Years of police work have taught Detective Finlay that where there's crime there's motive. However he finds no usual motive when investigating a man beaten to death, this man was killed because he was a Jew. "Hate", Finlay says, "is like a gun." A landmark film noir nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Edward Dmytryk directs a taught stylish tale that, certainly for its time, dared to explore a topic rarely covered in Hollywood; anti-Semitism in the US. find out more...

Phyllis Dietrichson is trapped in a loveless marriage to a man who inspires in her nothing but contempt, but rather than leave him Phyllis decides to kill him and collect on the insurance policy she's had set up with the help of her lover, and naive partner in crime, insurance salesman Walter Neff. The only flaws in their plan are the company's reluctance to pay out so much, the diligence of Neff's increasingly suspicious colleague, (and his 'little man'), and the exemplary ruthlessness of Ph find out more...

An arrogant bright black Northern homicide detective travelling via a small Mississippi town becomes involved in a murder investigation after a local industrialist is found dead. Engaged in a clash of wills with the local racist cop the two eventually develop a mutual respect. Won Best Picture at 1967 Academy Awards. find out more...

Stunning adaptation of James Ellroy's stylishly sinister 50s crime novel, cruelly robbed of its just desserts by a sinking ship at the Academy Awards farce. An awesomely authentic 1953 Los Angeles provides the backdrop, while the story focuses on a dodgy trio of LA's not-so-finest, united by mutual loathing, and all up to their necks in nefarious goings-on. Kim Basinger deservedly bagged the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her sultry Veronica Lake lookalike hooker, but all the performances are find out more...

A morally corrupt city is the backdrop to a series of brutal murders, each representing the 7 deadly sins, which disillusioned old cop Freeman and rookie Pitt must solve with only various cryptic clues to go on. Violent, atmospheric and intelligent - one of the shockers of the decade. Watch it. find out more...

Police Sgt Bannion is taken off investigating the apparent suicide of a corrupt cop, is he likely to uncover too much filth? Driven to further unravel the mystery Bannion continues probing until an explosion meant for him kills his wife. He resigns from the force and soon learns that behind it all is a powerful underworld syndicate led by Mike Lagana and the cold-blooded Vince Stone. The Big Heat is a classic slice of noir; a brooding, dark narrative. find out more...

A superb action packed thriller with Ford as the hounded Dr Kimble who, wrongly convicted of murdering his wife, escapes from a prison bus and tries to find out why she was killed and who the murderer really was. Jones is superb (Oscar winning!) as the laconic but obsessed Fed, following him like a bloodhound. The big stunts will take your breath away, and the breakneck pace never slackens. find out more...

Classic film noir from the pen and director's chair of Orson Welles. Set in a seedy Mexican border town the local police chief is corrupt and bigoted, his only enemy a crusading Mexican narcotics investigator, determined to bring the policeman to book and expose his murderous scams. Touch of Evil has all the stunning trade mark cinematography of an Orson Welles picture and is a superbly dark and brooding movie with some fine subsidiary characters. Kafkaesque. find out more...