Film-Noir was usually referred as 'dark films.' They started in the 40's although I've seen movies like M considered Film-Noir. They were usually dark films, many of which had femme fatales and a narration. Double Indemnity is the best Film-Noir I've seen.

Film-Noir ended in the 50's, but it would be soon enough that other directors in the 60's began making similar films. Chinatown, Collateral, Heat, Pulp Fiction, and many 60's and 70's movies are examples.

Capo can educate you more on French New Wave, which was one of the key film movements like Italian Neo-realism. I've only seen two Melville films from French New Wave (from what I've heard).