Gender, Power and the Film Noir—II Student Edition Based on Works by Andreia Thaxton Jeneen Surrency Aaron Simmons Greg Thompson Created and Edited by : Dr. Kay 2002

Film Noir--Lecture Outline  This PowerPoint is broken into two sections.  This division should correspond to two fifty minute class sessions.

L.A. Confidential  Section One covers John Belton’s 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. Film Noir--Lecture Outline (2)

 Homoeroticism (25 minutes)  Sexual Warfare (25 minutes) Film Noir: Time, Section Two

Session Two: Applying Brian Gallagher’s ‘I Love You Too’: Sexual Warfare and Homoeroticism in Billy Wilder’s Double Indemnity” to L.A. Confidential

LAC - “The Threesome”  What is the threesome, according to Gallagher? Continued on Next Slide

LAC - “The Threesome” (2)  Apply the notion of the triangle in L.A. Confidential.

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

LAC - Antagonism/ Banter (2)  Compare and contrast the verbal battles in LAC and DI. Continued on Next Slide

LAC - Antagonism/ Banter (3)  Compare Phyllis and Lynn in their verbal sparring abilities and their use of their sexual powers. Cite specific scenes.

LAC - Homoeroticism  Compare LAC and DI’s hints of homoerotic relationships. Cite specific examples, and pay attention to film form. Continued on Next Slide

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

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

LAC - Phyllis vs. Lynn (3)  Discuss the camera’s voyeurism as it depicts Phyllis walking down the steps, and how Lynn is first revealed underneath her dark hood.

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

LAC - Redemption of Woman (2)  Describe how Lynn looks at the end of L.A. Confidential. What does that imply?

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?

Double Indemnity - Novella vs. Film Film Key characteristics? Novella

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 Wilder’s Double Indemnity.