“Double Indemnity”: An Exemplary Noir Film Essay

A classical narrative is based on several important features, such as the characters, the plot of the film, and the overall narration. “Double Indemnity” is an exemplary “noir” film with all the main classical components: a cynical main character, the atmosphere of a constant night with light and shadow playing in the frames, a femme-fatale, and a sharp plot.

• One of the most important features of a classical narrative is the presence of carefully selected characters. The number of them can vary from one to several, but the plot of the film develops around them. In “Double Indemnity”, the plot twists around three main characters – Walter, Phyllis, and Barton.
• The second important feature of a narrative is the plot. It can be linear or and non-linear. A linear narrative is one that follows a straight line of narration. Its plots are divided into certain points in a special order, beginning from the equilibrium, or the exposition. In “Double Indemnity”, the narrative is non-linear, as the plot begins from the resolution.
• Another significant component of any narrative is the style of narration. The two ways are an omniscient narration and a restricted narration. An omniscient narration is one that tells the story from the perspective of a third-person, which is not presented in the movie. The protagonist in “Double Indemnity” is the main character himself.
• According to the above-mentioned information, “Double Indemnity” is based on a non-linear structure. The film begins from the resolution, acquainting the viewer with the main protagonist – Walter. He is presented in a dark light, with unhappy facial expressions which allow the audience to understand that the film will not have a happy ending. Such a plot is common for noir films, which are often described as thrillers.

The second part of the movie presents the most decisive action in the film – the protagonist meeting the femme-fatale. There is also an important feature in noir films – the main characters are always dependent on something that leads the character either to a dead-end or death. Walter Neff, for example, gets captured into the “nets” of Phyllis and becomes a “puppet” in her game.

• The disruption is based on the fateful meeting. Harmless business talks between Walter and Phyllis lead to a cold-blooded murder turning the movie into a dark psychological thriller.
• The resolution brings the viewer back to the beginning of the film, giving closure to the story. The final frame is a two-person shot in which the protagonist is wounded and the detective lights him a cigarette. Smoking is known to be a significant attribute in many noir movies.