All I can say is...wow!

My choice for the story that best fits noir, would be ‘ The Girl who kissed Barnaby Jones” the femme fatale character Cherie comes across as an off the wall actress who definitely shows how crazy she really is even until the end. I will be honest when Tate thought he had finally escaped and Cheri drove up on him my jaw dropped. Cherie is a gorgeous meth addicted killer who is out of control. She is a liar and manipulative. The story line was twisted and unexpected. With Film Noir you know something is around the corner waiting to jump out, but you just don’t know what and when. Hands down I would say that Tate is the protagonist even though he wanted to get Cherie into bed and succeeded, he still had a conscience that was not seared to the point that he did not know when he was at Hell’s front door. There was also an eerie feeling to the story. After they had sex he still could not shake the odd out of sort feeling in the pit of his stomach. Their relationship also shows their doomed love. He went into a bad situation, with a bad woman, and received a bad result.

“The Hour When the Ship comes In” was least like noir. Yes the killing and crime was evident, but It did not hold my interest. Yancy did not come across as the protagonist. He turned on those he was with to save a woman and a child, but how either way it is looked at, he is a killer who just happened this one time to have a real conscience. I think I am still trying to understand neo-noir.

Not As They Seem...

In both stories the protagonists wanted to do what was right, but didn’t take the best route because there concept of “right“ was distorted. In “The Kidnapper Bell” the main character felt as if he had to cover up killings that he didn’t commit, and sneak around while trying to search for a missing person. For whatever reason he appeared to be indebted to the missing girls dead sister. Why didn't he do the smart thing and go to the police so that he wouldn’t look like a suspect? He never tells the police about the two dead by the river because that meant he would somehow be responsible. He reaches his own verdict, that he must find her sister and then he is free to go on about his life. Instead he continues on with his investigation. He has a guilty conscious and wants to be free of that guilt.

In “City of Commerce” the main character believes that even after he has been through much trouble and almost dies he still can somehow redeem himself and win the love of his wife by continuing on in his shenanigans. He suffers from a gambling problem and we see that his wife does not want him to go, but he goes anyway. After escaping he heads back out to another casino to feed his gambling appetite with the notion that this will satisfy his wife. These men have their blinders on and go about things the way they see it as being right. They don’t seem to see things from the outside looking in. While they think everything they are doing is to help others these men are obviously self absorbed. Both of these men hide behine the mask of their circumstances to justify who they really are.

So Unexpected!

Definitely my favorite story is “The Method” which reminds me of noir with the twisted story line. The epitome of film noir is when stories have that suspense factor and you are hanging on the edge of your seat wondering what’s going to happen next. I love the way the modern day femme fatale comes with such cut throat boldness. Holly plays the role to the tee and comes across as if she is really not in control. While Richard a.k.a Anthony truly believes that Holly is a sex crazed dummy that he can out smart, he is oh so wrong.

This story proves to have more suspense for me and the “shock factor.” For a moment I thought that Richard called her over to poison her. She mentioned at one point when she drank the wine that it tasted funny. At that point I thought he set her up. When they went into their intense mode of sex. I was for sure that she was going to die. Holly came off tough, sweet, a bit desperate and gullible all at the same time. “The Method” story line was not easy to figure out. I knew that murder was on the menu, but I never thought it would be Richard. I also believe that this story relates to women extremely well. Holly knew Richard was full of bologna but she allowed him to continue on just because she could. Some women do this because they can. It is apart of the illusion that makes a man believe he is smart and witty, when in reality he is an open book and can be easily figured out. In the end like most relationships we see that Holly (the woman) is in control. I loooooved this story!!!!

Still Figuring it Out!

From the classic period of Noir until now, their has been major changes. The sexual attraction was illusive yet unmistakable. The women were femme fatales, but coerced the men into doing all of the dirty work. Drugs were not on the scene. In my opinion Neo -noir leaves nothing to the imagination. The women are more cut throat, and as we see in “Dangerous Days” they use sex as a weapon. The women in both stories are headstrong and I would even dare to say they are ruling over the men. One of the elements that I noticed the classic noir and neo noir have in common is the twisted story line. As I read the pages of the book deep down inside I am hoping for a different out come than what is the fate of the characters.

The femme fatale character still gets what she wants through manipulation of the male character. All in all I am continuing to learn about neo noir. Even though I am living in neo noir times, I felt a connection with classic noir. After reading “Dangerous Days” I was a bit culture shocked and thought this would take some time for me to adjust. But… When I read “Midnight in Silicon Alley” it blew my mind! I would have to relate Mrs. Chen to Mrs. Nirdlinger in the way that they both betrayed their husbands. They were both heartless women, who got their thrills from money. They had husbands who provided, but there was something so deeply routed within that they just could not shake off. These women (as all femme fatale characters are) were appeased through murder!

Breathe In

In the article entitled, “Scenic Route, Double Indemnity”, Michael D’Angelo discusses the sexual attraction between Walter Neff and Phyllis Dietrichson. He states that from the very first time these two met, there were symbols of availability. He also mentions the alluring conduct of Neff regarding Dietrichson’s anklet that he admired. D’Angelo says, “…and MacMurray not even bothering to conceal his lust, radiating a brash self-confidence that even contemporary mega-studs like Clooney and Depp would be hard-pressed to pull off.” He continues on by saying that “Double Indemnity” is flawless and even though this movie is not the earliest film noir it is still at the pinnacle of it’s genre.

Although I noticed the, in your face sexual attraction, this article sheds new light. The director (Wilder) of this movie stepped up to the plate and delivered a meal that fed the appetite of the viewers. Wilder walked on grounds that many of us would not dare to tread on, due to fear of offense. Even with the connection that Neff had with “the anklet”, who would have thought that a woman could make an anklet so enticing? By crossing her leg leaving her ankle exposed, she commanded Walter’s attention and while drawing him in. Neff was upfront about his feelings and did not care how he came off, perhaps that was the whole allusion of it all. During the era that this film came out, it was considered racy. Wilder played on the emotions. He aroused inner studs and femme fatale in us all. “Double Indemnity” created the film noir fragrance that tingled our sense of smell and awoke our appetite. Maybe that is the fragrance that Deitrichson wore, to draw Neff into her trap.

Poisonous Walk

I decided to walk to the “Birdland” jazz club that night, my office was only ten minutes away. I was anxious yet apprehensive to meet Sheila. She said she wanted to meet up. We had not seen each other since the murder. Normally I wouldn’t have met her, but the investigation was over and her husbands estate was divided. I assumed it was to give me my cut of the money. And to spend time with me. I’ll be honest I wanted to see the money more than I wanted to see her. The practice wasn’t doing so well and before this score I would have had to shut things down.

                                             ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was a dark and muggy New York City night. For whatever reason there were only three street lights lit. The streets were still and all I could hear were my foot steps grinding the dirty glass on the streets. I heard a noise behind me, it felt like Karmah, but when I turned around it was a sewer rat digging for garbage. I chuckled to my self as I picked up speed.

I finally arrived at the “Birdland” the waitress showed me to my table and I sat down.
“What can I get you?”
“Nothing, I am waiting for a friend . I’ll have a drink when she arrives.”

The music was loud and the air was filled with cigarette smoke, I could barely see and oxygen seemed as if it was becoming hard to come by. As the smoke started to clear out, I saw a figure of a woman. She had curves to die for and her walk…I knew they had a name for that walk I just couldn’t put my finger on it. By this time I had blocked the music out. In the back of my mind there was a loud yell “DANGER“, but I couldn’t stop staring. The closer she got, I realized it was Sheila. Her lips… blood red! She had on a black dress that looked as if it was painted on. I stood up and we embraced and sat down.

“Hi Sheila”
“Hello Jimmy”
“So how have things been?’
“Hectic and out of sorts. I have been preparing my client for trial. how about you?”

A different waitress came over and interrupted us.

“What can I get you lovely folks?”
I ordered rum and coke.
“I’ll have scotch on the rocks.”

I sat there for awhile trying to discern her body and why she wanted to meet here of all places. I began to stare into her eyes. Sheila had these big Brown eyes that were as consuming fire. I was being drawn in to the point of no return. The waitress slammed my drink down on the table and I snapped out of it. I quickly took one gulp of my drink. The waitress looked surprised.

“Another rum and coke?”
“No, rum straight.”

Sheila could tell I was a little uneasy, she leaned over and started to caress my leg. Her touch sent shock waves through my bones.
“What’s wrong Jimmy?”
“Nothing.”
“Well, you seem…nervous.”
“Not nervous, just trying to figure out why you wanted to meet here?”
“I got the money Jimmy! And I am leaving for Europe tonight.”
“What? Why? There’s no need. The investigation has been stopped and your husbands death was ruled to be an accidental overdose.”

She leaned over closer to my ear and whispered.
“But yours won‘t be.”

Those words penetrated my soul. I tried to stand up to get out of there, but my body became numb. My face slammed down on the table. I felt an unbearable pounding pain in my head, my lungs were closing in, the room started to shrink. The only sound I could hear was the slowing down of my heart beat.
“He…lp.”
No one could hear me over the music.

Sheila stood up and the waitress started walking over with my drink. All I could think was, help had arrived. My vision was distorted, but I saw Sheila talking to the waitress and hand her a stack of cash.
“How much did you put in his drink?"
“The whole bottle.”
“Good. He’ll be dead by the time I walk out the door.”
Each word was like a dagger that pierced through my heart.

I watched as Sheila walked away. Although my eyes were becoming lower and my breathing was more difficult, I could still see her walk. It no longer had the same impact as to when she first walked in the room. I could now put my finger to it. Her walk was seductive, controlling and…DEADLY!

The Jig is up! maybe not...

Reading further into "Double Indemnity" things are starting to get hot and heavy! Mr. Keyes has stepped up to the plate as the hard-boiled detective. As Walter Huff and Phyllis Nirdlinger believe that they have committed the perfect murder, there plan has proven to be faulty. Walter did not figure Keyes to be any trouble to the plot of his crime. Normally Walter is the one who has suspicions and calls people on them. What is he to do now that the table's have turned?

With no evidence and only a hunch Mr. Keyes believes he knows what really happened to Mr. Nirdlinger that night. As Keyes begins to describe what he believes happened, Walter starts to shrink within himself. He knows that Keyes is on to something (or should I say on to him) and his whole plot was not as easy as it sounded.
Keyes is determined to back Phyllis  into a corner and get a confession out of her if it is the last thing he does. He boldly told Walter that he would be on Phyllis' every move. He is going to wait on her to step out of line, so he can catch her and her accomplice! He is sharp, not easily fooled, no nonsense type of guy, who will not be easy to get rid of nor easily persuaded. He sees beyond the obvious and has analyzed the scene.  He will prove to be the biggest threat to Walter and Phyllis. Which proves to be more than either of them bargained for.

Keyes has put a screeching halt to there plans and it will be interesting to see how they overcome him. Stay tuned...