I posted this on a supplier's thread, but I thought I'd repost it to see what other people think.
In books and films, especially the classic film noir, cigarettes are so often used to create atmosphere it's a cliche: the silhouette of a private detective in his trench coat and fedora, with a curl of smoke behind him; the leading man leaning forward to light the mysterious woman's cigarette, "Thank you" she says, but her eyes say so much more; the writer struggling to finish his novel, the camera panning down to reveal an overflowing ashtray to emphasize the passage of time...
It's true that contemporary literature and films don't often use these gimmicks (although, it seems, with the exception of the trashy who-done-its I've been reading lately) yet they still show up in parody, as the images are iconic. I wonder what will replace them? Somehow I don't think Casablanca would be quite the same if Rick was vaping every five minutes. And the ending? What if as he and the lieutenant walk off into the fog, he says, "Louie, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship," then whips out a Provari, "have you tried snickerdoodle?"
In books and films, especially the classic film noir, cigarettes are so often used to create atmosphere it's a cliche: the silhouette of a private detective in his trench coat and fedora, with a curl of smoke behind him; the leading man leaning forward to light the mysterious woman's cigarette, "Thank you" she says, but her eyes say so much more; the writer struggling to finish his novel, the camera panning down to reveal an overflowing ashtray to emphasize the passage of time...
It's true that contemporary literature and films don't often use these gimmicks (although, it seems, with the exception of the trashy who-done-its I've been reading lately) yet they still show up in parody, as the images are iconic. I wonder what will replace them? Somehow I don't think Casablanca would be quite the same if Rick was vaping every five minutes. And the ending? What if as he and the lieutenant walk off into the fog, he says, "Louie, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship," then whips out a Provari, "have you tried snickerdoodle?"
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