Noir By the Numbers: Top 25 Film Noir Actresses

[@drnoir33]

Arrgh - the film between HUMAN DESIRE and THE BIG HEAT for actress #2 is ODDS AGAINST TOMORROW, not, umm, HUMAN DESIRE. Sorry about that.

[@CharlesTerrell-i7n]

Hi there: I reaally love your channel, and find myself spending too much time note taking on it. I realize that your lists are data driven, but wonder how Veronica Lakes does not rate, at least, an Honorable Mention? Thanks for your dept and detail.

[@drnoir33]

Thank you! Lake, with a score of 17.0, is 29th among actresses based upon film POINTS and relative billing, just behind Marian Carr's 17.2. Lake only appears in three of the top 300 or so flms by POINTS, though all are in the top 100 and she is top-billed actress. Adele Jergens (16.9) rounds out the top 30.

[@macc.1132]

Great content, sir!

[@drnoir33]

Thank you!

[@mauricioduron3193]

Perhaps premature, but what makes 'Caged' a noir movie?

[@drnoir33]

For one thing, 21 of 32 LISTS sources deem CAGED a film noir; it earns an additional 3.5 POINTS for appearances on highlighted sublists (e.g., Michael Keaney 2003 and Jon Tuska 1984). I am agnostic on characterizing films as "noir," but one could argue it is the female (more nuanced?) BRUTE FORCE, released three years earlier. BRUTE FORCE appears on 27 LISTS, with 37.0 POINTS.

[@mauricioduron3193]

@@drnoir33 Thank you. And yet, what makes a prison scenario belong in the noir genre.

[@michaelwallace2487]

Thank you. Stanwyck was my selection before I viewed your list. She’s one of the most underrated actress on any list of greats, but strangely is rarely talked about. I rate her number 2 on my favorite actress list just behind Bette Davis. Joan Crawford is talked about more, but I thought Barbara Stanwyck was better and made better films.

[@frenchy3912]

Don't start a video with music blasting full volume

[@williambilyeu9801]

There is an actress named Jeff Donnell? That sounds like a man's name!🤔