Gender, Power and the Film Noir

1
Gender, Power and the Film NoirIIStudent
Edition

• Based on Works by
• Andreia Thaxton Jeneen Surrency
• Aaron Simmons Greg Thompson

Created and Edited by Dr. Kay Picart_at_ 2002
2
Film Noir--Lecture Outline

• This PowerPoint is broken into two sections.
• This division should correspond to two fifty
  minute class sessions.

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Film Noir--Lecture Outline (2)

• Section One covers John Beltons article Film
  Noir Somewhere in the Night, and L.A.
  Confidential as an example of Film Noir
• Section Two covers the Brian Gallagher text and
  its relationship to the film
• Each section will contain discussion questions
  relative to the information.

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Film Noir Time, Section Two

• Homoeroticism (25 minutes)
• Sexual Warfare (25 minutes)

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Session Two

• Applying Brian Gallaghers
• I Love You Too Sexual Warfare and
  Homoeroticism in Billy Wilders Double Indemnity
  
• to L.A. Confidential

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LAC - The Threesome

• What is the threesome, according to Gallagher?

Continued on Next Slide
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LAC - The Threesome (2)

• Apply the notion of the triangle in L.A.
  Confidential.

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LAC - Antagonism/ Banter

• Show that Double Indemnity and L.A. Confidential
  contain sexual warfare and bantering. Cite
  specific scenes and use film form language to
  analyze these.

Continued on Next Slide
9
LAC - Antagonism/ Banter (2)

• Compare and contrast the verbal battles in LAC
  and DI.

Continued on Next Slide
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LAC - Antagonism/ Banter (3)

• Compare Phyllis and Lynn in their verbal sparring
  abilities and their use of their sexual powers.
  Cite specific scenes.

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LAC - Homoeroticism

• Compare LAC and DIs hints of homoerotic
  relationships. Cite specific examples, and pay
  attention to film form.

Continued on Next Slide
12
LAC - Phyllis vs. Lynn

• Gallagher notes that in Double Indemnity Phyllis
  is depicted in a common Film Noir as
  _____________? (How is her beauty depicted?)

Continued on Next Slide
13
LAC - Phyllis vs. Lynn (2)

• How are Phyllis and Lynn depicted? Pay attention
  to the mechanics of how they are shot.

Continued on Next Slide
14
LAC - Phyllis vs. Lynn (3)

• Discuss the cameras voyeurism as it depicts
  Phyllis walking down the steps, and how Lynn is
  first revealed underneath her dark hood.

15
LAC - Redemption of Woman

• According to Gallagher, Double Indemnity suggests
  that heterosexual relationships are ___________.
• In contrast, L.A. Confidential, however, shows
  that heterosexual relationships are
  ________________.
• Compare and contrast the endings of both films.

Continued on Next Slide
16
LAC - Redemption of Woman (2)

• Describe how Lynn looks at the end of L.A.
  Confidential. What does that imply?

17
LAC - What do you think?

• How does the love between Lynn and Bud
  complicate the homoerotic reading between Bud and
  Ed?
• Does the final scene between Bud and Ed really
  suggest a tender moment that should be read as
  homoerotic, or is it simply a farewell between
  partners and sex is irrelevant and
  circumstantial?
• How could you make a claim one way or another?
• Does Bud redeem Lynn or does she save him?

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Double Indemnity - Novella vs. Film

• Film
• Key characteristics?

• Novella
• Key characteristics?

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Double Indemnity - The Final Product

• What was essentially a murderous story with
  strong sexual overtones becomes a sexual story
  with strong murderous overtones.
• From Brian Gallahger I Love You Too Sexual
  Warfare Homoeroticism in Billy Wilders Double
  Indemnity.