Femme Fatale: Evil or Not
Mysterious, double-crossing, gorgeous, unloving, unreliable, manipulative are all adjectives that are used to describe the femme fatales in classic film noir. 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). Despite the characteristics that conventional femme fatale should possess, Phyllis in Double Indemnity directed by Billy Walder, Pat in Raw Deal directed by Anthony Mann, and Cora in The Postman Always Rings Twice directed by Tay Garnett are examples of femme fatale that are unlike the traditional female roles in the films. Although some of them possess the majority of her traits, the contrast and irony are also apparent in the females in classic film noir. Double Indemnity is one of the film noir masterpieces that follows and has the majority of film noir characteristics. The film portrays a sense of melancholy, pessimism, moral corruption, evil, and guilt with advance filming techniques at its time such as low-key lightings, skewed camera angles, deep shadows, and settings at empty streets or gloomy interior to suggest the tone of the movie (Spicer127). The females and especially Phyllis, the femme fatale in Double Indemnity also has an important role on the well respected reputation of the film. Phyllis is one of the most if not the most standard characteristics of femme fatale among all the film noir movies. She is a gorgeous looking woman with blonde hair and a seductive curvy body but an evil and immoral character who would do anything for money (Wadler). Her first encounter with the anti-hero of the film, Walter, displayed her beauty and her ability to attract Walter with her appearance and seductiveness. The camera focused on her legs as she came down from the stairs wearing gold ankle strap heels. Walter watches her with eyes of desires and longing as she buttons up her dress and puts on her lipstick
Bibliography: Dirks, Tim. "Double Indemnity". 1996-2005 © by Tim Dirks http://filmsite.org/doub.html Dirks, Tim. "Film Noir". 1996-2005 © by Tim Dirks. http://www.filmsite.org/filmnoir.html Dirks, Tim "The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)" 1996-2005 Tim Dirks c. Universal., 1944 Raw Deal The Postman Always Rings Twice. Dir. Tay Garnett. Perf. Lana Turner, John Garfield. 1946.