ANALYSIS OF A CLASSIC NOIR

The film Double Indemnity is often considered to be a classic example of Film Noir. It was released in 1944, directed by Billy Wilder and was based on a hard-boiled novel of the same name by James M. Caine. This in itself could be considered a characteristic of Film Noir as many of them were based on the hard-boiled crime fiction of the time.

The characters in Film Noir are very typical to the genre. Walter Neff is a beat down Insurance Salesman who drinks too much and smokes too much. He always has a match handy and is seen throughout the film lighting cigarettes and cigars for himself, and others. He narrates the film, another common characteristic and talks matter-of-factly about his own fate. He falls for the Femme Fatale, Phyllis Dietrichson, a housewife who wishes to kill her husband. Already we have come across two of the stock characters for Film Noir and one of the most popular storylines used; the murder of a husband. Of course, Neff agrees to help her and, as this is Film Noir and no one is an honest person, creates a plan so that they can both profit from Mr. Dietrichson’s death.

The atmosphere in the film is quite pessimistic. We are introduced to Walter as he is recording his confession for his friend, and colleague, Barton Keyes and the story is then explained in flash backs. This is a very common characteristic in Noirs. From the start, Walter tells us he is a murderer and the audience immediately knows this will not be a happy film. Keyes makes a statement in which he comments that murder, especially double murder, will always end up with the death of those who commit it. Keyes also often comments on the lies and cheats of people trying to put in phony insurance claims. As was common in Film Noirs, this gives the impression that people as a whole are not trustworthy and just want to wrangle money out of others by any means possible. This is echoed in Walter and Phyllis’ plan.

The lighting in Double Indemnity is completely by the book of Film Noir conventions. There is a lot of use of venetian blinds, in fact in the scene where Phyllis is shot by Walter she turns off all the lights before he enters the room. The only light from then on is that coming through the windows, although Walter later closes the curtains, and from her cigarette.

As well as this, there is the use of a classic Noir soundtrack. The striking combination of silence and loud noises, added with the ambiance of city life is present in most Noir films. A great example in this film is the shooting scene, in which the sound of the first gunshot echoes and shocks the viewer. Walter and Phyllis often met at the local super market, proving that crime doesn’t just happen in the sleazy and depressing parts of the city but in fact all areas which was a strong Noir ideology. During these meets, the sounds of super market life are happening in the background, furthering the ideology.

In conclusion, it is very clear that Double Indemnity is a classic Noir. From it’s use of flashbacks and narratives to it’s by the book characters is fits the codes and conventions of the genre extremely well.