Mysterious, double-crossing, gorgeous, unloving, unreliable, manipulative are all adjectives that are used to describe the femme fatales in classic film noir. She is often the main incentive for the protagonist in film noir to commit crimes and cause him to make an ambitious choice that would eventually lead to his downfall and unpleasant fate (Dirks). Despite the characteristics that conventional femme fatale should possess, Phyllis in Double Indemnity directed by Billy Walder, Pat in Raw Deal directed by Anthony Mann, and Cora in The Postman Always Rings Twice directed by Tay Garnett are examples of femme fatale that are unlike the traditional female roles in the films. Although some of them possess the majority of her traits, the contrast and irony are also apparent in the females in classic film noir.
Double Indemnity is one of the film noir masterpieces that follows and has the majority of film noir characteristics. The film portrays a sense of melancholy, pessimism, moral......
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