Blog #4 Zero Draft Questions

9. A significant change between the novel and the film is the raised prominence of the character of Keyes in the film version. Critics have suggested that the novel is a story of two lovers whereas the film depicts a love triangle and that often Walter is being pulled back and forth between Phyllis and Keyes. What evidence from the film supports these assertions?

All through out Double Indemnity it shows the love triangle that is between Phyllis, Walter and Keyes. With Phyllis and Walter the relationship between them is a lustful and sexual relationship with a little twist of deceitful games between the two of them. With Walter and Keyes it is like a competitive game between them but at the same time a love that have built over the years of working with each and having respect for each others skills and intuition. They have a good working relationship but a better non working relationship between each other.

It shows the love that Walter has for Phyllis and Keyes for example Walter and Phyllis killing her husband and at the same time trying to beat the system and almost getting away with it and thinking they beat the system and Keyes at the same time. But Walter having a love for Keyes by telling him what he did and had it recorded. With that recording it wasn't like Walter was just trying to give a blank confession but making it personal to Keyes by speaking directly to him in the recording. Another example of this love triangle is Walter going out of his way to help murder Phyllis's husband by risking everything, his career, his freedom, his reputation just for her and beating the system with her. But at the same time thinking highly of Keyes in the whole situation and trying to help Keyes with the case a little. Walter didn't think about anybody else when he was making out his plans he was only thinking about what Keyes would do or think and not anyone else.

On the flipside it also show what Phyllis and Keyes do and how they feel about Walter. Phyllis helped every step of the way to help Walter kill her husband, she  did it for the game but at the end more for Walter. With Keyes he would share all his thoughts and feelings with Walter, he would come to his house and talk to him and share with him. Keyes also wanted to promote Walter also more off the love he had for him and how he felt about Walter.

But at the end, love either for the game or each other broke them apart through death but this true Flim Noir.


5. During the title a sequence, a man on crutches hobbles toward the camera. Explain the significance of this image. Who in the story does this man represent? Why would this be an appropriate image to show at the beginning of the film? How does this sequence anticipate later developments in the film?

In the sequence, with someone that is just watching the movie with no background in Film Noir movies, it would raise a interest or at least a curiosity to want to know what does that mean, what happen to this guy. Who is this person that is on the crutches and how did he get that way.

But even with someone that has background in watching film Noir would make them wonder what happen in this movie for the person to get in this situation again. Or how far did he go this time to try to the solve case or at least try to solve.

With the silhouette it kind of tells you the end from the beginning, but at the same time makes you wonder how did it happen this time and far did he go in the rabbit hole to get this way. If nothing else that beginning at least makes you curious to wanted watch to see how it would unfold to get to the end with the different twist and turns to get to the truth and solve the case