the city, this develops into an establishing show of the city, through his eyes.

Mcgriff : (Narrative) This city... This city... What a crazy place...

Mcgriff takes a gun, notepad and pen, and his detective badge from his desk and walks slowly towards the open door, exiting, he then slams it behind him/ Dramatic music begins to play as the shot begins do fade into the title screen.

Conventions of Film Noire

Film Noire is a genre of films which became popular round the 20's. During this time, Film Noire films were made very cheap using minimal lighting, setting and characters. These sort of film became popular party because so many were produced, nearly all following the same structure: Detective, Deputy and a Femme Fatale.
The Detective: This was often the main character, he is often played by a gruff sounding male actor. The narrative is often told by this character.
The Deputy: This is often a disposable character - which leads on to more important plot devices. Though we'd assume this was an important part character, we will find that plot more focuses around on the more important, main detective.
The Femme Fatale: This is often the min female lead role,playing a sly and manipulative who manages to sway the detective to do what she wants him to. This happens though most the film with the detective unaware of this until near the end of the film, where she is discovered for what she is.

Film Noire films often have the detective searching for someone or something, if something, it is often a valuable stolen item

One of the most famous conventions for this the minimal lighting used. It is common that only two set lights are used. There are often used to only show one side of the face, this is used to set the dark tones which many Film Noire films contain. This is called low key lighting.

Another convention is the costumes of the main characters. The detective is seen wearing a trench coat and a hat. There is rarely a film of this genre which does not have this. This conveys mystery about the character.

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