Double Indemnity as part of film noir

2. Film noir literally means “black film.” As you are watching the film, keep track of all the elements in the picture that seem dark or depressing. Think about the characters, the setting, and the storyline.

Film Noir is a mood, tone, or style of a film. It developed in the post WWII era in the United States and is similar to German Expressionism. Double Indemnity is a typical film noir piece from 1944. It is a black and white film which is significant to how it fits into film noir. By shooting in black and white lighting becomes key for telling viewers the mood that is being created by the film makers. The lighting in film noir is generally low key and plays on shadows and sharp lighting to tell a story. For example a majority of the action in the film happens at night which allows the film makers greater freedom to enhance shadows that would already exist to create a mood for the scene. The entire time Walter is leaving the confession for Keyes he is shot in low key lighting that leaves shadows on him and behind him. Even in the shots during the day there are shadows in the shot. For example when Keyes is talking to Walter in his office about the case there are shadows on Walter but not Keyes hinting that Walter is dark.

These films typically were centered around a dark male character and he usually meets a seductive, attractive girl who usually has her own dark agenda in mind. This is seen in Double Indemnity in the main characters Walter Neff and Phyllis. Throughout the film he is always dressed in dark suits that contrast well with the lighting, hats that cover his face, and is angled so you can't look at both his eyes at once when he is doing something dark, morally wrong, or illegal. For example when he goes to shoot Phyllis and they shoot each other you can't make out his eyes because of the lighting. Phyllis is often shown in seductive clothes, which are made even more seductive by the lighting and her positioning in the shot. The "black film" aspect is seen for her character through her actions and motive more than her clothes. However she is usually shot in lighting that brings out shadows and creates an eerie or dark mood. 

The plot is dark because the plot fits perfectly into a plot of a film noir. It is motivated by money and sexual desires. Phyllis has already killed someone before and now she's tired of her husband wants to be with Nino Seketti and uses Walter to get rich so she and Nino can go and be rich and happy. Walter wants to help Phyllis because in the beginning he believes they love each other and wants to help her so they can live happily ever after. None of the killing is shown on screen because at the time these films came out it was barely acceptable to have plot driven by dark things and it wasn't yet acceptable for murders to be shown on screen they were too dark. The setting of the train tracks and the field surrounding it are seen as dark because they are desolate and eerie. And again all the dark acts take place in the dark of night adding to the setting being seen as dark. 

With all the dark features of this film Double Indemnity is a typical film noir that is a classic from its time period.