Film Noir

Film noir is a style of film that sets it's tone by using light and contrasts of black and white. It is realistic and an artistic movement that was a response to WWII. "Double Indemnity" is a film noir movie. Because I watched "Double Indemnity" before I read this article I was struck throughout my viewing of the film by a) that the movie was in black and white, b) the contrasts between black and white the film uses and how these contrasts set tone and reflect dialogue, and c) how I did not find the mistress very appealing. Upon reading this article I was able to appreciate how the semi unappealing mistress and the contrasts and well as the black and white reel, the three things that were most obvious to me watching the film, came together to create a larger system and style. Also upon reading the historical motivations and ideas behind film noir, I was able to make sense of why in fact Phyllis was not very attractive. Film noir is supposed to be about realism and honesty, it's supposed to give us a stark and accurate reflection of the world we really live in. In this honest system why would an evil, murderous, cheating women be someone we aspire to know and lust after? Although Walter does, the system of lighting and music makes her slightly unappealing to the audience, helping us NOT get lost in the seductress's beauty, but see her for what she honestly is, a disgusting sociopath.