Women and German Expressionism in film noir

Women in film noir

The main female character in film noir is usually known as the 'femme fatale'- a character known to have a deadly combination of manipulation and beauty. The femme fatale tends to be very glamorous and rouge. The femme fatale is usually used as a large addition to the narrative, where she is seen as an object of sexuality and a lover of the male protagonist, however she usually suffers a tragic ending within the film. Despite the femme fatale's almost inevitable death in a film, she is always seen as a strong female character who would object to any female stereotypes there were at the time. the femme fatale's clothing is always chosen accordingly to her personality and role within the film. Her costume usually expresses her femininity and sex appeal. They are also usually seen to have a large influence on male characters when making decisions.



Examples of femme fatales in film noir

One example of a femme fatale type character is the character of Cora Smith in the 1946 film 'The Postman Always Rings twice', played by American actress Lana Turner. The character of Cora matches many of the attributes of a typical femme fatale. Firstly, Cora is in an affair with the character Frank Chambers, which highlights the use of the femme fatale's beauty and seductiveness. Part of the plot includes Frank and Cora planning a murder, heavily regulated by Cora. This emphasizes the idea that the femme fatale uses her charm and beauty to influence a man's conclusion. Another example of how femme fatale has been used within the character of Cora is that she dies in a car crash near the end of the film. This is also a typical occurrence within the femme fatale, who often suffers a tragic death.

Learning about the impact of female characters in classic film noir has taught me that the stereotypical views of women can be effective through the use of character, narrative, costume and make-up.

German expressionism in film noir

Another common theme in film noir is the use of German expressionism. One example of German expressionism in film noir is the use of chiaroscuro lighting. Chiaroscuro lighting is strong lighting that forms harsh shadows. It is sometimes used to create significance towards a certain character. The lighting helps draw attention through the intimidating nature of the harsh shadows. The shadows used also helps to add a sense of anxiety and uncertainty.

Extreme camera angles are also used as part of German

expressionism in film noir. These are used to make the audience feel like they are being watched. This reinforces the concept of film
noir as it helps create an unease for an audience member.