[The Australian Panther]

Paw said,

I don't fancy most more modern films,preferring old b&w British comedies and thrillers. It's some classic American filme that do it for me. Bad Day at Black Rock, The Big Sleep ( Bogart/Bacall), Lawman, High Noon as examples. 

All good!
I came across this series which would be good for English speakers wanting to learn french. 

No More Whiskey for Callaghan (1955) ) Full Movie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LlJRzRdw7Q
[english subtitles]

It's Your Turn, Callaghan (Thriller) Full Movie Colorized
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OZ-e5ACvZA

Amazing Mr. Callaghan (1955, Thriller) Anthony Wright, Lysiane Rey, Colette Ripert | French Film
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8c_H_lUMxo

Callaghan : Et par ici la sortie (1957) Comédie | Un film français de Willy Rozier
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EH_AtqaQiY
[french subtitles]

These are 'detective' films around Peter Cheyney's Private Eye character, SLIM CALLAGHAN.
They are not wonderful but they are fun.
Cheyneys name is in the credits so I presume he was paid well for the rights but the stories have really nothing to do with the character in Cheyney's books. 
They are almost 'Carry on Private eye' films. There is always a dance scene, slapstic fights and  pretty french girls. Also, Anthony Wright, who plays Callaghan delights in taking off his upper clothing, sometimes nearly all of them. There is usually a scene where he jumps intto a body of water, usually to rescue a girl.
Noir it aint!  So, light stuff, but I enjoyed them even though I don't speak much french.
Cheers!         

[paw broon]

Ta Panther, I'll have a go.  It's a long time since I read any Cheney.
Will I need the subtitles? Time will tell. 
We were in an Italian restaurant in Glasgow yesterday, Picollo Tuscany.  Mein host was Very Glaswegian, but probably of Italian stock, the chef was Italian, the young lady who tended to our table I'd mistaken for English  was French.
I was hearing Italian from the kitchen and speaking French with our server.
Talk about mixed messages!.
Food was very good, excellent polpetti (meatballs) with a delicious tomato sauce.
Perhaps the glasses of vino collapso helped my French.
The French Maigret movies are worthwhile, as is the TV show with Bruno Cremer.

[The Australian Panther]

The French Maigret movies are worthwhile, as is the TV show with Bruno Cremer.

There is also the Richard Harris version which isn't bad.
Maigret - starring Richard Harris and Ian Ogilvy (1988)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Txn9t6wrJY4

I have the Michael Gambon series on DVD somewhere!