Film Noir and Neo-Noir on TCM: February, 2025

*All times are PT. Please check your local listings to confirm dates and times.

Saturday, February 1, 3:00 PM

IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT (1967): In a small Mississippi town, racist Police Chief Bill Gillespie (Rod Steiger) mistakenly accuses African American Virgil Tibbs (Sidney Poitier) of the recent murder of a prominent Northern industrialist. When Gillespie discovers that Tibbs is a Homicide detective from Philadelphia, he enlists his help to solve the murder. This groundbreaking neo-noir won five Oscars, including Best Picture. Dir. Norman Jewison

Monday, February 3, 7:15 PM – Tuesday, February 4, 1:15 AM

Crime Doesn’t Pay

7:15 PM

BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967): In this critically acclaimed and deeply influential classic, the legendary bank robbers and lovers (Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway) embark on a crime spree during the Depression era Dust Bowl of the 1930s and become folk heroes. The film won two Oscars, Estelle Parsons for Best Actress in a Supporting Role and Burnett Guffey for Best Cinematography, an additional eight nominations. Dir. Arthur Penn

9:15 PM

DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944): Barbara Stanwyck—in a platinum blonde wig—plays Phyllis Dietrichson—the consummate femme fatale who lures insurance salesman and all-around chump Walter Neff (Fred McMurray) into a plot involving murder and insurance fraud. His friend, and insurance adjuster, Barton Keyes (Edward G. Robinson) smells a rat. Nominated for seven Oscars: Best Actress in a Leading Role; Best Cinematography, Black-and-White; Best Director; Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture; Best Picture; Best Sound, Recording; and Best Writing, Screenplay. Dir. Billy Wilder

11:15 PM

THE ASPHALT JUNGLE (1950): A hoodlum and ex-con (Sterling Hayden) hopes for one last big score that will enable him to go home to his farm in Kentucky. He falls in with a gang of small-time crooks plotting an elaborate jewel heist. Of course, you can never go home again. A young Marilyn Monroe plays a small but juicy part. The film was nominated for four Oscars including a Best Supporting Actor nod for Sam Jaffe as the mastermind undone by his passion for beautiful girls. Based on the novel by W. R. Burnett. Dir. John Huston

Tuesday, February 4, 5:00 AM

FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT (1940): An American reporter (Joel McCrea) covering the war in Europe gets mixed up in the assassination of a Dutch diplomat which leads to his uncovering a political conspiracy with the aid of the daughter (Laraine Day) of a prominent politician (Herbert Marshall) and a chap named ffolliott “with two small ‘f’s” (George Sanders), his rival for the girl’s affection. This tremendously entertaining film features several vintage Hitchcock set pieces. The film was nominated for six Oscars including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, Albert Bassermann; Original Screenplay, Charles Bennett and Joan Harrison; Best Cinematography, Rudolph Maté; Are Direction and Special Effects, but not Director. Dir. Alfred Hitchcock

Wednesday, February 5, 7:00 AM

MANHATTAN MELODRAMA (1934): In this Pre-code crime drama, orphans "Blackie" Gallagher and Jim Wade are lifelong friends who take opposite paths in life. Jim (William Powell) becomes a D.A., while Blackie (Clark Gable) becomes a racketeer. Despite Blackie's lifestyle, the two men remain bonded through thick and thin. Even when Jim’s association with Blackie threatens his chances of winning the governorship and Jim falls in love with Blackie’s girlfriend Eleanor (Myrna Loy). Director Woody Van Dyke spotted the playful chemistry between Powell and Loy when bantering between takes and insisted on casting the pair as Nick and Nora Charles against MGM’s initial objections. The glamorous pair became one of the movies' great romantic teams. Dir. Woody Van Dyke

Wednesday, February 5, 1:00 PM

LOVE ME OR LEAVE ME (1955): Engrossing musical bio (from an Oscar-winning story by Daniel Fuchs) of Jazz Age singer Ruth Etting (Doris Day), whose life and career were dominated by gangster Marty 'The Gimp' Snyder, (James Cagney). Ruth’s musical advisor Johnny Alderman (Cameron Mitchell) attempts repeatedly to persuade Ruth to leave her abusive relationship. Dir. Charles Vidor

Thursday, February 6, 6:15 AM

STRANGERS ON A TRAIN (1951): Childlike but charming psychopath Bruno (Robert Walker) suggests that he and Guy (Farley Granger), a tennis player with political ambitions, crisscross murders. Unfortunately, Guy realizes too late that Bruno wasn’t joking. Guy’s unwanted wife shows up murdered and he has no alibi. Screenplay by Raymond Chandler and Czenzi Ormonde, based on the novel by Patricia Highsmith. D.P. Robert Burks’ outstanding work earned an Oscar nomination for Best Cinematography, Black-and-White. Dir. Alfred Hitchcock

Friday, February 7, 4:15 AM

BLUES IN THE NIGHT (1941): In this consummate jazz noir, pianist Jigger Pine (Richard Whorf) forms a quintet with his singer/wife fronting the band (Priscilla Lane). Relationship problems, criminal activity and the siren song of success all threaten the band’s devotion to jazz and the blues. A remarkable collection of talented actors contributes to the film, Lloyd Nolan, Jack Carson, Wallace Ford, Joyce Compton, Howard Da Silva, and a young Elia Kazan. Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer scored the film and penned the Oscar nominated title song, Blues in the Night which became a huge hit and part of the Great American Songbook. Dir. Anatole Litvak

Saturday, February 8, 11:30 PM

MILDRED PIERCE (1945): Joan Crawford won an Oscar for her performance as a woman who builds herself up from grass widow to successful restaurateur in a desperate effort to win the love of the most ungrateful brat in the history of cinema, her daughter Veda, brilliantly played by Ann Blyth. A marriage of convenience, adultery and murder ensue. At least Mildred has the greatest best friend ever, a wisecracking Eve Arden. Based on the James M. Cain story. Dir. Michael Curtiz

Sunday, February 8, 7:15 PM

WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION (1958): A British lawyer (Charles Laughton) gets caught up in a couple’s tangled marital affairs when he defends the husband for murder. Laughton’s wife Elsa Lanchester plays the nurse trying to keep him on his diet and off the cigars and brandy. This first-rate film features both one of Tyrone Power’s and one of Marlene Dietrich’s best performances Based on the play written by Agatha Christie, adapted from her own short story. The film was nominated for six Oscars: Best Picture, Arthur Hornblow Jr.; Best Actor in a Leading Role, Charles Laughton; Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Elsa Lanchester; Best Director, Billy Wilder; Best Sound, Recording, Gordon Sawyer (Samuel Goldwyn SSD); and Best Film Editing, Daniel Mandell. Dir. Billy Wilder

Tuesday, February 11, 12:45 AM

THE BAD SEED (1956): “What will you give me for a basket of kisses?” Based on the stage play adapted from the brilliant novel by William March, Army wife Christine (Nancy Kelly) suspects that her seemingly perfect little girl Rhoda (Patty McCormack) is a ruthless killer. Eileen Heckart shines in her Oscar nominated supporting role as the alcoholic mother of one of Rhoda’s victims. This truly terrifying film will make you look twice at all cute little blonde girls. Kelly and McCormack as well as cinematographer Harold Rosson were nominated for Oscars as well as Heckart. Dir. Mervyn LeRoy

Tuesday, February 11, 2:30 PM

NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959): Foreign agents mistake suave and swinging advertising man Roger Thornhill (Cary Grant) for a spy. He takes it on the lam and encounters a beautiful blonde (Eva Marie Saint) who may or may not be trusted. This film earned 3 Oscar nominations: Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color; Best Writing, Story and Screenplay - Written Directly for the Screen; and Best Film Editing. Dir. Alfred Hitchcock

Wednesday, February 12, 3:45 AM

POSSESSED (1947): In this excellent examination of obsession, Joan Crawford gives a terrific—and Oscar nominated—performance as a married woman whose passion for a former love (Van Heflin) drives her mad. Raymond Massey plays her compassionate husband. Dir. Curtis Bernhardt

Thursday, February 13, 5:00 AM

THE NAKED CITY (1948): A step-by-step look at a murder investigation on the streets of New York. Barry Fitzgerald plays the compassionate cop on the trail of a murder in these groundbreaking police procedural. Watch for noir regular and radio’s Sam Spade, Howard Duff as the murdered girl’s sleazy boyfriend. William H. Daniels won the Oscar for Best Cinematography, Black-and-White and Paul Weatherwax won for Best Film Editing. Malvin Wald was also nominated for Best Writing, Motion Picture Story. Dir. Jules Dassin

Thursday, February 13, 8:30 PM

KLUTE (1971) Small town detective John Klute (Donald Sutherland) journeys to the Big Apple to search for a missing friend. He has only one lead: an obscene letter from the man to New York City prostitute Bree Daniels (Jane Fonda). He unravels both the mystery of the missing man and of the call girl. Fonda won a well-deserved Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of the disturbed and disturbing Bree. Dir. Alan J. Pakula

Monday, February 17, 1:45 AM

DOG DAY AFTERNOON (1975): In New York city, a bank robbery turns into a media circus when Sonny (Al Pacino) tries to steal enough money for his lover's (Chris Sarandon) sex change operation and takes the bank’s employees hostage. The film earned five Oscar nominations, only Frank Pierson won the Oscar for Best Writing, Original Screenplay for the film, based on true events. Surprisingly co-star John Cazale was not nominated for his excellent performance as Sal, Sonny’s partner in crime. Dir. Sidney Lumet

Wednesday, February 19, 5:00 AM

ODD MAN OUT (1947): Carol Reed’s intense manhunt thriller won the inaugural “Best Film” prize from the British Academy of Film Awards, and it remains one of the most highly regarded movies ever made in the United Kingdom. James Mason portrays beleaguered fugitive Johnny McQueen, an Irish Nationalist (the filmmakers were forbidden from using the name “Irish Republican Army”) on the lam after escaping from prison. While still in hiding, Johnny is roped into committing a heist that goes fatally wrong. Wounded, he caroms through the Belfast night trying to make it safely back to his guardian angel Kathleen (Kathleen Ryan), who has fallen for the escaped convict. Can Johnny navigate a nocturnal nightmare of danger and deceit? The stellar supporting cast, drawn mostly from Dublin’s Abbey Theatre, includes Cyril Cusack, Robert Newton, Dan (Conal Cochran) Dan O’Herlihy and William (Dr. Who) Hartnell. The cinematography by Robert Krasker is as good as his legendary work with director Reed on The Third Man. An all-time classic! Dir. Carol Reed

Wednesday, February 19, 3:00 PM

BULLITT (1968): When mobsters kill the witness Frank Bullitt (Steve McQueen) was assigned to protect, he uses unorthodox methods to investigate the case. Beautiful San Francisco location work and a breathtaking car chase sequence add additional pleasure to watching this fine neo-noir, not to mention the iconic Lalo Schifrin score. Dir. Peter Yates

Thursday, February 20, 9:15 AM

BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK (1955): A one-armed veteran (Spencer Tracy) uncovers small-town secrets when he tries to visit an Asian-American war hero's family. Noir icon Robert Ryan shines as the bigoted boss of the town. This film earned three Oscar nominations: Spencer Tracy for Best Actor in a Leading Role; John Sturges for Best Director; and Best Writing, Screenplay for Millard Kaufman. Dir. John Sturges

Thursday, February 20, 1:00 PM

THE THIN MAN (1934): Dashiell Hammett’s urbane but fun-loving sleuths Nick and Nora Charles, along with their pup Asta, investigate the disappearance of an inventor in this classic blend of laughs and suspense. Shot in just two weeks by director Woody "One-Shot'' Van Dyke and cinematographer James Wong Howe, this gem set the gold standard for the sophisticated comedy—inspiring five sequels as well as countless inferior imitations. Van Dyke previously directed Myrna Loy and William Powell in Manhattan Melodrama and spotted the terrific chemistry of their off-screen banter between takes. He insisted on casting the pair as Hammett’s hard-drinking super-couple and the glamorous pair became one of the movies' great romantic teams. Shot by the legendary cinematographer James Wong Howe. The film garnered four Oscar nominations, Best Picture, Best actor for Powell, Best Director, and Best Writing, Adaptation for Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett. Dir. Woody Van Dyke

Thursday, February 20, 9:30 PM

I WANT TO LIVE (1958): Susan Hayward deservedly won the Best Actress Oscar for her bravura performance as Barbara Grahame, a former prostitute and drug addict, executed for murder. Hayward perfectly captures a possibly innocent woman convicted more for her lifestyle than evidence. Dir. Robert Wise

Friday, February 21, 3:45 AM

CAGED (1950): This film noir in women-in-prison clothing details the transformation of a young, naïve and pregnant widow (Eleanor Parker) into a hardened convict. She learns the hard way how to survive in the big house from a sadistic prison guard (Hope Emerson) and the failure of a good-hearted warden (Agnes Moorehead) to reform the prison. This is more than an exploitation flick, it’s an intelligent social drama and raises a still prescient issue facing the American penal system, is it reforming first time offenders or just turning prisoners into career criminals? Nominated for three Oscars including Best Actress for Parker and Supporting Actress for Emerson. Dir. John Cromwell

Saturday, February 22, 9:00 AM

THE MALTESE FALCON (1941): How do I love this movie, let me count the ways… In arguably the first, and greatest, film noir, hard-boiled detective Sam Spade (Humphrey Bogart) gets caught up in the deadly search for a priceless statue. Along the way he tangles with a murderous liar (Mary Astor), a foppish thug (Peter Lorre) and an obese mastermind (Sydney Greenstreet). Director John Huston brilliantly adapted it from the Dashiell Hammett novel and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Writing, Screenplay. The film also garnered nominations for Best Picture and for Sydney Greenstreet, in his film debut, Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Dir. John Huston

Monday, February 24, 5:00 PM – Tuesday, February 25, 3:00 AM

The Dark Side of the Oscars

5:00 PM

SUSPICION (1941): A handsome gambler Johnny Aysgarth (Cary Grant) pursues the shy and wealthy Lina McLaidlaw (Joan Fontaine). He courts and marries her. After the honeymoon she discovers unsettling things about his character. She becomes increasingly suspicious of him when Johnny's friend and business partner, Beaky (Nigel Bruce) dies mysteriously. Based on Anthony Berkeley Cox’s outstanding novel After the Fact. Seriously, read the book. Fontaine won the Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her work in the film. Composer Franz Waxman was nominated for Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic Picture. The film also earned a nomination for Best Picture. Dir. Alfred Hitchcock

7:00 PM

PSYCHO (1960): Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) impulsively embezzles $10,000 dollars from her employer and takes it on the lam. She checks into the Bates Motel, meets the queer but attractive Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins), takes a shower and makes cinematic history. A detective (Martin Balsam), Miriam’s sister (Vera Miles) and her boyfriend (John Gavin) all arrive to look for the missing Miriam. Long time Hitchcock collaborator Bernard Herrmann created the rightfully legendary score. The immensely talented old time radio actress Virginia Gregg provides the voice of Norman’s mother Norma Bates. Dir. Alfred Hitchcock

9:00 PM

GASLIGHT (1944): A newlywed (Ingrid Bergman) fears she's going mad when strange things start happening at the family mansion where her aunt was murdered ten years earlier. Joseph Cotten stars as the handsome stranger who aids her. Charles Boyer stars as the handsome husband who terrorizes her. Angela Lansbury plays the pretty maid who may be in league with Boyer. Based on Patrick Hamilton’s Angel Street. The film won two Oscars, Best Actress in a Leading Role for Ingrid Bergman and Best Art Direction-Interior Decoration, Black-and-White for Cedric Gibbons, William Ferrari, Edwin B. Willis, Paul Huldschinsky, and earned five more nominations. Dir. George Cukor

11:00 PM

WAIT UNTIL DARK (1967): A commercial artist unknowingly brings a stash of heroin into his home. A trio of bad guys (Richard Crenna, Jack Weston and Alan Arkin) trace the dope to him. They trick him into leaving the house, but, unfortunately, his blind wife (Audrey Hepburn) is there alone. They proceed to first try to trick and then to terrorize her while she tries to figure out how to turn the tables on her unknown assailants. Hepburn earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her remarkable performance. Adapted from the Broadway hit written by Fredrick Knott and directed by Arthur Penn. Dir. Terence Young

1:00 AM

NIGHT MUST FALL (1937): Young and charming Danny (Robert Montgomery) worms his way into elderly and wealthy Mrs. Bramson’s (Dame May Whitty) household. Her sexually repressed niece (Rosalind Russell) suspects him of larceny and possibly a local murder while being strongly attracted to him. What’s in that hatbox? Both Whitty and Montgomery were nominated for Oscars for their performances. Based on the play by Emlyn Williams. Dir. Richard Thorpe

Friday, February 28, 8:30 AM

WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? (1962) A crazed, aging star (Bette Davis) torments her sister (Joan Crawford) in a decaying Hollywood mansion. This beautiful Hollywood gothic noir features a duet of superbly fearless performances by two legendary actresses. Nominated for five Oscars, but only one win, Best Costume Design, Black-and-White for Norma Koch Dir. Robert Aldrich

NOIR ALLEY with FNF prez Eddie Muller will be on hiatus during the entire month of February and the first weeks of March due to TCM’s 31 Days of Oscar 2025 running February 1 through March 3. The show will return with Eddie on March 9, film noir TBA.