The beauty of Film Noir

This particular week, we really looked at the Film Noir era. Most film noir movies have the theme of femme fatale. This particular style came about after WWII due to post-war disillusionment. This resulted in a lot of shades, contrast, and grey areas in plot. Just a quick rundown. Enjoy!

Double Indemnity Response

Admittedly, I had never really seen much in the way of film noire. Mostly just spin-offs and comedic approaches, such as the character of Sam Diamond in Murder by Death. But after learning about what exactly constitutes a film noire, I knew that it was a genre I'd like. I've always had a love for that classic ideal and a mix of danger and mystery. Walking away from Double Indemnity, I remember saying to my friend, “why don't people talk like that anymore? 'I knew that dame was trouble, from the second I laid eyes on her.'” There's something both classy and witty about the dialogue of those movies. In today's world, we have mostly fast-paced action. But that gets real boring real quick for me. The fast paced dialogue of the older movies, like this one, is far more exciting and interesting to me. It makes me wish I could be as witty and conversational. The elegance of the characters is only superseded by their wit. As he lays dying on the floor, the main character, Walter, just says something along the lines of “They moved the elevator a few miles away.” (I could not find the exact quote.

A few things really struck me during the film though. For starts, you can tell it was a completely different time with different cultural views. Everyone is smoking. There's never a comment or question about it. They didn't even do it as a way to glamorize smoking. It was as normal as getting a glass of water in those time periods. Then at one point Walter goes to a drive up restaurant where he is served a beer. Is there any easier way of telling someone plans to drink and drive? But it doesn't mean anything to them.

Also the lighting was very distinctive. There are shadows and silhouettes everywhere. Dark shadows, and contoured designs. It was all very mysterious. Also, it was easy to see the Production Code at work. You never see Walter and Phyllis actually kiss; it's always hidden or simply a kiss on the cheek. You don't see or hear when Phyllis' husband is murdered. They always tactfully hide his body when it is dumped on the train tracks. This is all very different from how movies are done now.

My favorite quote from the movie comes from Walter, as he's walking down the road shortly after killing Phyllis' husband. “I couldn't hear my own footsteps. That's the walk of a dead man.”