http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbwL8OPZbls
Indie film makers should definitely watch these old noir films.
This movie has it's moments. Some of it is sooo Noir from the dialogue down to the lighting. Noir is not a genre, it's a style. A style that has been used in many genres including Westerns. Check out the bar scene in this film. I used it for reference when building and shooting my bar scene in Battery Row. The commentary on this film is really interesting too. Since most Noir was made in the 40's and 50's (by definition I think Noir was only between 1941 to 1958) they weren't allowed to outright tell you a hooker was a hooker. And watching it now you'd almost have to guess that the hooker character and her pimp were just that. So the commentary shows you how they cleverly said these things back then to get it around the Hays office.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_H._Hays
2 other reasons to see this film... Nicholas Ray (rebel without a cause) directed it. Bernard Hermann (Psycho) scored it.
Two reasons to watch older RKO noir films... They had lower budgets like today's indie film makers. I mean comparatively speaking to studios like MGM 20TH and WB. So you see how they cut corners with lighting and sets.
Also I recommend a Noir Documentary called, "Film Noir: Bringing Darkness to Light.
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