The role of the femme fatal in film noir is a very important
one. She is always a beautiful woman who is able to manipulate men easily. The
power is beyond just sexual because they are able to make the men do thing for
them. For example, when Phyllis first tells Walter about the accident coverage
he wants nothing to do with it. However, she then is able to seduce him and
convince him to follow along with her plan. Other female characters we have
seen such as Lynn Bracken have the same beauty as a femme fatal does, but she
does not manipulate Bud. Lola is a beautiful girl but she is not a femme fatal.
She is not trying to manipulate anyone for her own gain. The concept of
lighting is very important in film noir. Throughout Double Indemnity Phyllis is
always illuminated. She is usually wearing light clothes and the lighting is
put on her to make her stand out. Lola does not have this same effect. She is
never surrounded in light like Phyllis is, and she is usually dressed in darker
clothes.
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