Film Noir and Firefly by BYTEMITE

FIREFLY EPISODE DISCUSSIONS

Film Noir and Firefly

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POSTED BY: BYTEMITE
UPDATED: Tuesday, July 22, 2014 17:03
SHORT URL: http://bit.ly/YY1JIO
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Tuesday, May 14, 2013 10:48 AM

Yep.

Been thinking about the influences of the genre on Firefly, found this. Minus the monochrome this fits pretty well.

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/SoYouWantTo/WriteAFilmNoir

Just replace "detective" with "smuggler" and I think you just about have it.

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Wednesday, May 15, 2013 6:39 PM

EBFIDDLER

Interesting little article there. I read it and I could certainly see Firefly fitting into the 'Noir' genre in many ways. Although with the Western setting for many of the episodes, there's waaaay too much sunshine for a proper noir. I suppose someone with more cinema knowledge than I have could easily name a bunch of Noir Westerns, and tell me if the sun shines as brightly in them as in other Westerns. The other thing about Firefly that's not quite so noir is the sense of humor -- as Joss said, "I'm very much of the 'make it dark, make it grim, make it tough,' but then, for the love of God, tell a joke." Don't recall quite so many jokes in most noir I've seen. Except, of course, Guy Noir.

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Thursday, May 16, 2013 9:07 AM

FLORALBUNNY

Not sure tvtropes would agree, but I think "Unforgiven" is the noir-est Western I've ever seen.

bun

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Thursday, May 16, 2013 11:08 AM

ECGORDON

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.

I can think of quite a few noir westerns; Blood on the Moon, High Noon, 3:10 To Yuma (original), Winchester '73, The Naked Spur, The Man From Laramie.

I have never thought of Firefly as noir, although Serenity comes closer to that style.

wo men ren ran zai fei xing.

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Thursday, May 16, 2013 11:58 AM

BYTEMITE

There's lots of sunshine except on the ship, where it's very chiaroscuro.

Noir has it's jokes but it's usually fit into the clever metaphors used by the fast talking narrator. Occasionally there's puns or snark spoken out loud.

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Wednesday, July 16, 2014 6:05 PM

JEWELSTAITEFAN

Quote:
Originally posted by ecgordon:
I have never thought of Firefly as noir, although Serenity comes closer to that style.

I agree with this, and it helps me understand my feelings toward the two.

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Thursday, July 17, 2014 8:00 AM

GWEK

Although it share some individual elements, Firefly (and even Serenity) isn't really noir.

Angel: The Series (especially the first season, if I recall correctly, before the "family" element comes in strong) is Joss's most actively noirish attempt.

For an alternate intersection of Firefly and noir, see Cowboy Bebop.

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Thursday, July 17, 2014 10:34 AM

BYTEMITE

Yeah, I know, I was just making some comparisons and I thought it was interesting how much overlap there is.

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Tuesday, July 22, 2014 1:28 PM

AGENTROUKA

Doesn't Joss specifically mention Noir as a style inspiration for Serenity in the movie commentary, and how Inara fits as the connection between Western and Noir as the "woman left behind"?

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Tuesday, July 22, 2014 5:03 PM

BYTEMITE

I don't actually remember. I think there are definitely some tropes that overlap.

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