Characterisation in film noir

The film style, Film Noir, developed during the aftermath of the Second World War. The key influences include 30’s gangster films, German expressionism and French poetic realism. After the war there was a low in morale as well as an economic low, so these too are key influences on the development of film noir.

Themes within film noir are insecurity and claustrophobia due to the impersonalities of the cities. As a result of the war, there were also the ideas of society feeling depressed and fearing the future. The film style contains scenes lit for night with an attachment to water. Actors and setting are given equal lighting and there is a romantic notion of narration.

Film noir is most often set in a dark, rainy city. This gives a sense of mystery. Similarly, the characters are very mysterious. When discussing the significance of characterisation in classical film noir there are many factors that must be considered. There are two main characters in film noir, the femme fatale and the noir hero. I will discuss these two characters, respec

“Female characters in classical Hollywood films are traditionally portrayed as weak, ineffectual figures safely placed in the fixed female roles of wives, mothers, or daughters and desperately in need of the male hero’s affection and protection.” (Silver et al 1998, p.246)

In The Lady From Shanghai, Michael O’Hara leaves Elsa to die alone.

Whereas in film noir, the femme fatale (evil woman), seeks independence, money and power.

“Elsa is characterized as a beautiful, enigmatic woman with a mysterious past that is never fully revealed.” (Silver et al 1998, p.256)

“ … the iconographic ‘whiteness’ that Welles insists on in Elsa’s opening image, and Michael’s iconographic ‘blackness’, are meant to mislead the spectator. The technique leaves viewers confused about the moral status of both protagonists." (Kaplan 1998, p.194)

“ … the femme fatale’s greediness occasioned the (newly romantic) tough guy’s responsibility, and his superego buckled under her clear thinking.” (Kaplan 1998, p.152)

Some topics in this essay:
Lady Shanghai, Dietrichson/Barbara Stanwyck, World War, James Cain, Shanghai Michael, Michael O’Hara’s, Michael O’Hara, Walter Neff, Double Indemnity, , film noir, femme fatale, kaplan 1998, noir hero, lady shanghai, double indemnity, “ …, film noir femme, femme fatale’s, noir femme, noir femme fatale, fatale noir hero, al 1998, femme fatale noir, silver et al,