Mystery movies have long been a cornerstone of Hollywood cinema. From thrillers like The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and The Thin Man to film noir classics such as Vertigo and Shadow of a Doubt, mysteries have always been at the core of many popular flicks.
Humphrey Bogart plays San Francisco private detective Sam Spade and femme fatale Eve Arden in this classic film noir, co-starring Mary Astor and an impressive array of villains.
The Maltese Falcon (1941)
One of the classic detective movies, this melodrama featuring Humphrey Bogart in his first major role adapted from Dashiell Hammett’s novel is an example of style. Not only does its acting and plot succeed; so does its style as evident through how actors look, move and speak.
Bogart’s Sam Spade is an engaging character who forgoes sentimentality for wit and sardonic humor, speaking his mind openly when confronted by Brigid O’Shaughnessy (Mary Astor). This movie gave birth to noir cinema; its relevance remains just as relevant today, making Bogart an instant star as well as serving as John Huston’s debut as director.
The Big Sleep (1939)
Raymond Chandler’s debut novel delves deep into the seedy underbelly of a crime ring where money reigns supreme. This captivating tale with its vivid characters and sinister setting was an instant classic upon its initial publication and remains an essential read even today.
Chandler established himself as one of the premier hard boiled pulp fiction authors with this, his other six novels (and screenplays for Double Indemnity and Strangers on a Train movies), as well as their screenplays, becoming an influential voice in hard boiled fiction. Heavy in its influence from Dashiell Hammett and Ernest Hemingway’s writing styles as well as Americanisms and colloquialisms found throughout their works, Chandler had his own distinctive writing voice that stood out among peers.
The Murder on the Orient Express (1973)
Poirot must piece together clues in order to solve a murder committed on board his renowned train, with Albert Finney playing him and featuring stars such as Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman (who won an Oscar), Sean Connery, Richard Widmark Michael York Vanessa Redgrave and Jacqueline Bisset as notable cast members.
This film is also notable for its use of props and set design to convey a sense of place and time, such as its prologue featuring spinning newspaper headlines detailing Baby Daisy Armstrong’s abduction and murder.
I always preferred this version over the 2017 film because it stays more closely to Christie’s novel and boasts superior acting from Widmark and company as Ratchett is more a businessman and less of a criminal, plus costumes are luxurious and period appropriate.
The Long Goodbye (1973)
Robert Altman is known for his groundbreaking neo noir films that challenge genre conventions and disregard movie history; The Long Goodbye was no different, featuring Elliott Gould as Marlowe (although in the film his name was misspelled Wade).
He may resemble more a clown than either Bogart or Powell, but his childish mannerisms and marble-mouthed mumbling lend this version of the wise-cracking detective an air of pessimism while maintaining a solid moral compass.
Altman and cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond challenge the visual tropes of noir through an innovative style that shifts between stark chiaroscuro and washed-out sepia tones, suggesting an end of an era. While in previous Marlowe movies he lashed out against Los Angeles as heartless and spineless, this version shrugs it off and retreats back into himself.
LA Confidential (1995)
Three Los Angeles policemen – two straightlaced, one rough and one dishonorable – investigate a murder at a downtown coffee shop during the 1950s. Upstart detective Exley (Guy Pearce) attempts to reform his city’s department while Sergeant White (Russell Crowe) and tabloid magnate Sid Hudgens (Danny DeVito) use him to uncover corruption within their ranks.
Curtis Hanson’s cynical good cop/bad cop/worse cop ensemble drama helped establish both Pearce and Crowe while recalling classic film noir. Although only winning two Oscars at the 1998 ceremony, this thriller delivers a suspenseful thrill ride complete with jazzy soundtrack, naked yogi hippies, an early uncredited Arnold Schwarzenegger cameo appearance and much more besides. A real triumph.
Charade (1953)
Stanley Donen and Cary Grant create an elegant thriller in this elegant thriller, mixing romance, mystery and suspense into one riveting package. Grant’s first time pairing with Hepburn makes this movie truly timeless while its unconventional elements like beautiful location photography and Henry Mancini’s Oscar-nominated theme song have cemented it as an evergreen classic.
Peter Stone and Marc Behm’s screenplay for Charade–originally called The Unsuspecting Wife–was initially rejected by studios before Donen bought it and had it rewritten to suit Grant and Hepburn, who shared an outstanding onscreen chemistry. Charade remains a stylish macabre crime caper filled with plenty of humor and charisma despite its critics.
Charade is an enjoyable thriller, though not as thought-provoking or engaging as North by Northwest. However, its sophisticated entertainment keeps audiences hooked, drawn in by Grant and Hepburn’s game of misdirection and entertaining their audiences throughout.
Memento (1995)
No film does this better than Christopher Nolan’s Memento, featuring an amnesiac seeking revenge for the death of his wife by tattooing clues on himself to keep track of them all.
Memento has often been compared to Groundhog Day, yet both films differ greatly in terms of plot. While both explore time travel concepts, Memento takes this concept even further – creating an eye-opening mind-bending thriller which requires repeated viewings in order to fully appreciate.