The in-depth and thoughtful direction and successful camera angle and create a veritable image of noir films. The opening film attracts by its important details that matter.
The dark and thrilling shadows on the characters’ faces, the contrast between the light and the full darkness keeps the audience in incessant suspense and fear.
The initial scene of the movie forces the viewers to think of the murder due to the dark and horrifying atmosphere and the short and rude answers of Walter Neff to his concierge. Mysterious atmosphereĮspecial consideration requires the cinematography, music, and lightning that enhanced the completely mysterious atmosphere of the film. In addition, the rapid development of the events at the beginning of the film and its slow but still captivating end is preserved by excellent performance, talented direction, and perfect filmmaking. The main line of the film is centered on the crime, a well-planned murder, where the characters pursue different goals. The created images were supported by skillfully selected costumes and perfect hairstyles that reflect the character traits of the leading personages. Throughout the character’s deeds and their behavior, one could easily guess heroes’ real intentions. The interaction between the main characters entails the viewer to perceive the deceptive atmosphere that Billy Wilder initially meant to create. The on-screen chemistry between the lovers saturated with mesmerizing and erotic scenes left no one to be indifferent. The fascinating scenes revealing the relations between Phyllis and Walter keep the viewers in anticipation of further actions. However, this image is rather relevant to that plot as the film implies that Walter Neff is exactly the type of character for the film noir. I partially agree with Elbert’s opinion that MacMurray’s hero is rather handsome and respectable but still he is rather boring as nothing extraordinary could be told about him (Elbert 147). Many critics and Robert Elbert in particular consider this hero as rather boring and predictable. The actor discloses a narrowly framed personage meeting the traditional view on the victim of seduction. CharactersĪ talented actor Fred MacMurray played the male leading part of Walter Neff, an insurance agent and a desperate lover of indifferent Phyllis. Hence, everyone could comprehend the real nature of the character judging only upon her sharp look and outright behavior.
Anyway, Phyllis is a classical movie stereotype of a femme fatale whose features were fully embodied by Barbara Stanwyck. She is the embodiment of patience and strong character that could be traced in the way she behaves and even the way she is dressed. Her character is brightly represented in the intense dialogues with her lover. In the film, the actress manages to successfully render the emotional remoteness of the main heroine for males are only a means to gain money. Her major power is her seductiveness and sexuality that she properly uses to achieve her goals. She is a confident personality that knows exactly what she wants. Barbara Stanwyck, who played the part of the wretched wife, Phyllis Dietrichson, represents the fatal woman who feels at ease while manipulating other people’s lives. The plotĪlthough the plot of the story seems to be simple and predictive, the film is still regarded as one of the best thrilling stories due to the intricate scenes saturated with suspicion and captivating intrigues. Anyway, many scholars and critics consider the film as an enormous contribution to cinematography and the actors’ performance as the best play for their whole career. The film is the story of the murder for financial reward and lustful desire. The two major characters mentioned above are the leading figures interwoven in the foul play based on mercenary love. The film contains the classic plot when wife, Barbara Stanwyck forces her lover, a successful insurant agent Walter Neff, to kill her husband to preserve the double indemnity. The film Double Indemnity (1944) directed by Billy Wilder is one of the first films noir adapted for American viewers.