Billy Wilders Double Idemnity - 1367 Words

Double Indemnity - Scene Analysis Billy Wilder’s Double Indemnity is one of the best representatives of the film noir era in Hollywood as it contains all the main characteristics of the genre. The general darkness present throughout the movie is embodied in the plot which reveals the moral bankruptcy of the main characters. It is also present in the mise-en-scene choices such as the dark costumes and modest lighting with the great emphasis on shadows (Allyn 1978, p. 117). The main character’s voice-over, another important film noir characteristic, brings this darkness to life and communicates it to the audience with brutal honesty. One of the scenes of the film which contains all of these features is the one where the two main†¦show more content†¦He communicates his motivations, feelings and thoughts that went through his mind after he met Phyllis for the first time. Through the voice-over the audience gets a glimpse of how big of an impression Phyllis had left on Neff only by appearing in fro nt of him and exchanging a few sentences with him (Bronfen 2004, pp. 104–105). Walter does not only tell the story, but makes the audience feel for him as he subtly seeks for their approval. The voice-over has the effect of making the audience question how they would have behaved had they been in Walter’s shoes. It was also used to introduce the other characters that would make their appearances later in the plot – Mr. Dietrichson and his daughter from another marriage – Lola. The next shot is a close-up of Phyllis’ lower legs as she descends the stairs. The camera then pulls back as we see Phyllis finishing buttoning her shirt and walking towards the mirror. The emphasis on sexual appeal of the femme fatale is strong in this scene. The close-up of Phyllis’ legs only confirms what the towel scene initially suggested – she will use her looks and sexual appeal as a powerful tool to help her manipulate Neff and achieve the goal of killing her husband (Bronfen 2004, 106). As we see Neff in the mirror, standing behind Phyllis, we notice that, unlike her, heShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Double Indemnity1052 Words   |  5 PagesDouble Indemnity is a film noir directed by Billy Wilder in 1944, and it was based on the novel of the same name â€Å"Double Indemnity† which was published in 1943. This film was nominated for seven Academy Awards, but it did not win any prize. Double Indemnity is a story about the crime of Phyllis and Neff. Ph yllis plans to kill her husband to receive the claim of an accident insurance and Neff set up a scheme to get twice the amount of a clause. Although a classic â€Å"femme fatale† of the noir era, Phyllis