With roszas now indelible pounding theme music closing out the scene, double indemnity comes to its end. The films voiceover narration and flashback structure also influenced. May 01, 20 inspired by the stylish costumes and makeup of double indemnity. I vaguely recall watching the movie of the same name. Whats remarkable is how modern a film noir femme fatale like barbara stanwyck as double indemnitys phyllis dietrichson seems even now, how. After the war, with the birth of film noir, the femme fatale became more widely featured. Oct 09, 2008 the dark tone of double indemnity, both visually and thematically, the antihero who is led astray by greed and lust, and the seductive yet deadly femme fatale are all essential film noir ingredients. A century after theda baras baby vamp silverscreen routine created a blueprint for the aesthetic of the femme fatale onscreen, her cinematic status endureswith a few key shifts. Double indemnityfilm noirbarbara stanwyckentertainment roomphoto x never was a femme fatale more deadly, in every sense of the word, than in double indemnity, starring barbara stanwyck and. Double indemnity is a highly influential 1943 crime novel, written by american journalistturnednovelist james m. Their attraction is incredibly well portrayed, and the development of their relationship with each other is so convincing that what happens between them almost seems normal.
Double indemnity was first published in 1935 and affirmed james m. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Also like double indemnity, this novel was adapted. Get your own femme fatale look with periodspecific tips from the playhouses wig. A dark, seductive tale of lust and murder in double indemnity. May 27, 2018 not a bad place to write about double indemnity, the book adapted for the first of our two may films in the ongoing noir on the boulevard series. An indepth look at a film noir classic barbara stanwyck and fred macmurray in double indemnity, billy wilder 1944 it has all the characteristics of the classic forties film as i respond to it. Double indemnity essays are academic essays for citation. Double indemnity available for download and read online in other formats. Femme fatale the femme fatale was first seen in prewwii. Femme fatale in gun crazy and double indemnity duration. Get your own femme fatale look with periodspecific tips from the playhouses wig master and makeup artist daniel townsend. Some of the changes made to the double indemnity screenplay were definite improvements on the book, probably due to the fact that raymond chandler was a cowriter on the movie.
Mar 24, 2005 buy double indemnity read a great movie by james m. Other classic femme fatale characters not pure archetypes are brigid oshaughnessy in the maltese falcon, velma valentohelen grayle in farewell, my lovely, cora in the postman always rings twice and phyllis in double indemnity. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of double indemnity by director billy wilder. Cains classic 1936 tale of lust and murder and insurance. In many ways, phyllis nirdlinger is the perfect femme fatale. Double indemnity is unique in that it contains a powerful femme fatale who is responsible for the downfall of a male figure that is also a bad guy. Its in black and white, it has fast badinage, its very witty, a story from the classic age.
Pdf double indemnity download full pdf book download. She plots to kill her husband in a railroad mishap that would bring her a double indemnity insurance imbursement. Film analysis of double indemnity film studies essay. Barbara stanwyck, an ankletsporting femme fatalehousewife. Jan 07, 2007 the femme fatale is a necessary component of miseenscene in the film noir genre. Not a bad place to write about double indemnity, the book adapted for the first of our two may films in the ongoing noir on the boulevard series. Within these narratives, of which double indemnity fits in neatly, women were subject to malignant backlash 75. Barbara stanwyck as phyllis dietrichson, the murderous femme fatale in double indemnity and fred macmurray as walter neff, her victim, have amazing chemistry on screen. Here, i will point out what characterizes the showpiecefemme fatale, with reference to the sociocultural background.
One of noirs most infamous femme fatales is phyllis dietrichson in double indemnity 1944, portrayed by barbara stanwyck. Phyllis dietrichsonthe dissatisfied wife, the femme fatale, played by barbara. It was dialogue like that quoted above and the closing scene that distinguishes double indemnity and makes it sublime among noir films. Background adapted from a short novella by james m cain adapted for the screen by raymond chandler a detective novelist directed by billy wilder a jewish emigre who went on to direct a list films like sunset boul. Double indemnity is a film noir directed by billy wilder in 1944, and it was based on the novel of the same name double indemnity which was published in 1943. The following chapter is the main focus of my paper.
But it doesnt take phyllis more than a conversation, a cup of tea, and a kiss to convince walter to murder her husband. Why is phyllis in double indemnity hailed as one of. Walter knows that accident insurance pays double indemnity on railroad. On every level writing, direction, acting double indemnity 1944 is a triumph and stands as one of the greatest achievements in billy wilders career. In double indemnity, walter neff fred macmurray, a to some extent cute but dim insurance agent, becomes prey to the charms of a flirtatious blonde, phyllis dietrieckson. Stanwycks portrayal of dietrichson is considered one of the best femme fatale roles in film noir history. Post wwii, many women became independent from men, simply due to. Double indemnity by billy wilder, raymond chandler. Double indemnity study guide contains a biography of director billy wilder, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Feb 02, 2010 the first scene featuring phyllis already designates her role as double indemnity s femme fatale. The book was first published in serial form for liberty magazine in 1936.
Oct 22, 2018 a double indemnity scene analysis by sean oneill. Double indemnitys tale of a femme fatale seducing a man to help her kill her husband, but this time its to. May 15, 2019 in many ways, phyllis nirdlinger is the perfect femme fatale. The femme fatale, that is the female protagonist of the film noir whom inevitably causes the downfall of the male protagonist steve neale 187, is always punished. Double indemnity the finale summary and analysis gradesaver. Many literary critics and writers have tracked the history of the. Cains double indemnity, the novels protagonist, walter huff, describes her as having a washedout look. Analyzing patriarchal gender relations within double. She is often the main incentive for the protagonist in film noir to commit crimes and cause him to make an ambitious choice that would eventually lead to his downfall and unpleasant fate dirks. Gone girl by gillian flynn was a masterful resurrection and flipping of the femme fatale trope. Phyllis dietrichson is not the ultimate femme fatale. Double indemnity and the use of the femme fatale youtube.
Cain, the femme fatale and the male gaze crimereads. When sexual manipulation is the most feminist move of all elle. Barton keyes is the dogged, determined investigator for general fidelity of california who puts it all together in double indemnity, james m. Double indemnity is a 1943 crime novel, written by american journalistturnednovelist james. Chapter 3 introduces the femme fatale as a female archetype in film noir. The camera takes a low angle, as she is speaking to neff from upstairs. Double indemnity and the politics of gender curnblog. Film noir can trace its origins back to the violent and glamorous gangster films of the 1930s but also to the hardboiled crime fiction that emerged from the depression that was characterised by witty. Still, as far as the book goes, hes a relatively minot character. Following that, double indemnity appeared as a one of three long short tales in the collection three of a kind. Double indemnity fused many elements together to become perhaps the first iconic example of film noir genre. As she descends the stairs, the camera provides an extreme closeup on her feet.
This film was nominated for seven academy awards, but it did not win any prize. The analysis of phyllis dietrichson in double indemnity 1944. Her high positioning foreshadows the power she will have over neff. Analysis of the film double indemnity 2728 words bartleby. The character phyllis nirdlinger as a femme fatale 75. But lets honor one of the earliest and best femme fatales in american cinema history. It was strange reading this book as it times it seemed like i was watching an old black and white movie. Buy double indemnity read a great movie by james m. The character of phyllis dietrichson challenges patriarchal gender stereotypes and is defined in relation to men place 47. It was strange reading this book as it times it seemed like i. Phyllis is a femme fatale character at best, and a black widow at worst. It is noticeable that phyllis, the femme fatale of the story, constantly oversteps the boundaries of her gender, thus posing a threat to men. Double indemnitys fatal woman marybeth and film noir.
According to imdb, cain liked the plot solutions that billy wilder and raymond chandler came up with for the movie and would have used them in the book if he had thought of them himself. Double indemnity novel project gutenberg selfpublishing. She rejects the traditional roles of wife and mother and, like the men offilm. Phyllis dietrichson is a fictional character in the book and two film adaptations of james m. Barbara stanwyck, as the deadliest of femme fatales. The double indemnity novel community note includes.
Double indemnity is a 1943 crime novel, written by american journalistturnednovelist james m. First published in 1935, this novel reaffirmed james m. Jul 08, 2014 within these narratives, of which double indemnity fits in neatly, women were subject to malignant backlash 75. I was initially worried going into double indemnity as found a few scenarios sounded almost identical to what i read the postman always rings twice where the wife of a rich business man teams up with her lover to plot her husbands murder. There have not yet been any hommes fatales though they abound in gothic and romance fiction. It was first published in serial form in liberty magazine in 1936 and then was one of three long short tales in the collection three of a kind. During the time of the time of the war, melodrama, a genre that did not include the femme fatale, became the popular genre of film. Laura mulvey molly haskell double indemnity billy wilder film noir psychoanalysis femme fatale freud film studies in her article visual pleasure and the narrative cinema, laura mulvey describes a way of analyzing and understanding cinema from a feminist and psychoanalytic perspective.
She rejects the traditional roles of wife and mother and, like the men offilm noir, she looks for sexual fulfillment outside of marriage. It is noticeable that phyllis, the femme fatale of the story, constantly oversteps the boundaries of. Inspired by the stylish costumes and makeup of double indemnity. Walter in this story isnt a hero hes a criminal and a murderer, which is established from the start. Why is phyllis in double indemnity hailed as one of cinema. What are the elements of film noir on display in double indemnity. We described a femme fatale as being beautiful, one who leads the main character into danger, and feigns naivete or weakness to hide manipulative goals. The femme fatale, defined simply, is an irresistibly attractive woman, especially one who leads men into danger. Cain in 1936, edmund wilson states, that double indemnity gives us an xray view of guilt, of duplicity, and of the obsessive, loveless love that devastates everything it touches. In the beginning, phyllis is married to an older man who.
Since we talked mostly about femme fatales in class, i focused mainly on the one introduced in last weeks film, double indemnity. The film counterbalances the theme of feminine evil in the film, personified by the figure of the femme fatale, with genuine moments of malemale bonding and outreach such. At the rumpus, we know how easy it is to find pop culture on the internet, so were here to give you something more challenging, to show you how beautiful things are when you step off the beaten path. Double indemnity is the second book i read of james m. The protagonists involvement with her may range from mild flirtation to passionate. When sexual manipulation is the most feminist move. Cain, screenwriter raymond chandler, and director billy wilderthis 1944 film noir works as a quintessential california narrative at the same time it creates a universe all its own. Sep 17, 20 since we talked mostly about femme fatales in class, i focused mainly on the one introduced in last weeks film, double indemnity. In hardboiled fiction, she is usually the protagonists romantic interest. Oct 22, 2015 whats remarkable is how modern a film noir femme fatale like barbara stanwyck as double indemnity s phyllis dietrichson seems even now, how of the moment. It is noticeable that phyllis, the femme fatale of the story, constantly oversteps the boundaries of her gender, thus. The first scene featuring phyllis already designates her role as double indemnity s femme fatale. It uses highcontrast, lowkey lighting, complemented by the use of venetian blinds as a filter.
An alternate ending had neff going to the gas chamber in the book the lovers commit suicide. Double indemnity femme fatale films from literature. The character phyllis nirdlinger as a femme fatale in double. The product of a creative holy trinitynovelist james m. It is quite short especially if you ignore the padding in the foreword which serves no real purpose. How do the three women in the maltese falcon represent. Double indemnity is a 1943 crime novel, written by american journalistturned novelist james. One of the most notable femme fatale characters in the history of cinema.
Jul 27, 2018 had he succumbed to her, marlowe would have been shot at the novels end. As she descends the stairs, the camera provides an extreme closeup. Analyzing patriarchal gender relations within double indemnity 1944 term paper american studies miscellaneous publish your bachelors or masters thesis, dissertation, term paper or essay. The evolution of the femme fatale in film noir crimereads. By reading it, one can learns why but that is not the only observation that can be made. Mysterious, doublecrossing, gorgeous, unloving, unreliable, manipulative are all adjectives that are used to describe the femme fatales in classic film noir. Cain novel by director wilder and novelist raymond chandler, it tells the story of an insurance salesman, played by fred macmurray, who is lured into a murderforinsurance plot by barbara.
Fred macmurray and barbara stanwyck in double indemnity dir. The character phyllis nirdlinger as a femme fatale in double indemnity by james m. Double indemnity film noirbarbara stanwyckentertainment roomphoto x never was a femme fatale more deadly, in every sense of the word, than in double indemnity, starring barbara stanwyck and fred macmurray. Cain novel by director wilder and novelist raymond chandler, it tells the story of an insurance salesman, played by fred macmurray, who is lured. Double indemnity uses the common themes of film noir by displaying deception through the femme fatale phyllis dietrichson who uses her sexual appeal to manipulate walter neff not only to gain power over him, but also to gain money.
1449 738 922 581 568 1618 43 187 1034 1429 1180 62 19 66 806 1016 541 118 1185 536 1457 1358 1381 35 909 302 581 923 592 1469 1286 657 1339 509 880 1382 1432 952 706