Joseph H. Lewis & The Art of B-Movie Noir

Fans of old film noir know and love the director we're covering on today's episode: Joseph H. Lewis (1907-2000).

In a prolific career that saw him helm 40 films for every Hollywood studio in operation from the late 30s through the 50s, Lewis cemented himself as a workhorse with a knack for making the most of limited means. The New York native made low-budget westerns, war films, musicals, and everything in between, but his best work came between the mid-40s and -50s with a string of noir films that defied typical B-movie limitations and are now remembered as some of the genre's greatest offerings.

We revisit Lewis' career and how he elevated films like My Name is Julia Ross, So Dark the Night, Gun Crazy, and The Big Combo from standard B-level ditties to influential noir classics that are celebrated by filmmakers and cinephiles alike to this day.

NOTE: In this episode, I mistakenly stated that long, one-shot takes became a hallmark of Lewis' style with his film The Undercover Man. In fact, he began using them before then, namely in My Name is Julia Ross. Also, due to some unforeseen calamities, this episode had to be recorded in two sittings. You'll notice a slight change in the audio about 12 minutes in, but no technical issues. Kisses many.