You learn a lot about a noir character by their coffee: sugar? cream? more whiskey than caffeine?
As more of my film and TV analysis migrates to Shot Zero, I’m here cataloging coffee-making scenes in noir — two things I love to make and consume, both involving rote and ritual, which I take soul-dark and no sugar, machinations evolving over the years while base ingredients and effects remain the same.
This project is six entries in and fully half have featured coffee as a weapon — one to significant, damning effect, one to quite unexpected ends, and this scene, which demonstrates Holiday and Ralph’s relationship:
He’s nasty and quick-witted, she’s frustrated and volatile, but ultimately not only is she unable to leave, the snark and violence are turn-ons.
Coffee as weapon, sure, but also weapons as foreplay.