Double Indemnity opening sequence analysis

Analysis begins at 1:07 and ends at 6:30 minutes

The scene opens with an establishing shot of a black and white city, with a tense, fast paced piece of music. The audience is introduced to several elements of Film Noir, the typical American city that most Film Noir movies are based in and the orchestral, big band music playing. The music helps the audience learn what period of time the film is set in, typically around the 1940s.The black and white colour correction placed over the video helps the audience identify this is of the Film Noir genre.

In the long shot of the man exiting his car, he is shown wearing a trench coat and a fedora hat. This also suits the conventions of the Film Noir genre, as the protagonist/antagonist are often sharply dressed, showing superiority or authority. This is reinforced by next variety of shots as the audience isn't shown a clea view of the character in questions face, this creates a mysterious atmosphere around the character in which the lighting of the scene contributes. As he walks into his office, he is cast out of the light and is kept in darkness, strengthening the tense atmosphere. Later on in the sequence, he begins to talk on a phone leaving an answering message, it takes on a narrative feel, something commonly found in Film Noir. In this sequence, there are multiple conventions present from the start, making it a prime example for classic Film Noir.

The scene opens with a long shot of a ladder on the rooftop of a building, while three men scale the ladder. The first man is dressed in unconventional clothing for a film noir movie as he is wearing casual clothing, while the second is wearing a police officers uniform, this is common in Film noir as most film noir films are based around the theme of crime. The third man is dressed much more conventionally for a film noir move as he is wearing an overcoat and a fedora, commonly found in film noir.

The next shot is an extreme long shot panning to the left, following the three men, this shot shows us the setting of the film, in a busy and possibly American city. This has been current throughout all other film noir analyses I have done. Also the music heard is orchestrated and of the big band genre, another commonly found convention in Film Noir. Later, as the third man giving chase slips and is left hanging on the rooftop, the police officer lends him a hand. There is a high angle shot of the man hanging, this exaggerates the lack of power or authority he has in the sequence. The Officer goes to help the man in danger, this is quite uncommon for Film Noir as it shows a moral action by one of the characters, Film Noir usually tends to have darker or grittier plot lines, this is reinforced when the Police Officer falls off the building and falls to his death.

Sin City analysis - Youtube clip

Sin City opening sequence analysis

For my first analysis, I have decided to analyse the opening scene of the neo film noir movie, Sin City.

As the scene opens, you immediately hear the jazz esque soundtrack and the sight of the black and white colour correction. These are immediate features of the film noir genre and instantly sets the scene for the audience. When the opening shot is revealed, the setting is on what seems to be a typical American city, this is another element of film noir, by taking place in often New York resembling cities.As the scene continues we hear the voice of one of the character narrating the scene, another key element of film noir. The narrative suggests that the character has the power or the superior presence in the scene.

Further through, there are several shots of the woman's lips, which always remain in the lighting, this follows the film noir genre as it creates an almost romantic atmosphere to the scene. Although, there are certain features to the scene that don't always follow the film noir genre, such as certain colours being shown on particular item, such as the red dress. Usually, film noir is filmed using total black and white colour correction. Also at 1:49 minutes into the clip, the picture transforms into a comic drawing of the scene. Something unfound in film noir. There are several over the shoulder shots of the woman in the scene, often using a descending tilt camera movement, this exaggerates her vulnerability in the scene compared the other character, known as the 'Salesman'. As the woman embraces the 'Salesman' we hear the sound of the gunshot which ends the woman's life, this presents the audience with a challenge of what the 'Salesman' has done is right or wrong, this is one more key Film Noir, the small distance between right and wrong, presenting a lack of moral balance within characters.

Film noir conventions

The main conventions of film noir are typically dark plot and dark setting, typically colour corrected in black and white. The story is always led by a single male protagonist, who is often attacked and tested and either comes out stronger or often killed. There is a femme fatale as opposed to the male protagonist who plays the antagonist, who is usually presented as a sexy, sleazy woman who attempts to seduce the main characters of the film.

The film is always about crime and a loss of morality in society, often in a made up city. For example in Sin City it is based in 'Basin City' resembling the city of New York. The main plots motives are usually unexpected presenting the audience with twists in the story. The main plot is often narrated by the main character, narrating about himself in a confessionary style. This creates a first person outlook for the audience.

Initial Research for Film Project

For my Media Studies A level practical I have decided to do the video opening project.

For our groups film project ,consisting of Ky Underhill, James Clements and Deanna Quirke. We looked at various genres that we would like to replicate and film. One of the first being the action genre. After researching this genre, watching films like Mission Impossible and Transporter we found that it would be difficult to film with the resources we have and a film opening would be difficult to film correctly and suit the genre. We also thought of parkour and free running films such as 'District 13' and also the free running section in the James Bond film 'Casino Royale'. But once again this would be difficult to film as it requires a lot of skill from the actors to the stunts of the film and isn't particularly safe although it doesn't require a lot of props or specialist costumes.

Finally, our group decided on the genre of Film Noir. We decided this could be a lot easier to film rather than action or crime films. Although it requires specialist costumes and props, the lighting and the effects for the film are easy to achieve. Also the locations could be filmed in school meaning we could re-film at any time, despite needing the props and costumes. Researching film noir, we looked at films like Sin City, which is more of a modern adaptation of film noir ,neo film noir, and Double Indemnity which is considered a classic of the Film noir genre.

Sin City, directed by Robert Rodriguez, is an action/thriller based around the themes of crime and also on the graphic novel witten by Frank Miller. These themes are helkd strong as a multitude of shots in the film resemble the comic strip from the graphic novel. Our group have decided to use this as a guide to our film, it also persuaded us to use a narrative/voice over for piece.

Double Indemnity, directed by Billy Wilder, is a 1944 classic Film noir thriller that follows an insurance broker that is led into a murder/insurance fraud scheme by a clien'ts seductive wife. It follows the conventions of film noir, by having the main character stumble through events that cause him pain and suffering. We have looked at this film as we believe it is one of the best examples of classic Film Noir

Memento, directed by Chris Nolan, is a 2000 mystery/thriller that depicts the struggle of the main character suffering from amnesia, using notes and tattoos to track down who he thinks killed his wife. The flashback scenes are depicted in black and white as he suffers from amnesia. Classic conventions of Film Noir.