Film Noir Influence: Double Indemnity

Double Indemnity 

• Low key lighting is used throughout the opening sequence to create tension and to focus the audience attention to a specific character or figure. 
• Shadows are used throughout the opening sequence as in all Film Noir films.
• The Shadows are used to create that sense of suspense and fear that something bad has or is going to happen.  
• The main character in the opening sequence, Fred MacMurray, is dressed in your typical film noir style costume of a suit and panama hat, that was common of the time (1944).
• Fades are used throughout the opening scene to suggest that time is passing.
• There is ambient noise in the opening to create tension and the keep the audience wondering why the man has been shot. 
• Orchestral soundtrack plays throughout the whole opening scene - suspense is created as it builds.
• flashback - often used in Film Noir and makes narration seem acceptable (very effective effect). 
• lack of colour in the opening scene sets up the genre and creates an enigma (Walter Neff).
• the opening is played as though it is in the past and setting up the rest of the film, which will explain why the enigma character got there. Our film is quite similar to this and this is why we have been increasingly influenced by it. 
• Double Indemnity, has been commonly described as one of the best Film Noir films of all time. We have undoubtedly used ideas from it in our opening sequence to add that sense of original Film Noir style but with a modern twist. 

(this is the trailer and not the opening sequence)

Film noir (black film) has often been described as a genre to represent many Hollywood Crime Dramas, especially in the 1940's to 50's. The Film noir genre has undoubtedly influenced many movies across every decade. Many directors in our modern film market use Film noir influences in their films to create specific effects but the genre has certainly dropped off since there 40's and 50's standards. Film noir is often associated with its low key lighting and black and white picture that creates a wide range of chiaroscuro and silhouette effects and this style originally derived in German Expressionist cinematography. We want to bring back the suspenseful atmosphere that many noir films created in our opening sequence and by studying the genre in more detail we have certainly helped with our understanding of the subject.

MT