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“There is indeed a dream-like quality to the convolutions of the narrative”. [Walker: 1993 (ed. Cameron)] Walker made this comment on the film “The Big Sleep” (1946), yet it can easily be applied to other early film noir, such as “The Maltese Falcon” (1941), and “Scarlet Street” (1945). Films are probably the closest medium we have to experiencing the inexplicable quality of the dream in our waking lives. Rich in symbol, metaphor, movement and mystery, films like dreams, enable …

…the characters. It is evident that we must indeed ‘become detectives’ while watching early film noir in order to uncover the hidden meanings and agendas that lie hidden beneath the surface, just as in our dreams. The Big Sleep, The Maltese Falcon, and Scarlet Street are all indicative of this, using elements such as character, music, lighting, style and plot to divulge more then just what meets the eye, and constitute meaning to the films.