Independent study – Men and Women in ‘film noir’

Conventions of Film Noir:

• The conventions of film noir are violence, sinister language, fate & death, rainy streets, shadows, guns, chiaroscuro lighting and black & white cinematography. In film noir the cinematography is monochrome, not only because of the technology when it was filmed but a visual representation of the genre itself. Film noir was at its peak just after the second world war and there wasn’t much hope, the black and white represented how bleak everything was and how there was no literal or metaphorical colour in life. Also death was a common convention in film noir as a representation of the idea that no-one is safe and that everyone has two sides to them. The roles of men and women were clear representations of the divide in genders and types of personalities in such a fragile and pessimistic time. The two character types were ‘anti-hero’ and ‘femme fatale.’

Men in film noir: • Men in film noir were often the protagonists. The protagonist was often a

detective or business man who was easily lead into a false sense of security by a women (the antagonist). Their lives were portrayed as fairly bleak and depressing, this could be seen as a visual representation of men after the war. During the war men, had fought, died and lost their closest friends and comrades. After, life was depressing and hopeless, those who didn’t die were seriously damaged, mentally or physically. PTSD was common. This was brought into film noir as male characters were always the ones to be stabbed in the back, and live in constant fear. Linking back to the relationship with women, men would often be easily lead into a false sense of security. They were easily seduced, this was a representation of how little hope there was in men’s lives and how when there was a little chance of hope they would try and grab it without thinking about consequences.

Women in film noir: • In film noir women were represented as very sly, two-faced, untrustworthy and

misleading. Women were known for seducing the main character of a film noir film, using their good-looks and charm. It was thought that the blonder the women’s hair was, the most dangerous they would be. Women were a representation of other countries (power-hungry) as they exposed and used other, vulnerable, countries to gain power and for their own personal greed. This was at a time when women were seeking more power and to be recognised as individual people, and by presenting them as sly, intelligent people as visual representation of their ‘rebellion’ was formed. Women were also very sexualised and men were often drawn in by lust. Again, showing women to be sly and mischievous, exposing and exploiting men, who are trying to get hold of something they see as positive.

Anti-heroes/men in film noir: ‘Double Indemnity’

• This screenshot from Double Indemnity represents anti-heroes in film noir. From this screenshot the audience can assume that the character is a classy man as his costume is very smart, but for those who have seen the film, implies that he must be good at his job if he can afford that clothing. From this the audience can infer that he is going to be the target for the femme fatale character.

• Also in this screenshot, the idea of the little power men have is presented. In this scene the man is looking up towards the women at the top of the stairs (who is wearing nothing but a towel; sexualisation) which is a visual representation of how men in film noir were impotent to women.

• Another idea from this screenshot is that the non-diegetic light on his face could be lit by the women he is looking at. This idea is that men would look at women as opportunities and a little hope into their bleak lives and his attention is immediately drawn to it. This is a representation of the idea that men would be instantly drawn to any chance of hope and go in head first, only to their demise though.

‘Laura’

• In this screenshot, you can see the common conventions of anti-hero within Laura. The male characters are detectives (a common feature) and are looking for the murderer of a women. The screenshot shows how they are smartly dressed, and like Double indemnity the audience can infer that they are in trouble.

• The fact that these two characters are detectives conforms with classic conventions of noir as male character are usually detectives and for detectives to be involved there has to have been a crime. Which is also common in noir, and in this film a women has been murdered. Although the women is not alive, her death still has an impact as it puts the male characters at risk. From this the audience can see that even when they’re dead women still have control and an influence over men. This is a visual representation of how powerless men and the anti-heroes were, making their lives bleak and almost pointless.

Femme fatale/women in film noir: ‘Double indemnity’ • In this screenshot from Double Indemnity, the low angle shot of the women is a clear visual

representation of the power that she holds over the man. The audience are looking up at her, and the intention behind it is to put the audience into the males PoV and shows she is towering over him, reinforcing the power she has over him.

• Ideas of Femme fatale are presented here also because of the little clothing she is wearing. Women were very sexualised in film noir and they used their looks to lure men in and get their own ways. This screenshot shows how she has drawn attention because she is wearing nothing but a towel. And the audience can infer that the male will have a sexual lust towards her, which will end in his demise.

• Despite the picture being black and white, the lady’s bright blonde hair is distinct. In film noir the blonder a lady’s hair, the more dangerous she can be. And from this screenshot, the audience can infer the threat that she poses.

‘Laura’

• Although in this film ‘Laura’ has been murdered, the power of women is still represented. After she has been murdered detectives are hired to solve the mystery, and they go to great lengths to try and find out who the murderer is. This shows how women have the power to control men and what they do. This links to the idea that women use lust and intelligence to control men, like puppet masters.

• Another idea explored in this screenshot is the question on the screen. It says “What is Laura?” This suggests to the audience that Laura has a deeper, hidden message. And having watched the film the message is clearly the idea of women having more power than men. The idea that men will do anything that the think is right for women, suggests that the are blind to see their fait and their bleak lives have such little hope in them.

What aspects of noir can I include in my thriller opening? • There are many aspects of film noir that I can include in my thriller.

For example, the mise-en-scene. Chiaroscuro lighting can be created to create a dark, tense and suspenseful atmosphere, like in noir. Also in my thriller I can, and plan to, use the idea of using different types of characters to represent different sides of society, Using motifs (e.g. blonde hair on a dangerous women). However, there are certain aspects such as death and guns etc. that I cannot use in my thriller as it will not be realistic.