Kiss Me Deadly by Robert Aldrich is a film noir which incorporates many ideals of the growing 1950’s modern era. There are many different scenes, moments and themes in the movie which justify the influence of the modern era. Kiss Me Deadly carries film noir into the 1950’s expanding the narrow traditional noir standards into a realm of modern thought and idealism
The mise-en-scène of Kiss Me Deadly holds the largest influence on the use modernism in the film. There are many scenes where the mise-en-scène describes the shift towards a more modern view of thought. The use of technology in the film helps exemplify the thoughts and motives of the 1950’s era. The first scene displaying the use of new technology was the cars that were passing by Christina as she stood on the road in nothing but a trench coat. After Hammer stops and Christina gets in the car, we get a better look at the new age of automobiles. This wasn’t the typical black Al Capone low-riding mob car which was used throughout many film noirs. The cars in this film were of its time, with extenuated features and attractive curves; it is even mentioned by Christina in the movie how cars are a reflection of the driver. This is an exact reflection of modern thought towards automobiles as “pieces of art” with flashy colors and chrome paneling. Another use of technology which exemplified the new American modern age was the electronics which Mike Hammer used to conduct his business. In the apartment we can see personal camera’s lined against the wall, a portable type-writer, and an answering machine built in to the wall. The mise-en-scène in scenes displaying Mike’s apartment are also very modern. The furniture as well as the architecture was much different from the typical noir, with high ceilings, bright lighting, and open shots. Another example of this new modern shift is the use of the box in the film. The box is used as a representation of the modern times by the themes surrounding it. The box represents the hostility of the Cold War and Communism. The box held radioactive material which may or may not be nuclear, but is supposed to represent the apocalyptic end that comes from the use of nuclear weaponry. Overall, the film incorporates many ideals and themes of the new 1950’s era.
Kiss Me Deadly is a classic film noir which captured the advancing age of the 1950’s and depicted it through the use of technology and symbolism. Through the use of mise-en-scène the director was able to portray the growing modern age. Though confusing at points, the film is very smart leaving you with a jaw-dropping ending.
jmeerestudent 
Jamie,
This is a very interesting post on Kiss Me Deadly’s engagement with modern technologies. The film is full of technology that would seem quite new and even alien to our protagonists from the 1940s films (such as Walter Neff, although he does use a dictaphone!). As you point out, these new devices are primarily on display in Mike’s apartment; the answering machine, in particular, aligns him with new forms of communication (or lack thereof) in the modern world.
One thing I’d like to hear more about is how you see these technologies shaping Mike’s (or others’) character. That is, does the availability and/or use of these devices render Mike markedly different from the Walter Neffs and Mark McPhersons of 40s noir? What relationship does Mike have to his material commodities? Perhaps these questions are best explored by first tackling how, precisely, you’re defining modernism–and how you see the film noir genre taking on new qualities in the 1950s.
Again, very interesting post! I enjoyed reading it.
MT