1. Discuss the contrasts between the
endings of the novel and the film. Which
ending seems more appropriate for film noir?
Why?
The ending of the story Double Indemnity on the book and on
the film has two different ideas and set up. On the film, Phyllis shot Walter
at her house, he came closer and dare her to do it again on a closer range but
she did not, she confess her love to him instead but he shot her in reply to
that. I think this ending is more appropriate for a film noir because there is
more actions and death involve, it is more darker and evil, just because the
audience thinks that Phyllis deserve to die. It is even better because Walter
kill her himself, the guy who killed for her and the one she manipulated like a
puppet. Walter executed the revenge for all the people she killed. The book on
the other hand, seems too dramatic for me for a work of noir. The ending where
they’re at the boat and she started to talk about marrying him, and Walter
thinking about all the people she killed, after all they have been through it
is kind of disappointing for them to just give up and commit a suicide. Not
only that the ending leaves us a lot of questions and keeps us hanging there
but I also thought that they end it in a boring way.
5. During
the title sequence, a man on crutches hobbles towards the camera. Explain the significance of this image. Who in the story does this man
represent? Why would this be an
appropriate image to show at the beginning of the film? How does this sequence anticipate later
developments in the film?
A man wearing a suit and a fedora
hat with his crutches both represents Mr. Dietrichson and Walter Neff. I think the
significance of that image dictates the fate of Walter Neff. Walter
impersonates Dietrichson by wearing the same clothes he did and pretending he
is on the same situation like him. He killed him not knowing that his life will
be in danger as well. The image is dark and we can’t really see who he is, if
you have not read the book and it’s your first time to watch the movie, it will
lead you with so many questions and not until the end of the movie will it make
sense to you. I also want to emphasize the crutches; I think it’s a sign of
weakness, especially of Walter, crutches are for support and in Walter case it
suggest that he does not have a full power of himself. The fact that he got
manipulated and controlled by a girl and actually kill for her shows his weak
will as a man. He is like a boy who received a candy (kiss) from her and willing to
do everything after that. I also notice that the man is walking towards the camera;
I thought of it like as if he is welcoming his death, he is slowly sinking and
he’s aware of that, he knows his doomed so might as well face all the
consequences.
I really liked what you said about how the movie ended compared to how the book ended. I also thought that the film ending was better. I am not sure if that's because seeing the killer die from being killed or not, but I felt like it was much more fitting for the noir setting. The book ending seemed so weird and random to me. I do not think Mr. Keyes would have helped Walter out that much. I also did not read that much in to the crutches scene so all of those things that you pointed out made a lot of sense. He is definitely shown as a weak person and that he needs as much support as he can get.
ReplyDeleteJerrica, I agree with you. I think Mr. Neff does show a little bit of a weakness when he pretends to be Mr. Dietrichson and carry those crutches. It very much shows him as a weak man who is being played into another persons' sinister crime. A weak man that somehow knows he is destined to fail with this one. You make a good point when you state that he is walking towards the light as if he is welcoming death. In a way I feel as if he knew death was going to be his payment for the life he took. He's a very dark character in a way, also with a little bit of mystery, and it definitely gets presented in the film.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the movie had a more noir feel to it but I will admit that the books "sudden" choice of giving up and just dying brought elements of noir such as the anti- hero was hopeless and giving up. The femme fatal was ruined in reputation and no longer held any power over others. They end their life not because it's romantic or anything but because there seems to be no way out of their danger. So after looking at it again yes the ending is noir like but no it is not satisfying. Now pertaining to the man on the crutches you had good insight but I think that in no way pertaining to the content of the film does it make sense that the man is Phyllis's husband.
ReplyDeleteThe man walking towards the screen at the beginning of the film "double indemnity" to me could only be mr. Neff himself. Although the original character who required this look was Phyllis's husband I don't think it can be him. Neff pretended to be this man in doing so I shared a similar fate, showed weakness and also showed his submission to Phyllis. This guy had gotten himself licked and there was no way out of his fate. Whereas Phyllis' husband was never a heavy character in the film. He had no standing or really needed much character analysis. He died and we moved on from him. I think that neff was the only possible candidate for that scene.
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