Themes and plots.

Femme fatale:

Femme fatales are roles played by female actresses which usually have a dark link with the plot and a seductive air. These characters intertwines themselves with the main male lead and tend to become his ‘love interest’ and pulls the plot forward. The fatale will use her seduction, beauty and charm to achieve their hidden purpose whether it be good or bad. Often upon meeting a femme fatale she will be in some kind of distress drawing men to her along with her beauty enticing them to investigate. Modern day femme fatales are presented with a physical power over men and can be often depicted as an enchantress, witch, vampire or demon with extraordinary powers to clearly show this control.

Typical plot lines

Crime plays the largest role in film noirs as it is the basis of the classic film noirs with relation to gun crimes in most cases. This is usually investigated to a certain extent by a male role or by a concerned party and are based on the idea of ‘heroes’ who are flawed and can be questioned by their sense of morality. There will usually be a femme fatale being the driving force of either the crime or the investigator which will show a significance to the plot resulting in - no doubt - murder. During the entirety of a classic film noir you will most likely be taken through multiple shoot outs and a tension building plot which is narrated by the main male role typically.

Settings

Noirs typically take place in large cities of urban areas when not under the protection of police stations, houses, shops and eating places. Some noirs have few settings but focus more on actual development of characters and progression of storyline than anything else, much like 'Double Indemnity' does. Other noirs provide us with more and more open spaces such as 'The Third Man' or multiple settings which flow but without prolonged use of the outside such as 'The Big Sleep'. All three films utilise settings in very individual ways to adapt to their plots and unravelling tension.

Iconography
Darkness, gloom and fog are typically associated with film noir which gives the film it sense of mystery being that most film noirs are linked with the mysteries of murders and crime. Costume aspects such as guns, trench coats, cigarettes and smart suits also play a large part in noir iconography. Along with these visual aspects there is the classic heavy jazz music to add depths to different scenes within the film.

Themes
Typical themes consist of: greed, love, betrayal, jealousy, lust, revenge, corruption, murder and justice. Not all will be used in a singular noir but most noirs use multiple themes in conjunction with each other to add depth into plot lines. Along with these themes you will usually find a narrative behind them to explain as the plot progresses which can be a mixture of voice over narrative, flash backs and forward or first person narratives.