George Stevens' A Place in the Sun is reminiscent of film noir. Shot in black and white at a time when the most films were going to color, A Place in the Sun is a dark movie in both color and subject. The darkness of the film enhances the subject of the movie: a man leading a double life and committing murder in order to keep it secret.

During the darkest times in the plot, such as before George goes in with Alice for the first time and when George and Alice go out on the lake, the scenes become even darker. The weather and the light, or lack thereof, help cue the viewer that something bad is going to happen. Additionally, there are a few times when the lighting is extremely bright. When Alice and George first become friends, when Angela and George...