War and Peace: The Influence of WWII on Noir Films’ Femme Fatale

1 page.Noir films have frequently been understood to reflect a societal malaise and as the femme fatale remains one of noir’s defining elements, this research project puts forth the argument that the femme fatale is the reaction of the film industry to the changing gender dynamic in society. This project utilizes information from the post-war era to make a case for the condition and discontent of women then. The hypothesis that the femme fatale’s character and death is a result of male anxiety primarily builds on Alfred Adler’s theory of the inferiority complex and Laura Mulvey’s theory of female sexualization and male control. Double Indemnity (1944), The Blue Dahlia (1946), and Out of the Past (1947) are used to illustrate this argument. WWII saw women stepping into traditionally male jobs which gave women more freedom outside of the domestic sphere, something they were hesitant to give up. Male concerns about the role of women gave rise to an inferiority complex that made its way to the big screen in the form of the femme fatale. In this manner, male filmmakers were able to project their fears and overcome them through the femme fatale’s death or subjugation. This research presents an analysis of film as a product of a male-dominated film industry which reflects an androcentric perspective. Understanding films as being products of their makers can be used both to explain the prevalence of male narratives and make the case for more diversity within the industry as a whole