Double Indemnity

Double Indemnity was created in the film noir style. This style appeared around 1946 and it is characteristically dark and pessimistic. Some of the other distinctive elements are that there are very few music cues, low instrumentation, an unusual orchestral sound, dissonant harmonies, and the occasional use of jazz as diagetic music. Double Indemnity used almost all of these characteristics and the effect was a very dramatic and suspenseful movie.

The opening credits began with very dissonant chords done in the low register that gave the music a very dark, foreboding sound. Throughout the rest of the film, the music never became much lighter. The melody used in the opening credits reappeared every time evil was portrayed which was often when Mr. Neff was talking about murder in the flashbacks. The film noir characteristic of jazz diagetic music was also used in Double Indemnity. When Walter went to talk to Phyllis about "getting off of the trolley car" there was jazz music that could be heard that was coming from a radio up the street. Walter even talked about it asking where the music was coming from, and then later when he closed the window because he couldn't handle it.

One interesting way the music was used in the film was for the flashbacks. When Mr. Neff was talking in the office on the recorder, there was no music, but when the scene changed to the flashback a very quiet, gentle violin melody began to play. This was very helpful in alerting the audience when there was going to be a flashback.

Overall, Double Indemnity was a comprehensive portrayal of the film noir style.