American Politics & Pop Culture

It is my belief that film noir acts as both an influential, highly descriptive filmic style and a discourse. The style can exist outside of the discourse because it can be used to amplify moods within a film that doesn’t necessarily concern itself within the messages that film noir film represents but the influence of the messages within the style create the discourse so a film that isn’t necessarily considered film noir is influenced by the historical context of the discourse and that’s why the film noir techniques have a particular impact. Film noir has become more than just a film style because it emerged as a way to create freer films. Film noir was a way to undermine the regulations that stunted the creative capacity of film being created around the WWII period, when (racial) tensions in American were incredibly high. Film noir was retaliation. Film noir employs many filmic techniques in order to display darkness and evil encapsulating the main character. There are consistently downward slashing shadows that appear as prison bars. Ominous urban settings are consistently the focal point of action (and subsequent corruption). Minorities are only ever portrayed in the service industry and the white men in charge are always quick to fail, their fate is sealed by the soul contaminating evils of the ancient world (depicted by flashbacks and lines describing the awareness of their downfall). And women are always misleading and lead to doom...film noir is a discourse because it accurately represents the stresses of the time through specific cinematography and storylines.

Posted by tapol001 at 07:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I agree that film noir could be considered a genre in itself. When referring to things such as dark cinematography, foreboding situations, violence, sexual innuendo, and other things, “Double Indemnity” seemed to be a straightforward example of so-called film noir in every respect. All of these things contributing to the idea of film noir form a distinct style that surrounds the particular content of social discourse included in such films. The plot in itself would perhaps be filed under a mystery in literary terms, but the way in which the characters were presented, the scenes shot and lit, and the dialogue heard (and inferred) made it much more than that. In reference to other films, one large part different about this movie was the overall atmosphere as far as lighting is concerned. Much of it took place during the night, as dark ideas of murder require darkness for secrecy. This metaphorical effect is one thing that seems to be specific of film noir.

More so, the femme fatale as an aspect of film noir was the predominant force of this film, as the character Phyllis starts the initial conflict/plot of wanting to murder her husband. She acts by the book, luring Walter in under the guise of love and lust only to betray him in the end. She is selfless, seductive, conspiring, and convincing, giving the general feeling that women will act deceptive when they are after what they want-- not a very positive stereotype in this case, yet very much so a classic femme fatale of film noir.

Posted by joh02361 at 11:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Double Indemnity is my second favorite film noir, right behind Hitchcock's Notorious. The dialogue in this film is some of the slickest and wittiest I have ever heard. Walter Neff is a perfectly written character, and every other one-liner he spouts out makes me laugh at how clever and smooth this guy is. Phyllis is a definite Femme-Fatale, for she is as wickedly cruel as she is sweet and sexy. She is clearly a negative representation of women in general, but that is missing the point of the Femme Fatale in my opinion. The Femme Fatale is simply there to add spice to the film, not to be taken as a sweeping generalization of women in general. Come on folks, does she make the story interesting? Of course! She turns the gun on Walter when everything else falls apart, which I can't blame her for. Sure, she manipulated this poor sucker by luring him in with her sex appeal, but that is great entertainment! If you enjoyed this watch Notorious.

Posted by probe001 at 11:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Double Indemnity is my second favorite film noir, right behind Hitchcock's Notorious. The dialogue in this film is some of the slickest and wittiest I have ever heard. Walter Neff is a perfectly written character, and every other one-liner he spouts out makes me laugh at how clever and smooth this guy is. Phyllis is a definite Femme-Fatale, for she is as wickedly cruel as she is sweet and sexy. She is clearly a negative representation of women in general, but that is missing the point of the Femme Fatale in my opinion. The Femme Fatale is simply there to add spice to the film, not to be taken as a sweeping generalization of women in general. Come on folks, does she make the story interesting? Of course! She turns the gun on Walter when everything else falls apart, which I can't blame her for. Sure, she manipulated this poor sucker by luring him in with her sex appeal, but that is great entertainment! If you enjoyed this watch Notorious.

Posted by probe001 at 11:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Double Indemnity is my second favorite film noir, right behind Hitchcock's Notorious. The dialogue in this film is some of the slickest and wittiest I have ever heard. Walter Neff is a perfectly written character, and every other one-liner he spouts out makes me laugh at how clever and smooth this guy is. Phyllis is a definite Femme-Fatale, for she is as wickedly cruel as she is sweet and sexy. She is clearly a negative representation of women in general, but that is missing the point of the Femme Fatale in my opinion. The Femme Fatale is simply there to add spice to the film, not to be taken as a sweeping generalization of women in general. Come on folks, does she make the story interesting? Of course! She turns the gun on Walter when everything else falls apart, which I can't blame her for. Sure, she manipulated this poor sucker by luring him in with her sex appeal, but that is great entertainment! If you enjoyed this watch Notorious.

Posted by probe001 at 11:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

An interesting idea that did not completely occur to me until reading "Popular Culture in the Age of White Flight" is the racial messages that are present in film noir. Unlike other films of the time, film noir focused on the "dark side" of the city and urban environment. In the 1940's, many whites had migrated from the cities to the suburbs, leaving the cities filled with minorities, which in turn fueled the stereotypes and racism present in that time. In Double Indemnity, the setting is also an urban environment. This allows the filmmakers to contrast the "white" environment with the more urban "black" environment. Avila points out that "morally corrupt white folks who inhabit the noir city...often are viewed alongside black service workers...suggesting their ease within the city's black underworld." Due to racism, Neff's interaction with blacks in the city, in a sense, "compromise his whiteness." Blacks were viewed as inferior and much more prone to criminal activity, so it is not surprising that the filmmakers use this interaction along with the dark lighting to portray corruptness.

In my opinion, in film noir like Double Indemnity this use of dark lighting and interaction with blacks serves as an aid to the civil rights movement. While Neff's character is an evil murderer who loses everything in the end, he is also the lead role and the story is told from his point of view, showing that he was still human like every one of us. This type of film allows the viewer to relate to an otherwise repulsive character, and in turn, because of his association with minorities, lessens the stereotypes of minorities as less human.

Posted by marsh401 at 11:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I do not believe that film noir should be considered a movie genre, but as a sub-genre to help illustrate a movie scene. Having film noir be a genre itself will not be relevant as it depicts the setting, tone, and mood of the story taking place rather then what category of genre it falls under. The way the ending ends in a noir are usually sad or watching the hero, or in this case, the villain lose. This is how the story is being portrayed, not how is categorized. In Double Indemnity, the movie portrayed as being a dark, iniquity as the main characters think of a way to kill a man and get away with the insurance money. The main characters are listed as middle-class and living in a well-rounded society where extra money is not needed. I would only assume that after World War II the people of America were still scared, tired, and suspicious on whom they can trust. This movie is far from the notion of helping the American people relieve this type of “post war pressure” as many other Hollywood movies were trying to bring back the optimism to the Americans. In Double Indemnity, you see Phyllis being portrayed as a miserable wreck that is driven by money. Walter on the other hand is shown in the beginning as the underdog in this society and gets sexually motivated by Phyllis to commit murder. The social force of America at the time was in need of money. Coming back from a long, devastating war and recovering from the Great Depression as jobs being taken by the people who did not go war only made it harder to find an employer. I would only assume that the American people were looking to get money any way possible. Phyllis is looked as an independent woman that would persuade men into doing her dirty work by creating sexual tension. She is a negative influence on woman as it correlates with the post-war fear and anti-trust amongst others.

Posted by Anthony Zerka at 11:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I would have to say that film noir is a genre however broad it may be. I feel that it is a genre because it has characteristics specific to the type of film it is and these characteristics provoke certain kinds of emotions. In most comedy movies people laugh and feel care free or generally happy. In horror movies we typically feel a sense of fright or anticipation. An uneasy or awkward feeling seems to accompany film noir. The contrast of black and white, the shadows and small spaces are the cause for these emotions. The dark eerie urban setting and the musical transgressions throughout the film also play a key role in distinguishing film noir. The very obvious subservient portrayal of African Americans is also an element of film noir. The only time you see an African American throughout the film is when they are doing things like washing the car, cleaning the office, or carrying luggage.

Another element of film noir is the role of the femme fatale and Phyllis Dietrichson fills that role perfectly. At first I felt sense of sympathy for Phyllis. She manipulates the audience as well as Walter Neff into thinking that she is a victim of her very unfortunate circumstances and her extremely mean husband. You almost can't blame her for just throwing the idea out there... Throughout the film I think Phyllis's true intentions become clearer. The very first step of the murder plot is for Walter to go talk to Phyllis's husband about insurance. Then we get a first-hand look at the "monster" she has to deal with. He doesn't seem to be a first rate husband by any means, but he certainly didn't deserve to be murdered. Towards the end Phyllis is exposed for the feme fatale she really is. However easy it did seem to be for Walter Neff to be manipulated, (I mean he only met the woman twice and had the murder all plotted out by their third encounter) she did manipulate him with her undeniable beauty, the promise of love, and her seductive ways.

Posted by joh02296 at 11:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The caste of Double Indemnity featured many supporting people of color. While the main characters were white there were several appearances throughout the film of various ethnicities. While film noir generally features minorities in “meager and misery-laden roles subservient to institutions servicing white America” their treatment in this film was not so apparent. There was the African American ticket taker on the train and the car washer in the garage he used as an alibi. There was also the house maid, all subservient roles but the film portrayed them as happy not down trodden oppressed. There was also a white elevator man and a white ticket collector on the train. So while the minorities were shown as serving the white establishment it was with a smile and shared with white workers.
This makes sense for the time. Racial inequalities were still apparent and for the most part legal. But there was a growing movement to increase the presence of different groups in Hollywood and the increasing power of organizations that protested offensive stereotypical treatments. So the inclusion of various people of color was a wise choice. But the studios also had to be careful to not antagonize their white target audience; hence the nonthreatening roles and subservient demeanor. The car washer in particular fell into the “smiling uncle tom” stereotype that has been a part of America’s popular culture since slavery; the happy helper that ‘knows their place’ and is content with it. It assuages any guilt the audience might feel at the limited roles and minimizes any anxieties about a racial uprising.
Nyssa Shawstad

Posted by shaw0139 at 11:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

First off I want to say that I thought the film Double Indemnity was brilliant portrayal of film noir. One theme of film noir that was very apparent through the film the use of "black and white" as a way to portray "good and evil." At the beginning of the film Walter Neff goes to Phyllis's house to sell her insurance. At this point in the film Phyllis comes off as a very genuinely kind lady and is wearing a white dress which symbolizes "good." After Phyllis finds out about the accidental insurance policy she uses her good looks and kind personality to seduce Mr. Neff into thinking that she is in love with him along with that her husband is a terrible man that treats her with no respect. This is "femme fatale," at its finest. As the film goes on Phyllis turns from wearing white attire to black showing the evil side, which we find out are her true colors. An example where she wears the color black is on the night she kills her husband. Film Noir was also used in the killing through the use of music. The music was very loud and fast, which I believe was a way to let the viewer be aware something bad is about to happen.
White and black also played another role in the film when it came to African Americans as actors during the 1940's and 1950's. During this time in history segregation between whites and black was prevalent. As discussed in lecture whites lived in the cites while blacks lived in urban areas (Eric Avilo). The same sort of things were happening in the film industry, white played the main roles while blacks and other minorities had the roles of maids and butlers. Walter Wright was the spokes person for blacks to help them get better roles in films. An example of this from Double Indemnity is how Phyllis has a maid working for her.
I really enjoyed this film because of the use of film noir and how the producer made it so easy to follow.

Posted by white968 at 11:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Again, I thoroughly enjoyed last week’s movie, Double Indemnity. My favorite part was Walter’s excessive use of “baby” throughout the movie.

I would have to argue against the statement that film noir is not a genre. Film noir is defined by moods, lighting, and visual styles and is a category of film in its own that differs from other genres. I would agree that film noir crosses over a few boundaries of other genre’s by combining defining aspects of them, but is still its own genre. For instance, Double Indemnity could be classified under certain genres as drama or crime to name a couple. But the movie contains many aspects that define film noir. The constant use of shadows, dark and light contrasts, appropriate music, and femme fatal gives the movie a feel different from the norm horror or drama movie.

In lecture, a few terms used to describe film noir were an anti-hero, corruptness, and sexual innuendo. Double Indemnity contained all three of these. Walter, the main character appears to be coming to the rescue of Phyllis in the beginning of the movie to save her from her abusive and absent husband. Yet it turns out that Walter was being used and it turns more to the fact that he has just helped murder a girl’s father, not a husband. The next two terms, corruptness and sexual innuendo, describe Phyllis’ role in Double Indemnity. She takes an honest insurance salesman and uses her femme fatal characteristics to corrupt his sense of right and wrong. She flirts, seduces, and tells Walter she loves him to get her way and plan accomplished. She had an angelic face, but was sexually malicious. As Walter killed Mr. Dietrichson, she just starred straight ahead without emotion. In reference to Phyllis, Walter said, “No nerves, no tears, not even a blink of the eye.”

As said in lecture, this movie was a model for other movies and started a trend. I was not censored by the government at the point in time when media ws dominated with pictures of D-Day, FDR, and Hiroshima. Double indemnity was the “red meat” of the future movies of its genre.

Posted by mcgui149 at 11:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Again, I thoroughly enjoyed last week’s movie, Double Indemnity. My favorite part was Walter’s excessive use of “baby” throughout the movie.

I would have to argue against the statement that film noir is not a genre. Film noir is defined by moods, lighting, and visual styles and is a category of film in its own that differs from other genres. I would agree that film noir crosses over a few boundaries of other genre’s by combining defining aspects of them, but is still its own genre. For instance, Double Indemnity could be classified under certain genres as drama or crime to name a couple. But the movie contains many aspects that define film noir. The constant use of shadows, dark and light contrasts, appropriate music, and femme fatal gives the movie a feel different from the norm horror or drama movie.

In lecture, a few terms used to describe film noir were an anti-hero, corruptness, and sexual innuendo. Double Indemnity contained all three of these. Walter, the main character appears to be coming to the rescue of Phyllis in the beginning of the movie to save her from her abusive and absent husband. Yet it turns out that Walter was being used and it turns more to the fact that he has just helped murder a girl’s father, not a husband. The next two terms, corruptness and sexual innuendo, describe Phyllis’ role in Double Indemnity. She takes an honest insurance salesman and uses her femme fatal characteristics to corrupt his sense of right and wrong. She flirts, seduces, and tells Walter she loves him to get her way and plan accomplished. She had an angelic face, but was sexually malicious. As Walter killed Mr. Dietrichson, she just starred straight ahead without emotion. In reference to Phyllis, Walter said, “No nerves, no tears, not even a blink of the eye.”

As said in lecture, this movie was a model for other movies and started a trend. I was not censored by the government at the point in time when media ws dominated with pictures of D-Day, FDR, and Hiroshima. Double indemnity was the “red meat” of the future movies of its genre.

Posted by mcgui149 at 11:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It has been said that film noir is not a genre, but I couldn't disagree more. I find it pretty interesting that there are people who would actually argue against the fact that film noir is, in fact, a genre all its own. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the word genre as "a category of artistic, musical, or literary composition characterized by a particular style, form, or content." Now, if film noir isn't characterized by a particular style and/or form, I'm not sure what is. Film noir is a type of media defined by its stylish sense of mystery, cleverness, and underlying sexuality, and just the fact that several films could be categorized under this definition is sufficient evidence to the contrary of the statement.

I think Double Indemnity did a wonderful job promoting the idea of a "Femme Fatale" in a time when women were not necessarily seen as powerful characters both on screen and off. Phyllis was a very strong woman who initially rejected Walter's sexual advances in a battle of wits. She later drove Walter crazy enough to devise a criminal murder scheme in order to collect life insurance money, and most importantly, she played the Bonnie to Walter's Clyde in the execution of the plan. She is the epitome of a Femme Fatale, the strong, smart female which was unheard of at the time.

Posted by jone1028 at 11:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The movie of the week, Double Indemnity, is a film of lies and deceit that accelerate and spiral into betrayal and death. The metaphoric black and darkness are an example of how this movie is a film noir. This is evident throughout the film and corresponds with the malicious intent each time a character transcends into selfish behavior. This is most obvious in the character Phyllis. She undoubtedly exhibits the qualities of a femme fatale. This is seen throughout the movie however if I had not been aware of her intentions prior to my viewing I certainly would have been fooled as to what she tried to do to Walter. She appears as a very feminine and fragile woman as she enters down the staircase, with a delicate ankle bracelet and white dress and the viewer is not aware of the woman she is underneath. Her idea of survival and how to live life is unknown at first and her disguise makes her to be even more deviant but then we see that she must suck and latch on to oncoming men and their money. What is interesting to see is how she seduces Walter into her transgressive actions. She has no awareness of the consequences to her actions even though they may be detrimental even to her. This is explained well in the reading from Bronfen, "Insofar it was fate they should have met, to play their criminal game to the end ultimately means acknowledging that each is responsible for the fatal consequences of their transgression will have." She appears even to want to live a life of ultimate pain as she chooses to be immoral and deceitful at will. "She chooses destruction at every turn, and in doing so draws attention to the question of inevitability in a tragic sequence." - Bronfen. This quote from the reading shows how she knows what she is doing yet still continues down this path of destruction and as fate would have it she ends in despair all the while she brings everyone around her into sadness and death.

Posted by luli0004 at 11:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I would definitely classify film noir as a genre of American film. The cinematography and the mood of film noir and the fact that it occurred during a certain time frame in American history, right after WWII, gives it the embodiment to be a genre. All of the films of film noir really typify much of the resentment of what happened to urban America after WWII. Much of the white soldiers came back from the war looking for something more. They had experienced awful things in combat and were looking to make a better life for themselves and their families. They felt the American dream of owning your own house and having 2.3 kids was the best way to do that. There wasn’t much space in the middle of the usual American city to fit a house and a yard, so the middle, and upper-middle class whites left the city in droves, moving out to suburbia. When they left the city they left much of the blacks and the other minorities behind. While the conditions were better outside of the city, they left much more than that behind. The whites that had left felt themselves superior to the other people who didn’t have the means or the want to leave the city. This made the city seem less desirable than the suburbs, and the inhabitants of those locations were grouped in with the feelings that the whites had for them. The Inner city populous started to be looked upon as less and less favorable people, who were more in cahoots with crimes and other less than desirable qualities. Film noir captures much of the feel of the inner city with its rough dialog and imagery. It also captures much of the femme fetale character; the women who didn’t want to give up the rights that she had gained by being an integral part of the American economy during the war. Much of the femme fetale’s unabashed sexuality, ruthlessness, and ambition come from that fact. Phyllis, in Double Indemnity, really embodies the worries that many men had of the time. The worry that women would become manipulative and evil with the power that the men felt they shouldn’t have. Double Indemnity does a good job of portraying both the film noir genre and much of the feelings of Americans in the tumultuous times after WWII, and thusly, falls into the category of films that I have enjoyed.

Posted by nemme003 at 11:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In the movie Double Indemnity Phyllis displays all of the characteristics of the typical femme fatale. When Walter and Phyllis first meet you could tell that she was using her sexuality to charm and lure Walter into her trap. At first Walter sees what Phyllis is trying to do and wants no part of the plan. However, he could not resist her and becomes involved in the murder plot. I don't believe that Phyllis is a totally positive or negative characterization of women in general. Just like Walter shows both positive and negative traits of men. Phyllis used what skills and tools she had to get what she wanted. Although not all women might like to admit to using their looks for the manipulation of men to get what they want, it actually happens. Not only does Phyllis use this power on Walter she also misleads Nino into unknowingly become the fall-guy for the murder.
Phyllis may not be the main driving force or mastermind of the whole murder plot she played a very pivotal role in its formation and execution. Without Phyllis there would have been no idea for the insurance plot in the first place. Walter did do most of the actual planning of how, where and when the murder would take place, and did most of the dirty work. Phyllis however never had any intention of being with Walter and was using him like a simple pawn in her master plan. In the end I wouldn't say that Phyllis held a position of true power or subservience. Just like I would say that Walter never truly had complete control of the situation either, but the plot to kill Phyllis' husband needed both characters to both be in control and not in control. Walter's job was to figure out how to get the insurance plan signed, kill Phyllis' husband, and get away with it. Walter's weakness was his emotional and romantic attachment to Phyllis and eventually became his down fall. Phyllis' job was to find someone who could finally put her most evil plan into motion. However Phyllis' weakness was that she would never have been able to kill her husband and get the money without Walter. Without Walter killing her husband was just another evil thought that never would have been possible without being able to find a guy to do it for her.

Posted by hove0107 at 11:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I believe film noir is a genre. The elements of this Film Noir were used very efficiently throughout the film Double Indemnity. A genre is best explained in the PC magazine encyclopedia as “a category, class, style, type or variety”. I like this definition as film noir uses a variety of styles including moody lighting, shadow effects, changing background music, and darker or lighter clothing in the Film. In the article by Eric Lott he explains “Film noir is a cinematic mode defined by its border crossings. In it people fall from grace into deep shadows” (pp. 548). In the Film this is very evident in the following elements.

My first example is the light to dark clothing Phyllis wore throughout the film. At the start of the film when Phyllis and Neff meet she is wearing an all white dress to emphasize no gloom. The next time the two meet Phyllis is wearing a black dress, to emphasize that she is not so innocent now, we first see this when she tells Neff “Oh I forgot today is the maids day off” when she really knew, and brings up the term Accident Insurance again, we now know she is trying to manipulate Neff. The next time they meet it is a dark rainy gloomy night when Phyllis comes to Neffs apartment, she is now wearing a full black dress, and they first kiss when there is a dark background, we now know there is something bad going to happen. Moody lighting is another example element used throughout Double Indemnity. This was evident with shadows on the walls, and shadowy images of the characters, where dark shadows emphasized a trapped idea and that the characters are doomed for failure. An example of this is when Neff enters his office at the start of the film, there is a dark shadow on the wall, and we can already tell that Neff was doomed for failure. My favorite element of Film Noir is the use of changing speed, and volume of the background music when something bad is about to happen. We are informed as an audience that something terrible is going to happen once the gloomy music begins. At the start it is slow and at a low volume, however as it leads up to the act it gets faster, and louder, we now know something will happen soon. I like this style as it is still commonly used in films today. Other elements of film Noir are not as common as technology advances in cinematography have better ways to send the message to the audience.
Overall I really liked this film as the elements of Film Noir as very efficiently used and easy to follow. This would have to be one of my favorite black and white films

Posted by campb503 at 10:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Double indemnity is an interesting movie that tells a story of the times. Several film noir was also applied in order to get the point of the movie across. The one particular film noir that stood out was femme fatale. Knowing that it was not accepted to view women’s bare skin in the 40’s, one would agree that femme fatale was a genre of its own; it would stand out as opposed to today’s Hollywood movies that almost contain some aspect of femme fatale in every single one.

It was not hard to tell that Walter would fall for Phyllis and her murder plan after a few seconds of her appearing on screen. The first shot of her did the job. Not only that the camera was shot from below her, looking up at her like it was a sunshine that Walter could not resist looking up to. There is no doubt that she is a very good looking female. Her facial expression and her body language while responding to Walter definitely shows that she had him. Another femme fatale ‘fatal’ hit to Walter was displayed through the angle of the camera shot of her coming down the stairs to sitting with legs crossed. The bare skin and the cigarette even made the hit more powerful. Walter fell for her and was willing to do anything to take her away from her husband. There is no doubt that femme fatale did not play a big role.

Double indemnity is a positive characterization of women during the time the movie was produced. Knowing that it was a time when women had not much power in the society, it is understandable that femme fatale was one strength that they had to rely on in order to get what they want. If it was not for her sexual ways to getting him to agree with her, Walter probably would not agree with her murder plan.

Posted by onon0006 at 10:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

First things first, I thought Fred MacMurray's excessive use of the word "baby" was pretty funny.

Now, I'd like to address the matter regarding whether or not film noir (French for "black film") is or is not a genre. Some people argue that, although it sometimes suggests particular moods, movements, or visual styles, film noir is not a genre. I do not agree with this statement.

To start with, the definition of "genre" is, "A class or category of artistic endeavor having a particular form, content, technique, or the like." Now, on the other hand, "film noir's" definition is much more subjective in nature. According to Wikipedia, film noir is defined as, "A cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize moral ambiguity and sexual motivation." Now, comparing the two terms from an objective standpoint based off the comparison of the two term's definitions, you can see that they are in fact similar in nature. With the understanding that the term "form" in a fine art context means the organization, placement, or relationship of basic elements, it is easy to see how film noir adheres to a particular form. For example, the placement of lighting is essential in a film noir to effectively communicate the shifting moods and underlying motives of the characters. Often during the movie, light would shine on Barbara Stanwyck's face, lighting it up and simultaneously casting a dark shadow on the wall behind. This had the effect of visually depicting the pure looking "external" in contrast to the dark "internal". With regard to content, film noir's consistently are based upon themes that emphasize moral ambiguity and sexual motivation. And finally, with regard to technique, film noir's once again all share similar cinematographic techniques. These techniques would include filming in a way that results in a low-key black-and-white visual style.

Although I've argued that film noir is in fact a genre, ultimately it's my opinion that one cannot definitively state whether this is or is not actually true. I say this primarily because the term film noir has never been decidedly defined and is in itself shrouded in a layer of ambiguity.

Posted by John Erck at 10:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In my opinion, film noir is certainly a genre of film. Although many would argue that it is simply a sub-category of larger genre's such as horror or drama, these sub-categories are very capable of creating very good movies. There are 3 main aspects that make film noir a successful category of film. Shadows, lighting and the overall script and plot of the movie. This movie creates scenes where the actors or actresses perform extremely deviant acts. The misty, shadow feel that is cast on these particular scenes adds an effect that lets the viewer know that something big and more than likely brutal is about to happen. Also, the fact that the movie is presented in a flashback manner puts the story together in spontaneous pieces and creates an ultimate sense of horror. While obviously film noir is a subcategory, the fact that so many classic movies of this time (including Double Indemnity) were created, there is no doubt that it has credibility as a genre of its own and should most definitely be considered as a great historical genre.

Posted by cloy0004 at 10:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I enjoyed the film “Double Indemnity.” Although lines or certain conversations in the movie were a bit corny and did use a lot of innuendo I thought they were clever and endearing. And considering the time period that this film was released in, it was an edgy and intense film and it is always fun to look back on what used to be considered ‘pushing the limits’.

I found the female character Phyllis in this movie especially intriguing. She is the quintessential femme fatale. By using her feminine wiles she gets Walter to do exactly what she wants without explicitly telling him her agenda. It was interesting to watch a female character have so much power over a man in a time when women were socially still not fully considered equals. This femme fatale, although interesting, is a negative characterization of women. This type of character is powerful, but it is for the wrong reasons - her beauty, her deceptive nature, and her sexuality. Although I found Phyllis to be the villan in this film I thought she was a captivating character and I enjoyed watching her.

Posted by Martine Schroeder at 10:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The character of Phyllis in “Double Indemnity” is the epitome of the term “femme fatale.” While not as sexually uninhibited as modern audiences might be used to, she certainly flaunts her womanly assets as a means of enticing Walter to do her bidding. She is very independent, in that she came up with the initial plan for her husbands murder on her own and took the first steps (talking to Walter about accident insurance) in completing her mission. Phyllis is also very ambitious; she is eager to be rid of her husband, and flirts with and flatters Walter to encourage him to go along with her plan.

I feel that, generally, femme fatale characterizations of women are negative in that they portray women as sex objects, gold diggers, manipulative, and self-serving. However, I do think the femme fatale is a strong female character - one that knows what she wants and how to get it - which to me, is a nice change from the typical “damsel in distress” characterization of women. So, I guess, if women are to be portrayed, I’d rather see a female character that can take care of herself (in one way, or another), rather than one that is constantly doted upon and treated like a simpleton.

The role the femme fatale, Phyllis, has in Walter’s downfall is that she used her looks and charm to seduce Walter. Once she had him “under her spell,” she exploited his infatuation and manipulates him into killing her husband, making it look like an accident, and defrauding the insurance company he works for. Eventually, he discovers that she was playing him all along, he kills her, but not before she shoots him. He confesses his crimes to his boss and the film (and Walter’s life, as he knew it) end as he awaits the police’s arrival.

My initial instinct was to say that the femme fatale, Phyllis, had a large part in the outcome of the plot because she had Walter wrapped around her finger. She had seduced and manipulated him into plotting her husband’s death, killing him, and defrauding the insurance company. However, while she had him hooked, he was the one who was running the show, making decisions. When she wanted her husband dead right away, Walter made her wait until he would be on the train. Walter decided when and where they should meet, what the course of action would be. He was the one who was calling all the shots, so she had less power in the actual outcome of the plot. Despite this, I do think the woman is in a position of power. Even though she is not directly in control of her own destiny, she has Walter so captivated that he is committing murder and insurance fraud for her – that sounds like a position of power to me!

Posted by palaz012 at 10:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

One of the main elements heralded in Double Indemnity and the movies of the film noir genre is the use of cinematography and lighting. John Alton was responsible for the cinematography in Double Indemnity as well as many other successful film noir movies. Using light and strategic camera angles, Alton painted a scene in the same manner as an artist would paint a canvas. Symbolism, too, is an important feature of film noir, with the most obvious being the contrast between light and dark. The mood of the scenes in film noir is highly influenced by the light, with dark, intense moments having lower lighting to create the somber atmosphere.

Perhaps the biggest driving factor behind film noir’s success was that the genre pushed the envelope. Film noir was edgy while still complying with strict FCC regulations, and was a stark contrast to wholesome primetime television of the day. With the rise of suburbia following WWII, cities and the suburbs became largely segregated. The location of the dark city was chosen to reflect the depravity and darkness that surrounds them, that may someday consume them. The dark alleyways and eerily quiet streets further accent the symbolism that is characteristic of film noir.

Another classic element of film noir is the femme fatale figure, the anti-heroine that uses seduction to get her way at the expense of her male victims. Phyllis proves to be a textbook example of the femme fatale, manipulating using seduction for her personal gain. As Phyllis’s darker side is revealed, its revealed how she led to Walter’s eventual demise.

Posted by ande4849 at 10:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It seems to me that film noir is not an actual film type but rather a way of symbolically portraying themes that were occurring during the time period these films were made. These themes were prevalent throughout the culture of this time and occurred multiple times in many movies, resulting in what seems like is a genre of their own, but in really were just a reflection of the culture of the day. This is especially true for the theme of good versus evil which is so obviously and easily represented by the black and white, and with light and shadows. With the world coming over such turmoil from WWII and with the world trying to get back on its feet, the struggle of good versus evil resonated with the people of this time period, and I think because of human nature will continue to resonate.
Another key toping in film noir is the. I do not feel that the vixen in these films makes them film noir. Instead I feel the newly arising sexual culture of the 1940’s and 1950’s was being suppressed by the government and other film regulating agencies. The vixen was an attractive woman and was not placed to cast attractive women with a devious nature, but instead was done in order to allow the film industry to get away with what was in the 40’s and 50’s risqué behavior and thus let film industry adjust to the change in popular culture, accommodating for many of the changes in how women were looked at as well as what they were allowed wear and do.

I conclude that film noir is not a genre, but instead is the expression the popular culture of the day through the restricted controls of the government and other film agencies.

The film Double Indemnity portrays many of these cultural themes. It displays the good versus evil with dark and light. It portrays minorities in menial jobs as the car washer. It also has the vixen pushing risqué behavior, all making it a classic example of film noir.

Posted by andre368 at 09:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

With the ongoing debate on whether or not Film Noirs are a genre, I would have to disagree that they are. Saying so would be placing them in a category when really it is more of a style. According to Thefreedictionary.com, a style is the combination of distinctive features of literary or artistic expression, execution, or performance characterizing a particular person, group, or era. There are so many features that make up all that is Film Noir, including the dramatic music, the femme fatale, the murder, the deceit, the passion, scenes narrated by the character, the shadows, and the rain. All of the features are easy to point out in Double Identity. At the time of its release the film must have had viewers on the edge of their seats, biting their fingernails in apprehention because it is a drama, thrill filled movie. What is seen as a thriller has obviously changed over the years but I would say FIlm Noirs are a mix between the drama and action genres. They can go either way, however, and that is why they are moreso classified as a style of film making, not so much a genre.
Phyllis does a great job protraying the femme fatale in Double Indemnity as well. She is a woman who knows what she wants and how to get it. She uses her sex apeal to brainwash men, completely ruining their lives in the process. Throughout the film she manipulates three men, first it was her husband. When that didn't work out for her she used Walter and Neno to rid her path of obstacles standing between her and her money. The fact that she is responsible for a murder here and there does not phase her in the slightest. The only time the stony/seductive look on Phyllis's face would change was when she was putting on an act for Walter, in which case she would emit self pity and fake love. She did go a bit out of character torwards the end when she didn't finish Walter off with one last bullet. Phyllis seemed a little vulnerable at that moment right before Walter killed her with her own gun. I think Phyllis was a character the people of the time needed. Seeing such a powerful, seductive women was out of the norm and most likely a bit controversial. She could have been an influence to young women in the early fourties to take charge and not let men have all the power. Phyllis is, however, a deceitful liar and that doesn't say anything of significance about women in general.

Posted by kolsu002 at 09:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

1.)I believe that Film noir is not a genre, which is often characterized as a category of films that have similar attributes that have lasting appeal to the mass audience, genres that have had been historically successful are the western, the romantic comedy and the musical. I believe that film noir is a style that has a short life of interest and has distinct style. This style has many features that make it distinctive to other styles. These films also serve as a dialogue as discussed in class describes but the importance of this dialogue seems over emphasized during the in class discussion. The dialogue is another part of the style that has a specific significance at the time, in the case of film noir the film industry was at a downtime for the first time in its history and the economic , The relevance of the style could be used later in the history of film as a throwback to the emotion of the time. Film noirs dialogue was used in conjuncture of the science fiction style in the eighties in the film Bladerunner, the darkness and fear of the unknown is used to intensify the theme of the story. Because it is a style it can be disassembled and used in pieces while a genre is so self contained that it can not be broken down.
2.) Film noir found its roots in German expressionist films and the majority of films where created by Billy Wilder who was an Austrian born man. In film noir there is a darkness which seems to indicate a sense of fear and danger lurking at the corners of the universe for the characters in these films even in airy rooms of the film there is a darkness that is unsettling, the living room scene where the main characters first meet is a perfect example of this, the room is big but still have a darkness that is accentuated by light streaming in through the venetian blinds giving the room a patchy darkness that washes out a good deal of the rooms features making them more foreboding. The style also uses light to intensify the impact of this darkness the world is a bitter and dangerous place and main characters all seem to have lily white skin which is often a signifier for innocence in films of this period but in film noir it is a deceptive shade that against the darkness surrounding it seems to almost show only an outline of the individuals making them seem less human in a way.
3.) The subservient nature of African American individuals are once again deeply rooted in their portrayal in this film. The representation of the African American seems to be completely content with whatever white person says. The social environment of the time facilitated a lot of accepted racism, however resistance to this was beginning to arise, wide released images like the subservient car polisher instilled that black individuals liked their place in the world thus attempting to pacify and persuade the mass audience.
4.) The character of Phyllis is a quintessential embodiment of the femme fatal because of her willingness to use her sexuality and the promise of love to manipulate a man to act out of character for personal gain. The depiction of woman as femme fatal characters is extremely hurtful for woman especially at this time, woman had a lot of independence from being in the workforce during the war and this seems to tie a link between female independence and irrational thought. This woman wanted out of her marriage which would increase her independence, this desire caused her to use her “special powers” over men to get what she wanted showing a lack in reasonable thought, even if not a lake in ability to concoct a plan to kill a man. This “special power” is rooted in women’s ability to play on the weaknesses of men in direct relation to what she has to offer which is the mindset of every good leader whether it be a political of economic leader, which shows a position of power, through the appropriate assessment of a situation and its possibilities.

Posted by swanx058 at 09:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

For me this movie was interesting to watch and see what kind of role that the leading lady played in the story. I do think that the leading lady, Phyllis, was a femme fatale. I think that she used her sexuality and her personality to get what she wanted even if it hurt people that she may have cared for in the end.
In the beginning of the movie Walter goes to the home of a client. He runs into the client's wife, Phyllis, and you can tell instantly that he is attracted to her. You can also tell that she knows that as well and is willing to use that attraction to the full potential.
There are two things about Phyllis and her role as the femme fatale that really made me think. The first being her image of women that she portrays to the audience. And the second being the role that she plays in Walter's downfall.
I think the Phyllis has a both a positive and negative role for women. I think the way that she portrays the strength and independence a woman can have was really great. But than she used that strength and independence and combined it with her sexuality and seduction to get what she wanted. And that is where those negative qualities come in.
The character Phyllis also played a huge role in the downfall of leading man Walter. I believe that she used her seduction and charm to get him to do her bidding and get rid of her husband. I thought it very interesting that Walter did figure out that Phyllis wanted her husband dead. Walter even gave it to her straight and walked out. But he still went through with the plan because he could not stay away from her.
I was not expecting Walter to shoot and kill Phyllis at the end of the movie. I don't know if he was doing it so that he wouldn't get caught or if it was so that she could not use anyone else like she used him.
I thought the movie was interesting but was not really shocking. I think if i had seen the movie when it first came out it would ahve been shocking but in our time it doesn't seem so shocking now.

Posted by metze015 at 09:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Monica Weir

While the film Double Indemnity contains almost all elements of film noir, I found the role of Phyllis Dietrichson to be by far the most intriguing. From her seductive charm to her undeniable beauty, she fits the mold for a femme fatale. The first scene of the movie shows our protagonist, Walter Neff, heartbroken due to the work of Phyllis as he confesses “I killed him for money – and a woman – and I didn’t get the money and I didn’t get the woman. Pretty, isn’t it?” From this, we learn that the main character is now a broken man, not our typical Post World War II era hero.

With eleven years of sales experience for Pacific All Risk Insurance Company, Walter is obviously intelligent and successful, however, upon meeting Phyllis any and all of his business ethics go out the window. After their first encounter, he’s hooked. Her physical beauty – porcelain skin, vibrant lips, perfectly styled blonde hair, and distracting anklet – matched with her witty conversation skills dominate his thoughts from that moment on. Since the movie is from Walter’s point of view, whether or not Phyllis is in a given scene, she is the focal point. The entire film revolves around the femme fatale - her desires, her worries, her problems, and above all, her control.

Phyllis is initially characterized as an unhappy, lonely housewife. When she cries to Walter about hating her husband because he’s mean and doesn’t love her the audience is led to believe that she is the victim. As the plot unfolds, the true characteristics of Phyllis show through. She uses her positive traits to her advantage to get whatever she desires. By controlling Walter’s heart, she only needs to plant the seed for him to take control of the murder. She wants her husband dead so Walter takes care of all the details in plotting the murder, performing the murder, and covering the tracks. This is ironically typical for the time period since the common view is that women need men to accomplish anything.

In the end of this film “the punishment exceeds the crime” (Scruggs 678), as is characteristic in film noir. Phyllis meets her demise when her once cold heart isn’t able to pull the trigger and kill Walter. Barton Keyes, the claims adjuster, learns that his best friend is the one whom he’s been searching for as the murderer. Most importantly, since meeting Phyllis, Walter has lost everything; he has above all lost himself.

Posted by weir0041 at 09:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

To begin with I really enjoyed the film, being the favorite of the three films that we have watched so far in this class.
I am going to talk about the use of film noir and the femme fatale.
The film noir of the film was very good in my opinion. However, I would say that film noir is not a genre. A genre is the theme of the movie such as a sci-fi, horror or comedy. In my opinion, film noir just creates the setting and the mood of the film of there being something mystical or bad going to happen. therefore, I am going to agree with Schrader in that film noir is more of a "visual style" than a genre.
The femme fatale of the film was very good. Phyliss was exactly what femme fatale means to me. She was very seductive and played the innocent wife who was having a hard tie at home with her husband. Phyliss uses her power of seductivity to real in Walter to do her dirty work. Once she had reeled Mr Neff he lost all sight of what he was meant to be doing, which ultimately ruined his life.
Another aspect of the film that I would like to talk about was how the film got through Hays code for production. The reasons for it getting past the rules were that it was adapted from a novel by James Cain and that it does not have any relation to the war. At the beginning of the film they used the date of 1938 so the war had not started by then. They had to have 23 re-writes to get this write. Because of these facts it opened up the doors for other films of that time to follow similar themes.

Posted by culve018 at 09:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In Double Indemnity Phyllis plays the part of the femme fatale perfectly. Throughout the film she seduces men to manipulate them into doing what she wants. She first "innocently" plants the idea of killing her husband into Walter Neff's mind. She tells Walter that her husband is "mean to her" and that he doesn't love her. We never see any evidence of this "abuse" and are unsure if she is telling the truth. Walter agrees to kill her husband and make sure it looks like an accident for the insurance company. Phyllis pulls Walter into her world by convincing him she is in love, which we learn later is a complete lie.

After the insurance company starts to investigate the death of Phyllis' husband we learn even more about her conniving ways. Her stepdaughter, Lola, reveals that Phyllis killed her mother, seduced her father and manipulated him into marrying her. Phyllis also manipulates Lola's boyfriend into believing that Lola does not love him. She intended to use his jealousy in order to kill Lola. She was going to tell him Lola was with another man and Phyllis knew he would fly into a murderous rage. Throughout the entire film Phyllis lies and manipulates to get men to do what she wants. She never had feelings for anyone and everything she did was for her own selfish gain. She perfectly exemplifies the characteristics of the traditional femme fatale.

Posted by fran0723 at 09:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In "Double Indemnity," as well as other film noir movies, the contrast between black and white is used to depict the dichotomy of good and evil often presented within the films. However, this goes beyond mere cinematography and aesthetics as a metaphor for the plot line. Race comes into play as well, as we saw in the film. Though surely the main characters were all white, if one looks closely enough black figures are found in the movie, as servants and menial workers in the city. If one extends the cinematography metaphor further, it is clear that the white characters are in danger of falling into darkness; in danger of falling to the depths and depravity that they would like us to think black Americans were in at the time. Avila discusses this in his article, Neff's crimes are only made possible with the help of black "accomplices" (though they help him without their knowledge). His janitor provides him with an alibi. The location of the movie also serves to create the racial dichotomy. At this point, the underbelly of cities became associated with blacks, and white, merely by being in the vicinity, were at risk of falling into darkness. The white flight from major urban areas that occurred after the end of World War II reflected this idea. Cities then became concentrated with minorities, and the whites who stayed went on to become corrupt, in the discourse of film noir.

Posted by Melissa Green at 09:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Film noir is a cinematic term that has been used to describe Hollywood crime dramas from the 1940's to the late 1950's. They tend to emphasize moral ambiguity and sexual motivation. Through the black and white visual style and prototypical story lines I do believe that film noir is a genre. According to the American Hertiage New Dictionary of cultural literacy a genre is defined as "The kind or type of a work of art, from the French, meaning "kind" or "genus." Literary genres include the novel and the sonnet. Musical genres include the concerto and the symphony. Film genres include Westerns and horror movies." Since film noir has a black and white visual style, with melancholy, disillusionment, ambiguity, evil, guilt moods it can be categorized as a genre. This type of genre normally has a femme fatale (Phyllis) who has sexual motivation with her husband, step daughters boyfriend as well as an insurance salesman. The femme fatale is normally the means for the leading male going into darkness. Film noir utilizes certain cinematography techniques that help separate it as its own genre as well. Shots are often filmed in a way that gives the viewer a sense of claustrophobia and desperateness, or just a generally uneasy feeling. This is accomplished using the striking contrast of black and white, coupled with the prevalent use of shadows and filming in small spaces. It is for these reasons that I believe film noir qualifies as its own genre.

Posted by hanse978 at 09:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |