Blog Post #8- Baby

2. Film noir literally means “black film.” As you are watching the film, keep track of all the elements in the picture that seem dark or depressing. Think about the characters, the setting, and the storyline.

           Double-Indemnity was a very melancholy film. The whole story centers around a wife who wants to murder her abusive husband, and a once-innocent salesman who lets himself get caught up in the whole affair. The settings are generally dark and much of the movie takes place at night in dimly lit apartments or city streets. All of the characters add to the darkness of the film. Walter Neff is a successful salesman with a dark side. He saw a married woman and began flirting with her. The innocent flirting led to a more serious involvement, and he eventually helped her plan her husband's murder, so she could collect his life insurance policy. Phyllis Dietrichson is an evil women who manipulates Walter and uses him to compose a plan to murder her husband and get her a 100,000$. Mr. Dietrichson is an alcoholic who treats his wife very badly. Each one of the main characters add to the darkness of the film. Nearly all of the elements in Double-Indemnity add to the noir classification of the film by bringing up dark and depressing ingredients.