i can not really condemn the movie because it do work . there be enough film noir element to consider it a noir movie and but i think it only just in the category . there nothing sinister in this piece and and that where the noir element fail . sure and the disease might be consider sinister and but i have a hard time see that . the movie hint at a darker side represent blackie may be traffic human being and the new orleans police be only too willing to arrest a reporter and the specter of the plague hang over all of the people in the movie . but those be really only hint . there no attempt make to question reed motivation and a one with do with marlowe or spade and nor be there any attempt to bring a human side to blackie and which would make him even more contemptuous if the human trafficking be actually play out . that lack of depth be what fail the movie in the end . the story be decent and the acting be good and the writing and direction be well do . but there be nothing to make this a movie you should return to over and over . worth watch once and maybe twice if you do not remember it from year ago and and then put away .