28 Pre-Noir Films from TSPDT

During Ethel Saxon's trial, jury foreman Edward Weldon's doubts contribute to her conviction. Shortly before Saxon is scheduled to be executed by electric chair, her daughter Stella confesses to killing Saxon's lover, the gangster Garboni.

A determined police captain relentlessly pursues a brutal mob boss. He faces many obstacles in his pursuit, escalating the tension between them to a final confrontation that challenges justice and morality. The film vividly portrays the dark side of city…

Set in 1930s Berlin, this intense German thriller follows the city's descent into fear as a serial killer targets children. Hans Beckert, chillingly portrayed, begins a violent series of attacks, prompting the police and criminal world to desperately hunt him.…

Thunderbolt, a notorious criminal, is imprisoned and awaiting execution. A framed innocent man, Bob Moran, is placed in his cell. Unaware of Thunderbolt's connection to the woman he loves, Moran develops feelings for her. Thunderbolt desperately hopes to delay his…

This stark drama follows three friends in post-World War I America as their lives diverge amidst crime, business, and complicated relationships. Lloyd Hart, a former lawyer, becomes entangled in illegal activities while defending his childhood friend Eddie Bartlett, now a…

Police Chief Jim Fitzpatrick is hunting gangster Sam Belmonte. He enlists his police detective brother Ed to keep an eye on Daisy, who has ties to Belmonte, but their efforts take an unexpected turn.

In a remote Arizona town, a local diner offers refuge for those seeking something more. Gabby, a waitress with aspirations beyond her small town, finds comfort in her familiar life but longs for change. Then Alan, a wandering intellectual with…

In a world of rising crime and shifting loyalties, Bull Weed is a powerful and unpredictable gangster. He tries to reconnect with his former lawyer, now struggling with alcohol, hoping to recapture their old bond. But as they navigate the…

Police Captain Dan McLaren is unexpectedly promoted to commissioner, setting off a chain of political conflicts. Former detective Johnny Blake publicly confronts McLaren, drawing the attention of Al Kruger, a powerful crime boss who believes Blake wants to join his…

In the maze-like streets of Algiers' Casbah, Pépé le Moko, a French criminal on the run, finds refuge in the city's anonymity. His life changes when he meets Gaby, a captivating Parisian tourist who becomes lost in the neighborhood. Drawn…

A gangster takes a doctor and his family hostage.

"Mr. Morris" is a story set in a busy department store, about second chances, love, and lies. Mr. Morris, the owner, hires recently paroled ex-convicts as sales clerks. Helen Roberts and Joe Dennis are among them, and they struggle with…

A driven Mexican-American man becomes entangled with the anxious wife of his employer in the casino business.

"Eddie Taylor" is a story inspired by Bonnie and Clyde, following Eddie as he tries to find justice while living as an outlaw. After prison, Eddie is wrongly accused of murder and flees with his wife Joan and baby. They…

Joe, a quiet gas station owner, travels to his fiancée Katherine's hometown for pre-wedding time. His peaceful visit turns chaotic when local police mistakenly arrest him as a notorious kidnapper. Wrongfully imprisoned, Joe struggles to navigate the legal system and…

Set in 1920s Chicago, this crime drama follows Tom Powers and Matt Doyle as they rise through the city's criminal ranks, starting with petty theft and bootlegging. Their growing wealth and reputation draw the attention of both rival gangs and…

In the dangerous world of New York City's organized crime, a strong-willed woman challenges one of Manhattan's most powerful mob bosses. Her fight to stand up to him creates conflict between rival gangs and destabilizes the city's power structure. This…

A young woman journeys to London in search of employment. Upon arriving at the station, she encounters a man who has been stabbed, the victim of a gang connected to illegal greyhound racing. Suddenly a suspect, she escapes the scene…

A notoriously ruthless and unlikeable publisher dies in a plane crash, destined to remain a restless spirit due to his lack of affection in life. A heavenly entity grants him one month back on Earth. His only chance to avoid…

Set in the French port city of Le Havre, this drama explores the lives of Jacques Lantier, a troubled railway worker; Roubard, a dishonest stationmaster; and Séverine, Roubard's mysterious wife. A train journey brings these individuals together, sparking a series…

Successful politician Paul Madvig is locked in a ruthless struggle for control of the city. When Madvig becomes suspected of murder, his close friend and aide, Ed Beaumont, is forced to choose between loyalty and his own conscience.

A young architect's promising life is destroyed by the aftermath of World War I. Economic hardship forces him to abandon his ambitions for a less fulfilling job. His hopes dwindle when he's wrongly convicted of a crime and sent to…

Chicago, 1920s. Antonio "Tony" Camonte, known as Scarface, is an Italian immigrant and a ruthless gangster who climbs the ranks of organized crime while trying to shield his sister from the dangerous world he inhabits.

This thriller follows a young woman who marries a charming man, unaware that he is secretly a jewel thief.

A young woman involved in her father's criminal life brings her boyfriend, a circus performer, into the world of bootlegging. The film explores the complicated relationship between the couple as they navigate the dangerous Prohibition era. Tension builds with each…

In a foggy world, Jean travels a lonely road to the port city of Le Havre, hoping for a new beginning after deserting the army. His life as a deserter leads him into a complicated situation where fate plays a…

French businessman Paul Reynard's life changes drastically when he's arrested for forgery and embezzlement. He's sentenced to a penal colony in South America, leaving his wife of a year, Irene, behind.

This crime thriller charts the rapid ascent of a driven but ruthless small-time criminal. He uses his intelligence and skill with a gun to climb the ranks of organized crime, facing increasingly formidable rivals. The film examines power, loyalty, and…