The fascination with film noir and its influence on American history remains elusive. Bordering on the obsessive and the fanatical, these films have left indelible political and moral marks on societies around the world, particularly in America. Film noir began to emerge in the years before the United States entered World War II, with films such as The Stranger on the Third Floor (1940) and The Maltese Falcon (1941). During and after the war, it slowly developed into a style of film that expressed stories of hardship, romance, and social discontent in the United States. It is only through the analysis of cinema audiences and historical experience that we can begin to understand the impact of film noir on American history. Previous research and critical writing regarding film noir has taken place within the context of literature, gender studies, etc. This article will attempt to take a historical perspective and perspective regarding this unique period in American cinema history and its influence on a society searching for a way to escape the daily routine and tribulations of war, crime and a changing way of life. Pre-industrialized America was essentially an agrarian society based on myths and ideologies of Western ownership and expansion. The advent of the 20th century marked the beginning of a society of mass consumption, devoid of new myths to nourish fantasies and a national identity in crisis. Film noir is a complex genre, although complicated and surrounded by controversy, its impact on American society and culture is extraordinary. Because it echoes the mood and evolution of a country in transition from a disjointed society to a society with a common goal: that of a nation. Understanding how Film Noir reflects political, social, and cultural changes in America is an essential step. paper......'s Big Screen: How modern audiences experience yesterday's classics. "Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, 2008: 203-212. Mintz, S. and McNeil, S. "U.S. Senate Subcommittee Hearings on Film and Radio Propaganda, 1941." Digital History . 2013. http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu (accessed December 7, 2013). " Film Quarterly, 1995-1996: 12-28. Touch of Evil Directed by Orson Welles Starred by Charlton Heston Orson Welles. Directed by Charles Vidor Starred by Glenn Ford Rita Hayworth. Notes on Film Noir." i.mtime. September 3, 2008. http://www.i.mtime.com (accessed December 8, 2013). Smyth, Edmund. “Noir Cityscapes: An Introduction.” Romance Studies, 2007. Sunset Boulevard. Directed by Billy Wilder. Portrayed by Gloria Swanson William Holden. 1950.