New York moviegoers stepped back in time as the celebrated Noir City film festival made its debut in Manhattan, turning the historic Paris Theater into a gathering place for fans of classic cinema and 1940s style.
Hosted by film historian and Turner Classic Movies presenter Eddie Muller, the festival marked the first time the long-running Los Angeles event has been staged in New York. Opening night attracted a sold-out audience, with many attendees embracing the occasion by arriving in period-inspired suits, dresses and accessories that reflected the golden age of film noir.
Photo Credit: TCM host Eddie Muller brought his LA film festival “Noir City” to New York’s Paris Theater.
A Celebration of Film Noir
This year’s New York program is built around the theme “Face The Music,” highlighting films that combine crime stories with musical influences. The festival opened with a screening of the 1941 drama Blues in the Night, a film Muller praised for its unusual visual style and dreamlike sequences.
During his introduction, Muller described the picture as one of the most unconventional films featured at the festival, pointing to its striking montage work by Don Siegel before the filmmaker became known for directing Hollywood classics such as Dirty Harry.
Live Music and Vintage Style Complete the Experience
The evening extended beyond film screenings. Co-host Elizabeth Bougerol performed live with her jazz band during the intermission, reinforcing the event’s tribute to the music and culture of the 1940s.
Following the performance, audiences returned for a screening of the 1946 noir Black Angel, completing the opening night’s double feature.
Industry Guests Attend Opening Night
The inaugural New York edition also drew several well-known figures from the entertainment industry and film community. Among those attending were producer and actress Amy Robinson, screenwriter James Schamus, author T.J. English and Netflix film programming executive John Vanco. Their presence reflected the festival’s growing reputation among both devoted movie fans and industry professionals.
Expanding a Long-Running Film Tradition
Noir City has become one of the best-known celebrations of classic film noir in the United States, with Eddie Muller building its reputation over many years through screenings, historical presentations and film preservation efforts. Muller, often referred to as the “Czar of Noir,” is also the founder of the Film Noir Foundation and hosts the long-running Noir Alley program on Turner Classic Movies.
Bringing the festival to New York represents another step in introducing restored noir classics to wider audiences while celebrating the distinctive style, storytelling and cinematic legacy of the genre.
With its combination of vintage fashion, live jazz and carefully curated screenings, the festival’s first New York edition offered more than a movie marathon—it recreated the atmosphere of Hollywood’s noir era for a new generation of film lovers.
