Blog #2

Raymond Borde and Etienne Chaumeton state in their article "Towards a Definition of Film Noir" that "film noir is crime from within: from the point of view of the criminal." This comment relates to Double Indemnity because it is being told by Mr. Huff the insurance salesman and the criminal. As the story begins, you think that Mr. Huff is a just a slick talking insurance saleman. But then in walks the Femme Fatale... Phillis Nirdlinger. As Mr. Huff is talking about insurance Phillis begins her act. She starts to toy with Mr. Huff and as their flirting escalates to a kiss she knows she has him. Huff puts on the tough guy act and she ends up at his house. After they banter back and forth he confronts her with the scheme that she has conjured up. She tries to deny it and then leaves. The next day Phillis comes back to Huffs house and he proceeds to tell her the best way to g et rid of Mr. Nirdlinger. They decide on the railway because if an accident happens on the rails then it becomes a double indemnity pay out. Then Huff had to figure out how he was going to get Nirdlinger on a rail. The details that he had to not only think of but to also carry them out to perfection is mind blowing to me. That is wat too much work for $50,000. In the article "Primary Characteristics and Conventions of Film Noir" it provides the description of many of the scenes that we have become accustomed to in film noir. For instance when it is raining out you just know that something is going to be wrong. Who shows up at Huffs house in the pouring down rain? The femme fatale herself. Phillis Nirdlinger soaking wet with the all knowing presumption of what she is there for. And Huff gives into her seduction and they begin to plot and scheme about how they are going to knock off her husband and collect on the insurance money. There is also the part in the book where they go to the rail yard and it is late in the evening. This too is an element of noir. The darkness and shadows of the night just bring out the wickedness of the characters of Phillis and Huff. When the deed is done I find it funny that Phillis now starts to g et very irritated with Huff and wants to throw him out of the car. But she has to take him to his car instead as to keep their alibis in line. That is classic femme fatale for you. She gets what she wants and then throws the guy to curb.This is a very intriguing story so far. I cant wait to watch the film to see what the differences will be between them.