bradley_kent's profile

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Tuesday, February 4th, 2025 8:31 AM

Solved

Genre List Manager: Here’s another Film-Noir...

(one of the best, in my and many other’s opinion), that definitely also needs Drama as a genre:

250203-095753-890000
Track Contribution
2025-02-03 09:57:53 Kiss Me Deadly (1955)
Genres -  1 item added

P.S. I do not understand the Sci-Fi genre for this title.  (It was NOT my addition!) Does anyone else?  Should it be deleted?

Champion

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10 days ago

I do not understand the Sci-Fi genre for this title.  (It was NOT my addition!) Does anyone else?  Should it be deleted?

"noir veers into apocalyptic sci-fi in Robert Aldrich’s 1955 masterpiece Kiss Me Deadly, which, briefly described, tracks one of the sleaziest, stupidest, most bru­tal detectives in American movies through a nocturnal, inexplicably violent labyrinth to a white-hot vision of cosmic annihilation."

https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/1896-kiss-me-deadly-the-thriller-of-tomorrow

https://sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/kiss_me_deadly

(edited)

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Interesting.  And very esoteric.  I wonder if THIS is what IMDb used to justify the Sci-Fi genre?

IMDb’s Sci-Fi genre definition:

Numerous scenes, and/or the entire background for the setting of the narrative, should be based on speculative scientific discoveries or developments, environmental changes, space travel, or life on other planets.

In Kiss Me, Deadly, are there "numerous” and “entire” scenes where Mike Hammer makes “scientific discoveries,” travels into outer space, and experiences life on other planers?  Symbolically and metaphorically,  perhaps.  

If Criterion is the criteria (pun, intended), there are hundreds of thousands of  titles that need such obtuse, obscure genre classifications.

My genre submissions are obvious and evident, yet most are denied by IMDb.  Curious circumvention seems in use to maintain and defend an incomplete and incorrect and inconsistent "status quo" while denying reality.

Oh, well...

(edited)

Champion

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As the SF encyclopedia article (linked above) argues, the plot revolves around the sci-fi element, the box whose contents determine the ending of the film.

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You (and the SF encyclopedia and J. Hoberman) have convinced me, I guess. (Or, is the box just a Mystery?) Now, IF I could only convince MIDb to add Drama as a genre -- a generic designation for the vast majority of Film Noir titles (although there are some Film Noir Comedies, some of which are questionable.)

IMDb lists only four titles with BOTH the Sci-Fi and Film Noir genres.

P.S. I wonder what Robert Aldrich would say about the Sci-Fi label?  Or, Mickey Spillane?

(edited)

Employee

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@bradley_kent​ Hi-

Further reviewing, it has been re-submitted on your behalf and approved. The changes will be live on the site shortly. 

Cheers!