How does
Wilder convey the characters and their relationship in the penultimate scene of
Double
Indemnity?
Wilder uses cinematography to show the changing relationship
between Walter and Phyllis. For example
when Walter first walks into the room he stands quite far away from
Phyllis. This shows distance between the two characters. When Walter walks
behind Phyllis to close one of the shutters, he closes out the light he then
stands behind Phyllis with his hands either side of her neck. The way Walter
moves around and stands behind Phyllis could foreshadow what is going to happen
next. When Walter is talking through
Phyllis’s plans about murdering her husband he is stood in a clear light, but
has a lot of shadow behind him possibly implying that he has a dark past. When
Walter is talking to Phyllis, Phyllis is sitting on the armchair with stripes
of light across her, the light and shadow mimics the shadow of “jail bars”.
This shows the audience that Phyllis is the real criminal in the story.
Wilder also uses Noir generic features to convey the
relationship between the characters in double indemnity. When Walter first
enters the room he appears as a shadow at first, he is also walking through
archways and doorways. This is a classic example of the doppelganger effect, it
gives the audience the impression that Walter is a suspicious character, and
possibly the “bad guy” in the story. The
Way Wilder has made Walter enter from shadow to light also helps the audience
see how Walters character is changing, from the dark criminal to a potentially
good character who is looking to right his wrongs. Phyllis sitting in the
armchair smoking is also a typical noir generic feature, as this is
stereotypically a man’s position, to be sat in the chair smoking a cigar or
cigarette , it could imply that Phyllis has a strong character and is capable
of doing the same things as a man.
Wilder also uses the technique of expressionist mise-en-scene.
For example when Walter first enters he walks in from a shadowed arch this is a
typical use of expressionist mise-en-scene as it shows the audience that Walter
may be quite a dark character. When Walter and Phyllis are talking about the
murder they planned the area behind them both has a bar like pattern, created
by the light through the blinds. This split light changes the mood between the
two characters because they both know they are guilty but neither of them want
to end up in prison, the bar like shadows are a constant reminder throughout
the scene that Walter and Phyllis should be arrested for their crime. The
extreme darkness and split light pattern around the room could also foreshadow
that something bad is about to happen.
Lighting is used to convey the relationship between Walter
and Phyllis’s characters. For example when Walter walks into the room to see
Phyllis Walter is initially in darkness implying that he has a dark or
mysterious character, whereas Phyllis is
sitting almost fully illuminated making her look quite innocent. Soon after entering
the room Walter moves from the darkest shadows to quite a well illuminated area
opposite Phyllis. Although most of him is in the light Walters face is still
split in shadow possibly showing his split personality. As well as the Dark
shadows making Walter look like the bad character they also make him look quite
weak and vulnerable. For example when Walter goes to close the curtains he
shuts out all the light in his area of the room, Phyllis then shoots him,
Walters character could be seen as being vulnerable in the shadows because he can’t
see what is happening once he has blocked the light from the room, Walter has
also foreshadowed his on possible death by cutting the light from where he is
stood and Phyllis then cutting his life from the story. Walters Shadow often
reflects his character; His shadow is seen as a large bold figure for example
when he walks behind Phyllis and his shadow is projected onto the wall. This
could imply that Phyllis is in danger from this large powerful character. As
Walter shoots Phyllis the shadowing changes so far Phyllis has been had light
on her face implying that she is a clean character with no bad side but as
Walter shoots her Phyllis’s head drops and her face is in darkness, as is
Walters. This shows a connection between the two characters from this scene it
is clear that the only connection between Phyllis and Walter in Death and
murder.
Finally Wilder has used costume and Props to convey the
relationship between the characters. Walter and Phyllis are wearing opposite
colours possibly showing that “opposites attract”. Phyllis is dressed in a very elegant white
dress. This makes her appear to be quite harmless but at the same time Phyllis
is smoking a cigarette which is not viewed as a very feminine thing to be doing,
this could suggest that there is more to Phyllis’s character than what she
chooses to show. Walter is wearing a dark suit with a white shirt. This could
possibly imply that Walter appears to be the dark “bad guy” but he is actually
good inside.
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