Blog #2

In the novel Double Indemnity written by James Cain, the reader is able to recognize many elements that relate back to film noir. From the sneaky murder situation of a good stand up insurance seller, to a deranged housewife that wants a lot then just staying at home. The novel takes a few unexpected twists, but overall the signs always point back to the femme fatal character of Phyllis Nirdlinger, she is what Keyes would call, an “Irrawaddy Cobra”. Phyllis will stop at nothing until she achieves all her desires.

In Raymond Bonde and Etienne Chavments article, “Towards a Definition of film Noir”, they state “ Finally, there is ambiguity surrounding the woman: the femme fatale who is fatal to herself. Frustrated and deviant, half predator, half prey, detached yet ensnared, she falls victim to her own traps… This new type of woman, manipulative and hard bitten as her environment, ready to trade shots with anyone… We are a long way from the chaste heroines of the traditional western or historical drama.” The quote relates to Phyllis in every way possible, she will murder or find someone to do it for her by using her sex appeal, until she gets what she wants or moves on to the next killing. She is very persuasive and conniving, she has no heart or sympathy for anyone other than herself. Back in the 1950’s woman were looked at to be humble and domestic creatures, so for a role of a woman to be mischievous and a down right murderer was a powerful role to possess.

To be trapped in a woman’s spell can be both negative and positive. In the case of Walter Huff, he got caught in the wrong web of deceit. Also in Raymond Bonde and Etienne Chavments article, “Towards a Definition of film Noir”, they say “As for the ambiguous protagonist, he is often more mature, almost old and not too handsome… He is also an inglorious victim who may suffer, before the happy ending, appalling abuse… At times, he is a passive hero who allows himself to be dragged across the line into the gray area between legal and criminal behavior.”  Mr. Huff falls victim to this quote in the fact that he went against his own insurance company for a woman that cast as spell on him and for the money.  The way he went about the murder had an experienced ring to it, almost as if he has done it before.  After the murder he realizes that he hates Phyllis for what she had made him do, and all and all resenting himself.

Furthermore, from the website Filmsite, titled “Primary Characteristics and Conventions of Film Noir: Themes and styles” says, “The females in film noir are either of two types- dutiful, reliable, trustworthy and loving woman; or femme fatales- mysterious, duplications, double-crossing, gorgeous, unloving, predatory, tough-sweet, unreliable, irresponsible, manipulative and desperate woman.  The obvious femme fatal character was Phyllis Nirdlinger, she put out a good front to Mr.Huff so that he would kill her husband and with no remorse he was gone. The female that was reliable and loving was that of Miss Lola Nirdlinging, Phyllis’s stepdaughter, she was innocent and youthful and stuck between the middle of all the deceptions.