Skip to main content
Noir City: New York 2026
Sun Jul 12

The Crimson Canary

Co-presented by the Film Noir Foundation
YEAR
1945
ACCESSIBILITY
HI
FORMAT
35MM
RUNTIME
1h 4m
DIRECTOR
John Hoffman
CAST
Noah Beery Jr., Lois Collier, John Litel, Steven Geray, Claudia Drake, Danny Morton

SYNOPSIS

35mm print! The Crimson Canary boasts two things that make B-movies so much fun: a great premise and a short runtime. A trumpet player gets locked up after the lead singer of his band gets whacked. The trumpeter’s fiancée sets out to find the real killer with help from a jazz-loving detective. The film’s Black-led musical numbers have little to do with its plot, which made them easier to cut for Southern censors, but they make up several of the film’s best moments. Coleman Hawkins rips through spirited renditions of “Rifftide” and “Hollywood Stampede,” while blues/folk legend Josh White brings down the house with his signature tune “One Meatball.” Featuring a memorably nasty performance by Claudia Drake (Detour) as the murdered singer.

MORE IN THIS SERIES

Noir City: New York

Co-presented by the Film Noir Foundation, hosted by Eddie Muller and featuring an an opening night musical performance by Elizabeth Bougerol. Series starts July 10!

DETAILS
 

SCHEDULE

SELECT DATE

CURRENTLY NO SHOWINGS

PLEASE SELECT ANOTHER DATE