Films gris offer a
leftist criticism[4] of society in general, and of
capitalism in particular.
They typically examine such themes as the psychological damages of class, the false promises of middle class happiness, and the pitfalls of
materialism.[5] The politically-active
John Garfield was frequently cast by producing partner Bob Roberts as the leading actor in this sub-genre.
Distinction from film noir
Film gris differs from film noir in some of the following ways:
Film gris is more pessimistic and cynical than film noir. The dividing line between crime and law enforcement is often blurred.
Films gris tend to blame society for crime, rather than the individual.
Audience identification is often with the collective in a way atypical of Hollywood films.
The
femme fatale’s motives are more obvious and easier to identify than in film noir.[6]
List of films gris
Andersen identifies the following[7] as films gris:[1]
Andersen, Thom. "Red Hollywood." Literature and the Visual Arts in Contemporary Society. Eds. Suzanne Ferguson and Barbara S. Groseclose. Columbus: Ohio State University Press. (1985).
Hirsch, Joshua. "Film Gris Reconsidered." The Journal of Popular Film and Television 34.2. (2006).
Maland, Charles. "Film Gris: Crime, Critique, and Cold War Culture in 1951." Film Criticism 26.3. (2002).