Seems to me that Steve Neale found earlier sources in his "Genre
and Hollywood" book, which I don't have handy, but he has copious notes on
his sources which will prove helpful.  1956 sounds right to me.  Good
luck--

        Tim Shary
        Clark University

> The following are the entries from the OED.  1958 seems a little late to me; does anybody know of earlier use of the term in English?  (& any idea what this 1960 film referenced below might be?)  LT
> 1958 Spectator 25 July 134/2 It [sc. a play] tries to be a parody of a film noir. 1960 Times 9 May 16/4 A school-boy adventure story which turns suddenly and surprisingly into a bleak film noir.
>

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