Blog Entry #5

In Brian Gallagher's article "I love you too" Sexual Warfare and Homoeroticism in Billy Wilder's Double Indemnity, Gallagher constructively breaks down every insinuation made by James M. Cain and Billy Wilder in their novel and film Double Indemnity. This writer did extensive research on exploring this subject and the supportive sources he uses gives his credibility for his argument. The information Gallagher provided in this article brings to light that the story is told by a wounded Walter, suggesting that perhaps Walter's story is biased and even jaded. If Walter had not been shot prior to the confession, maybe his thoughts of the femme fatale character would be different. Gallagher argues that death is associated with heterosexuality and homoeroticism. Phyllis has blocked the connection between Walter and Barton, though when she dies there is no longer any obstacles preventing the two from their bond to one another. It is when Walter is dying, he is then comforted by his friend Barton. If there is any connection I believe it is only friendship, if there was any homoeroticism between Water and Barton why was it never acted upon prior to these events. The two have known each other for over ten years and nothing has come about the two before the meeting of Phyllis. The author suggests that the film is more complex than the novel, which I strongly disagree with. I thought the film made the story so much simpler to offer no confusion to the audience, yet the novel plays off the readers imagination, creating endless possibilities and viewpoints.Though I like Gallagher's idea of sexual alliances placed in the story to reflect the war which took place during the making of the film.

Blog Entry #4

Zero Draft Questions #3 and #1

           Both Cain and Wilder’s Double Indemnity is portrayed in a strict manner to appropriately follow a chronological sequence. A story circled around and told by the ambiguous protagonist Walter Neff/Huff, beginning with his first encounter with the femme fatale character Phyllis Dietrichson/Nerdlinger. The protagonist gives great detail in both film and novel to the atrocities he already committed in his confession, elaborating with his own perception regarding the actions of himself and others. Every fore and after thought is expressed with each hard decision the protagonist had to undertake, leading up to his ultimate demise. If the story was told in another fashion rather than a chronological sequence, the mystery of which carries Double Indemnity’s plot and characters would perhaps become distorted or even diminished.

          In the end, the ambiguous protagonist faces his impending doom, yet they differ in how Walter meets that end. Wilder’s Walter sits helplessly, almost willingly; awaiting justice from the man he tried to stay one step ahead of, whether it be lighting a match for his cigar or simply outsmarting his friend and colleague, Barton Keyes. Walter finds himself in an awkward and reversed role of this man as Keyes finally lights a match for his cigarette, signifying Keyes now has the upper hand in the situation and any attempt in escape is futile. Cain’s Walter discovers that death may be his best and only solution. He finds himself alongside with the femme fatale character Phyllis Nerdlinger on a deadly ocean with no way out. Together, the two decide to commit suicide by jumping off the deck into the freezing ocean, yet Walter had received a gunshot wound prior to coming aboard the ship. He knows if he was not to drown in the water, the sharks that trail the boat would surely find the scent of blood leaking from his wound. Though, similar in both film and novel, a calming sense of reprieve embellishes over Walter as his last cigarette is lit and as he gazes deep into the vast sea below. This being evident, signifies the appropriateness of Double Indemnity's endings.

Blog Entry #3 Delirium Trigger

                I sadly watched the sun set behind the dark clouds that day,

 a ray of light could be seen radiating from a single point in the sky, slowly fading behind the cloud cover. I can’t remember the last time I ever did that, I must’ve been too young before to appreciate a sight like this one and if I was any older I doubt I would’ve even noticed. In my 37 years I’ve seen a lot of beautiful things come and go, Rita Onavuel was one of them. A 32 year old woman with the most seductive look, yet I swear there was something almost angelic about her. Hell, Rita had a set of brown eyes that even the best of men would get lost in. Though, I cursed the day I ever got mixed up with this awful love affair; if I hadn’t, maybe she’d still be alive. Rita and I once bled with love and now that blood is on my hands. A deep red that left stains, stains I can’t wash away.

The rain fell hard that night, a little harder than usual. Lightning clashed and thunder roared, illuminating the dark sky above and the rain-slicked streets below. I parked my car under a light post several blocks away from the banquet hall, my eyes shifting frantically back and forth from the clock to the rear view mirror. I was nervous, the inside of my palms were covered in sweat trying to hold the wooden grip of that revolver. I’ve never killed a man before. In a few minutes when Frankie Martel walks out of that banquet hall and pushes through those double doors, I'll be on the other side waiting and then it'll be his turn to stare down the barrel of a gun. It doesn’t matter if I am made or not, I’ve already lost everything I ever cared about, but I'll be damned if I see him get away with this. I would rather watch it all burn than to see Martel get away with the murder of my Rita. If I have to make a martyr out of myself to be the call of justice, than so be it. I will, with a lighter in hand.

I started the car and made my way to the banquet hall. It was now sink or swim; several people could be seen walking out of the building already. Do I dance with the devil and dig my own grave or do I cut out this self-inflicted pain and somehow just let it all go? I waited there for what must’ve seemed like an eternity, contemplating my next move. And then I had my answer, before I knew it I was outside in the rain, darting towards the banquet hall steps. As I got closer I could feel my heart almost beating out of my chest, yet my gun hand steady as a rail.

Blog #2 Double Indemnity

Double Indemnity, a novel by James M. Cain is classified as a piece associated with film noir due to the author’s style of writing, plot points, and characters. Cain places the reader in a simpler Los Angeles suburban area and tells the tale of an insurance agent named Walter Huff. A slick, fast talking gentleman who is good at making moves and getting in quick to make a living as a salesman in the city. Raymond Borde and Etienne Chaumeton, authors of “Towards a Definition of Film Noir” describe attributes of the ambiguous protagonist such as Walter Huff,

“He is often enough masochistic, even self-immolating, one who makes his own trouble, who may throw himself into fear, neither for the sake of justice nor from avarice, but simply out of morbid curiosity.”

 Double Indemnity’s femme fatale character is introduced in a subtler manner; Borde and Chaumeton define the femme fatale character in “Towards a Definition of Film Noir,”

“Frustrated and deviant, half predator, half prey, detached yet ensnared, she falls victim to her own trap.”

 She is Phyllis Nirdlinger, the wife of Mr. Nirdlinger. Phyllis and Walter meet to discuss an issue regarding Mr. Nirdlinger’s auto policy. The woman at first is suspicious of Walter Huff and seems protective over her husband, Mr. Nirdlinger. The two characters become intimate fairly quick with each other having only a few interactions together. The dialogue between the two opens the true nature of these psychological nightmares as they meet together at late night rendezvous. Both Walter and Phyllis show slight hesitation to engage in one another, but ultimately give into their immoral intentions. 

 Lola Nirdlinger is introduced as what I am assuming from the reading to be the heroine, she seems to be a sweet, trusting, and thoughtful person to all. Walter persuades and sets up a life insurance policy for Mr. Nirdlinger in hopes of collecting a massive amount of money with Mrs. Nirdlinger. Collusion and deceit now surrounds Mr. Nirdlinger without any knowledge of their plot to end his life. The mood darkens as they menacingly conspire against her husband, looking for any opportunity to place his body on the tracks to collect the money from the life insurance policy with the double indemnity stipulation. 

Once the deed is done the mood changes to an intense paranoia and the two characters, Walter and Phyllis become frantic. Suspicions of foul play present itself to the insurance company and to law enforcement; some assume it is suicide and the chance or likeliness of this even being considered an accident is dire.