SILOUHETTE SHOT FROM 'THE BIG COMBO'

This is one of the most famous film noir shots taken from 'The Big Combo' (1955). This image perfectly demonstrates the visual characteristics of film noir with black and white being positioned side by side to show nothing but the silouette of the man and the woman although the typical noir dress sense of a suit and top hat for the man and a dress for the woman can still be seen. The use of steam in this shot which is another common film noir feature tells you about the dark, damp setting they appear to be in and creates a sinister looking background to give the audience the sense of insecurity. Interestingly the wheelbarrow suggests a rural night setting which goes against the urban night that is traditionally used.