American Politics & Pop Culture

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.