Film Noir Music
Of The 50s

These are the songs that were the heart and soul of film noir music of the 50s. Often haunting and romantic, the music, and the way the score worked together with the dramatic action, is a huge part of the enjoyment and lasting power of these films.

Click here to go to the film noir music of the 40s.

1950

DARK CITY
"If I Didn't Have You" -- Jack Elliott & Harold Spina
"That Old Black Magic" -- Harold Arlen & Johnny Mercer
"I Wish I didn't Love You So" -- Frank Loesser
"I'm In The Mood For Love" -- Jimmy McHugh & Dorothy Fields
"Letter From A Lady In Love"

SOUTHSIDE 1-1000
"Je T'Aime" -- Fritz Rotter & Harold Stern
Sung by Kippee Valez

SUNSET BOULEVARD
"The Paramount Don't Want Me Blues" -- Jay Livingston & Ray Evans

1951

THE BIG CARNIVAL/ACE IN THE HOLE
"We're Coming Leo" -- Ray Evans & Jay Livingston

CRY DANGER
"Cry Danger" -- lyric by Leon Pober, music by Hugo Friedhofer

THE PROWLER
"Baby" -- Lyn Murray

THE RACKET
"A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening" -- lyric by Harold Adamson, music by Jimmy McHugh

1952

CLASH BY NIGHT
"I Hear A Rhapsody" -- Joe Gasparre, Jack Baker, George Fragos
Sung by Tony Martin

MACAO
"One For My Baby" -- Johnny Mercer & Harold Arlen
"You Kill Me" -- Julie Styne & Leo Robin
"Ocean Breeze" -- Lerios-Jenkins
Sung by Jane Russell

SUDDEN FEAR
"Afraid" -- Elmer Bernstein & Jack Brooke
"Sudden Fear" -- Irving Taylor & Arthur Altman

1953

THE BLUE GARDENIA
"The Blue Gardenia" -- by Bob Russell & Lester Lee, arranged by Nelson Riddle
Sung by Nat King Cole (who also plays himself in the film)

VICKI
"Vicki" -- Ken Darby & Max Showalter

1954

THE LONG WAIT
"Once" -- Harold Spina & Bob Russell

PRIVATE HELL 36
"Didn't You Know?" -- John Franco
Sung by Ida Lupino

WORLD FOR RANSOM
"Too Soon" -- Walter Samuels

1955

KISS ME DEADLY
"Rather Have The Blues" --- lyrics and music by Frank DeVol
Sung by Nat King Cole

NIAGARA
"Kiss" -- Lionel Newman & Haven Gillespie
Sung by Marilyn Monroe

1956

BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT
"Beyond A Reasonable Doubt" -- lyric by Alfred Perry, music by Herschel Burke Gilbert
Sung by The Hi-Lo's

NIGHTMARE
"What's Your Sad Story?" -- Dick Sherman
"The Last I Ever Saw Of My Heart" -- lyric by Doris Houck, music by Herschel Burke Gilbert

1957

THE BURGLAR
"You Are Mine" -- Bob Marucchi & Pete Deangelo
Sung by Vince Carson

NIGHTFALL
"Nightfall" -- lyric by Sam M. Lewis, music by Peter deRose & Charles Harold
Sung by Al Hibbler

1958

PARTY GIRL
"Party Girl" -- Nicholas Brodszky & Sammy Cahn
Sung by Tony Martin

1959

THE BEAT GENERATION
"Someday You'll Be Sorry" -- Louis Armstrong
"The Beat Generation" -- Tom Walter & Walter Kent
(Louis Armstrong and His Allstars is in the cast)

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