#Noirvember is officially upon us, so we figured we’d celebrate with a little Femme Fatale Friday fun. Here’s some Film and Neo-Noir Femme Fatales and the movies in which they’re most deadly.
We mentioned a few of these movies in a previous post and we’re planning some other Noirvember themed articles as well so stay tuned.
Film Noir Era
Ava Gardner – The Killers (1946)
The Killers was the first major role for Ava Gardner (1922 – 1990). Burt Lancaster, in his first major role as well plays The Swede, an ex boxer who drops his current girlfriend like a bad habit for Ava Gardner’s Kitty Collins. The movie is based on the short story of the same name by Ernest Hemingway.
She was nominated for Best Actress at the Academy Awards for her work in Mogambo (1953) a romantic adventure film also starring Clark Gable and Grace Kelly. Ava played many different types of roles but she was best as an icy femme fatale.
Gardner was a bit of a femme fatale in real life. Which is documented in her posthumous memoir, Ava Gardner: The Secret Conversations. In that book she talks about how she tried to kill Howard Hughes. Who was deaf in one ear and didn’t speak all that much, but when he did the words that came out were usually racist.
Her first husband was Mickey Rooney. She was also his first, good start, he went on to marry 8 times and more than likely those marriages ended because of his promiscuity. Fellow Femme Fatale and Rooney lover Lana Turner called him Andy Hard-on, a play on his Leave it to Beaver-esque character Andy Hardy.
Her most famous husband was Frank Sinatra who was at the nadir of his career while she was at her peak. That and the fact that they were both hotheads is probably why their marriage didn’t last.
Peggy Cummins – Gun Crazy (1950)
An Irish girl born in Wales, Peggy Cummins (1925 – 2017) is best known for her work in Gun Crazy. A Bonnie and Clyde style noir where “Bonnie” convinces “Clyde” to rob a bank. This movies great by the way.
After Gun Crazy she moved back to the UK to be married, and unlike many on this list she stayed married for 50 years. She continued to act in British films, but retired from acting altogether in 1961.
Gene Tierney – Leave Her to Heaven (1945)
Best known for her work in another classic film noir Laura, Gene Tierney (1920 – 1991) plays a great femme fatale in this one. She was nominated for an Oscar for her portrayal of Ellen Berent Harland in Leave Her to Heaven. The movie’s based on a novel of the same name by Ben Ames Williams.
Brooklyn born, Tierney started on Broadway and then moved to Hollywood. She started smoking after she heard her voice on a screen test and thought “I sound like an angry Minnie Mouse.” Sadly, she died of emphysema.
Lana Turner – The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
Lana Turner (1921 – 1995) also plays a femme fatale in Peyton Place but this one is a more famous role. In The Postman Always Rings Twice she plays Cora Smith, who with the help of Frank (John Garfield), attempts to bump off her husband and run away together. But unlike most femme fatale’s she has no idea how to kill him.
As stated in that last Noirvember article, Turner was a bit of a femme fatale herself. She married seven times, twice to Steve Crane. And was dating Mickey Cohen’s enforcer Johnny Stompanato when he was later killed by Lana’s daughter Cheryl Crane. Honestly, he probably had it coming.
Rita Hayworth – Gilda (1946)
Gilda is a strong willed femme fatale surrounded by sleazy and vindictive men. She’s a great character, a sympathetic women who uses her sexuality to get what she wants.
Rita Hayworth (1918 – 1987) was the top pinup girl for GI’s during WWII, I guess they kept tabs on that sort of thing. The pinup picture above was in many US Military Barracks as well as of course, Andy Dufresne’s jail cell in The Shawshank Redemption.
She married and divorced five times, most notably to Orson Welles. He cast her as the femme fatale in The Lady from Shanghai and they were divorced not long after. Before the legal papers came through however, Prince Aly Kahn proposed and she became a Hollywood princess. Until that marriage ended as well.
Marilyn Monroe – Niagara (1953)
Easily the best known actress on the list, Marilyn Monroe (1926 – 1962) is an icon and still revered. But it’s interesting I bet most of the people who are into Marilyn haven’t even watched her movies. Which is too bad because she’s in some great ones.
Born Norma Jeane Mortenson, she had a rough childhood with abusive men in her life. Her mother and father divorced which resulted in him kidnapping the kids and bringing them to Kentucky. After that she bounced around the LA area living sometimes with an aunt, sometimes with her mom. Eventually she moved in with her mothers friend Grace Goddard in Van Nuys during her teenage years. So she was a valley girl, but back when the valley was farms.
Her life is well documented. Married Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio and Arthur Miller. Had a tryst with JFK. We talk about her time at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood in this article, a spot they say she haunts. And then there’s her untimely death and all the conspiracy theories around it. That’s an article in itself so I’ll just leave it there.
Kim Novak – Vertigo (1958)
Kim Novak (1933 – ) was a great femme fatale in this Alfred Hitchcock psychological thriller film noir. Jimmy Stewart is an ex-cop who was forced into retirement after his extreme fear of heights coupled with vertigo get’s in the way during a rooftop chase. He is later hired by a friend to keep tabs on his friends wife. He then follows and falls in love with her. But of course it’s not that easy, his “friend” is trying to kill his wife and he’s playing Scottie (Stewart) like a fool.
In the 1960s Novak moved to Big Sur where she raised horses and painted, making an occasional film. Which sounds awesome. She then met her current husband and moved to Oregon where they built a log cabin and she presumably paints and raises horses.
Lauren Bacall – To Have and Have Not (1944)
Lauren Bacall (1924 – 2014) didn’t always play a true femme fatale, sometimes she’s the sister of one like in The Big Sleep (Martha Vickers in the femme fatale in that). In To Have and Have Not, a movie based on a Hemingway novel of the same name she plays one and plays one well.
This is also the first of four movies Bacall stars in with husband Humphrey Bogart. The Bronx Born Bacall started acting on Broadway, she was also the cover model for Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar before acting in movies.
She continued to act right up until her death. One of my favorite things she did later in life was get robbed by Christopher Moltisanti in The Sopranos.
Veronica Lake – Sullivan’s Travels (1941)
Veronica Lake (1922 – 1973) played a femme fatale in many roles with Alan Ladd opposite her. This isn’t one of those films but she’s a solid femme fatale in this one as well.
Best known for her peek-a-boo hairstyle, the US Government put out newsreels informing Rosie the Riveter’s everywhere that she was changing her look for Uncle Sam and women’s safety in the factories.
Her final film was Flesh Feast (1970) where she plays a mad scientist. I haven’t seen it but here’s the synopsis from Wikipedia, it sounds like my kind of movie.
Dr. Elaine Frederick, a mad scientist, is working on developing maggots that prefer human flesh, while her services are used to make a clone of Adolf Hitler. She cooperates with the plan to resurrect Hitler as a way of exacting revenge for the death of her mother, a political prisoner executed in Ravensbrück concentration camp. While convincing everyone the flesh-eating maggots are for regeneration research, she simply wants to throw them in the resurrected Hitler’s face, which she does.
Wikipedia page for Flesh Feast
Gloria Grahame – Human Desire (1954)
We’ve said it before but we’ll say it again, we love Gloria Grahame (1923 – 1981). She was great in so many Film Noir’s but her best role as femme fatale is Vicki Buckley in Human Desire. Just look at the film poster, you can tell she’s a shit stirrer.
She’s also excellent as Violet Bick in It’s a Wonderful Life.
Lizabeth Scott – Too Late for Tears (1949)
Born Emma Matzo, Lizabeth Scott (1922 – 2015) was in 22 films and was the leading lady in all but one. That’s impressive, so is her job in Too Late for Tears as Jane Palmer.
In this movie her and Alan Palmer (Arthur Kennedy) are driving in the Hollywood hills when someone throws a bag of money in the back of their car. Jane and Alan fight over what to do with it. Later, Jane finds a likeminded future lover / victim in Danny Fuller (Dan Duryea). Together they plan to kill Alan.
She also played femme fatale opposite Humphrey Bogart in Dead Reckoning (1947), they had Rita Hayworth pegged for her role but since she was busy with The Lady from Shanghai so they called Scott out of the bullpen.
Jane Greer – Out of the Past (1947)
Best known for her role as Kathie Moffat in Out of the Past, Jane Greer (1924 – 2001) modeled in the June 8, 1942, issue of Life magazine. Howard Hughes was impressed with what he saw and signed her. You’ll see Mr. Hughes’ name pop up quite a bit in this post.
Barbara Stanwyck – Double Indemnity (1944)
Barbara Stanwyk (1907 – 1990) got her start as a Ziegfeld girl when she was 16 years old. She received an Oscar nomination for her roles in Double Indemnity and Sorry, Wrong Number (1948).
Stanwyck’s portrayal of Phyllis Dietrichson set the tone for femme fatales. She was a roller coaster of emotions from frustrated wife, to villain, to a sometimes damsel in distress. Her character pulls out all the stops so that her husband can be killed. Like she really wants her husband killed. No divorces in Noir, no-siree.
Dorothy Dandridge – Carmen Jones (1954)
Dorothy Dandridge (1922 – 1965) was the first black actress to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance Carmen Jones. Now I know it’s not a Film Noir but she’s totally a femme fatale and I love everything Harry Belafonte does.
During her childhood her mother Ruby created an act for Dorothy and her sister Vivian. They were called “The Wonder Children” and were later known as The Dandridge Sisters. Sadly, she died of a drug overdose when she was 42.
Yvonne DeCarlo – Criss Cross (1949)
The future Lily Munster was born Margaret Yvonne Middleton in Vancouver, BC. She bounced around the studios for a while, did what they called a T & S (Tits and Sand) picture for Universal called Salome Where She Danced. She also dated Howard Hughes.
In Criss Cross she plays the ex-wife of Burt Lancaster. They rekindle their relationship, the only snag, Anna (DeCarlo) is already married to someone else. And he just so happens to be a mob boss.
Mary Astor – The Maltese Falcon (1941)
1941 was a big year for Mary Astor, she starred as the femme fatale in The Maltese Falcon and she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in The Great Lie (1941).
Only a stone cold femme fatale can play the cynical Sam Spade, but she does play him. He even remarks at the end of the film, after all the shit she put him through that “he may love her.” That’s very un-Spade-like. With this being considered one of the first Film Noir movies, by default that makes her one of the first femme fatales. And she plays it well.
Jane Russell – His Kind of Woman (1951)
Born in Minnesota, Jane Russell (1921 – 2011) caught the eye of Howard Hughes who not only signed her for her first film, The Outlaw (1943). He designed a bra for her. The Outlaw, is a western about Billy the Kid and Russell’s breasts.
In His Kind of Woman, Russell plays the love interest of Robert Mitchum. Unfortunately for Bob she’s dating Vincent Price, who’s married to someone else. The movie takes place in Mexico and of course the mafia is involved.
Ann Blyth – Mildred Pierce
Ann Blyth (1928 – ) plays Veda, Mildred’s manipulative daughter. Like the Sternwood sisters in The Big Sleep Veda is a spoiled rotten child who will not let her mother have any independence from her. Veda is proof that in film noir, not all femme fatales prey on husbands and private dicks.
She’s kind of like Thomas Gilbert Jr. except this is a fictional story. Oh you don’t know who Thomas Gilbert Jr is? Click on the link it’ll take you to a New York Times article but for those who don’t have time to read that article as well as this one here’s the TL;DR version: Rich kid went to an Ivy League school, killed his father, a hedge fund manager because his dad reduced his weekly $1,000 allowance. Gross.
Joan Bennett- Scarlet Street (1945)
In Scarlett Street Joan Bennett (1910 – 1990) plays Kitty March, the ultimate femme fatale in this Fritz Lang film. She sadistically cracks the psyche of Chris Cross (Edward G. Robinson) a failed, amateur painter. Because she thinks he’s a successful painter and well, she’s a manipulative person. Everybody’s lives in this movie are ruined at the end, instead of a “hero’s journey” it’s a ride down a black hole.
Mamie Van Doren – Vice Raid (1960)
Although she’s better known for her work in Untamed Youth (1957), Mamie Van Doren (1931 – ) was more of a femme fatale as Carol Hudson in Vice Raid.
She also posed in Playboy a few times and came out with a wine, Mamietage.
Hedy Lamarr – A Lady Without Passport (1950)
One person on this list that you could honestly say was a genius, Hedy Lamarr (1914 – 2000) would come home from the studio and tinker around inventing stuff. She dated Howard Hughes (of course) and gave him advice on the design of some of his airplanes, telling him they were too boxy and needed to be more aerodynamic.
Most famously she created a frequency hopping system during WWII. The system was designed to ensure the Navy’s radio controlled torpedoes couldn’t be jammed.
In A Lady Without a Passport Hedy Lamarr plays an Austrian refugee who went from a concentration-camp to Cuba where she’s waiting for permission to immigrate into the United States. Meanwhile, there’s an alien-smuggling ring coming out of Cuba that Marianne Lorress (Lamarr) has gotten herself into. The undercover agent trying to expose said ring falls for her. It’s a noir with shades of Casablanca.
Neo-Noirs / Post Noir Era
Frances McDormand – Blood Simple (1984)
Like some of the others on this list, Frances McDormand (1957 – ) isn’t a true femme fatale in Blood Simple. She starts out that way but transforms into the heroine later on.
Blood Simple was the first Coen Brothers movie, and also Frances’ breakout role. She married Joel Coen the same year this came out. She has the triple crown of acting, Academy Award, Emmy, and a Tony award. She’s excellent in everything I’ve seen her in.
Also like we said in a previous article, Dashiell Hammett’s Red Harvest was very influential for the Coen Brothers when writing this script as well as Miller’s Crossing, another great neo-noir.
Jessica Rabbit (Voiced by Kathleen Turner) – Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
OK, OK hear me out. She may be a cartoon character. But, Jessica Rabbit was inspired by Rita Hayworth in Gilda, they gave her Veronica Lakes hair, and a voice like Lauren Bacall. She was portrayed by Kathleen Turner, who is next on this list. That’s femme fatale all-star team. Not to mention she played patty cake with Mr. Acme.
I’m not bad, I’m just drawn that way.
Jessica Rabbit
Kathleen Turner – Body Heat (1981)
Technically this is Kathleen Turner’s (1954 – ) second mention on this list but she does more than play patty cake in Body Heat. The movie is a lot like Double Indemnity in plot but Kathleen Turner isn’t doing a Phyllis Dietrichson impersonation. She steals the show with a femme fatale all her own.
Pam Grier – Coffy (1973)
OK, in most of these Blaxploitation movies of the 70s that Pam was in, she’s typically the heroine and not a femme fatale. And when I say heroine I mean she kicks dudes asses. Which is why the tagline for Coffy was:
“They call her ‘Coffy’ and she’ll cream you!”
Regardless she may not be a true Femme Fatale, but she certainly is fatal in the most lethal of ways.
Pam Grier (1949 – ) was also a femme fatale in Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown (1997). Where she plays a drug mule / flight attendant.
Ursula Andress – Dr. No (1962)
Technically speaking every Bond girl could be on this list. But we’re putting Ursula on here because 1.) Her name’s Ursula Andress (1936 – ) and 2.) She was the first Bond girl. Also, this is how we first meet her. Coming out of the ocean like a mermaid from hell.
Sharon Stone – Basic Instinct (1992)
This movie is straight neo-noir. Nick Curran (Michael Douglas) is a homicide detective investigating the murder of a retired rock star. The deceased rocker’s girlfriend Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone) is Curran’s only suspect and well, he falls for her.
Sharon Stone (1958 – ) was also a great femme fatale in Casino as well.
Kim Basinger – L.A. Confidential (1997)
This is such a classic Neo-Noir, it’s one of the best. Also the book it’s based on is phenomenal as are the others in James Ellroy’s L.A. Quartet.
The cast is solid all around right down to Danny DeVito but Kim Basinger (1953 – ) makes the perfect femme fatale. She plays a high end escort who is supposed to look like Veronica Lake which is mentioned in this exchange.
Bud White : Pierce Patchett?
Lynn Bracken : He takes a cut of our earnings and invests it for us. He doesn’t let us use narcotics and he doesn’t abuse us. Can your policeman’s mentality grasp those contradictions?
Bud White : He had you cut to look like Veronica Lake.
Lynn Bracken : No. I’m really a brunette, but the rest is me.
Brigitte Bardot – In Case of Adversity (1958)
In Case of Adversity is a drama film, not Noir which is why even though it was made during that era, it’s down here. But in the movie Brigitte Bardot (1934 – ) is most definitely a femme fatale. It also is the source of this iconic photo that was inspiration for a pulp paperback.
Side notes: Bardot was a muse for young singer songwriters who would eventually become famous. According to the liner notes in his first album, Bob Dylan dedicated the first song he ever wrote to Bardot. Also, both John Lennon and Paul McCartney were obsessed with her when they were still The Quarrymen out of Liverpool.
Angelina Jolie – Girl, Interrupted (1999)
Like any good femme fatale, Angelina Jolie’s (1975 – ) Lisa Rowe is manipulative, abusive, attractive, and dangerous. She checks all the boxes. This role also bagged Jolie the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture, and a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role.
Eva Green – Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014)
Another Bond Girl on the list, Ava Green (1980 – ) plays Ava Lord, an expert liar and ex-lover of Dwight McCarthy (Josh Brolin). She’s manipulative, using her good looks to get what she wants or just to entertain herself when she gets bored.