Dive into the dimly lit alleyways of cinema's most enigmatic genre with this curated collection of must-see film noir classics. From fedora-clad detectives to femme fatales who could kill with a glance, these silver screen gems will transport you to a world where morality blurs and danger lurks around every corner. Grab your trench coat and join me on this thrilling expedition through the smoky, neon-lit landscape of noir's finest offerings. I have omitted neo-noir films made after 1959 from this list. I will provide further analysis of these films below in future posts.   (Before) Proto Noir:       Stranger on the Third Floor-1940 (the first "true" film noir).                  The Maltese Falcon-1941 (the first major work of the noir style).   This Gun for Hire -1942 (helped establish a number of conventions of the noir genre, including the hard-boiled for-hire killer and the overlapping double-cross).     Fly By Night-1942 (An Americanized version of The 3