Cinematography and Film Noir
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.