Bainbridge Island Museum of Art will continue the latest smARTfilm series with four film noir screenings in the museum auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16, 23, 30 and Feb. 6.

Doors open at 7 p.m., and optional dinner seating in the Bistro begins at 5:30. Reservations are recommended, call 206-451-4011 to secure a table.

For ticket availability and prices, visit www.brownpapertickets.com (producer #218169).

The “film noir” genre is a uniquely American phenomenon term used to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those films that emphasize cynical attitudes. Each of these films represent a style of cinematic graphic film marked by a mood of pessimism, fatalism and menace.

The series schedule includes:

Jan. 16: “Naked City” (1948)

New York City film noir about two detectives investigating the death of an attractive young woman. The apparent suicide turns out to be murder.

Jan. 23: “Ace in the Hole” (1951)

A frustrated former big-city journalist now stuck working for an Albuquerque newspaper exploits a story about a man trapped in a cave to re-jump start his career, but the situation quickly escalates into an out-of-control circus. Directed by Billy Wilder and stars Kirk Douglas, Jan Sterling and Robert Arthur.

Jan. 30: “Elevator to the Gallows” (1958)

In French, with subtitles. A self-assured businessman murders his employer, the husband of his mistress, which unintentionally provokes an ill-fated chain of events. Directed by Louis Malle and stars Jeanne Moreau, Alain Cuny and Jean-Marc Bory. Its score, composed by Miles Davis and performed (in Paris) by Davis and his local pickup quintet, is worth hearing entirely on its own.

Feb. 6: “Klute” (1971)

A small-town detective searching for a missing man has only one lead: a connection with a New York prostitute. Directed by Alan J. Pakula and stars Jane Fonda, Donald Sutherland, Charles Cioffi and Roy Scheider.