Analysis of Double Indemnity

Cinematography

We firstly see the opening credits to the film when the title 'Double Indemnity' appears on our screens with a man in the background without a face it walking with a limp. The title is shown in the centre of the frame as a mid-shot. We then see an establishing shot of where the film is set which is in Los Angeles. In this establishing shot we see the car speeding somewhere nearly hitting the workers, this could make the audience wonder what his hurry is. We then see this unknown person in this car still speeding along the road ignoring a stop sign, this is shown in a long-shot. Still this unknown person which we find is a man steps out of his car in a high angle shot to start walking into an office like building. Another person steps into the scene when we see a mid-shot of the man wanting the get into this building by knocking on the window. The short man takes yet again this unknown man as we still have not seen his face to an elevator which is shown in a mid-shot and we only see the back of their heads at this moment. We then see this man walking through a hall to a door which tells the audience what sort of place this is, this is an insurance company. We see the man walking through the hall in the centre of the frame in yet again another mid-shot. There is then a high angle shot of loads of desks where the man works which show that it is nearly empty and not the time for employees to still be there and this could make the audience wonder why the man is there if there are no employees there. Finally we see a high angle shot of the man looking at a bullet wound on his shoulder, this could make the audience wonder why and how he got this bullet wound. This man who was unknown is now known by the viewers as Mr Neth.

Mise-en-scene

The film is set in Los Angeles, we know this because we saw a sign saying this at the beginning of the film. The costumes worn by Mr Neth show that he is a business man and that is also backed up by the fact that we see a sign on the door saying 'Insurance'. The location changes from the man speeding on the road outside to be inside an elevator to being in an office. The colours of this film are very dull as the film is made in black and white showing the viewer that the film is very old. Some of the facial expressions shown by Mr Neth could say that he is in some sort of distress and could be worried about something as well as being in a hurry to get somewhere. The positioning of the subject was in the centre when the man was walking through the door that has the insurance sign on it.

Editing

We see a lot of slow paced shots with this film as the title is very slow paced and it does not get into the film very quickly. There is not much editing within 'Double Indemnity' at all as it just goes from shot to shot. There are some visual effects of when the credits are on the screen we see a faceless figure walking to the screen which just looks like a shadow. Also the title fades onto the screen in white bold letters.

Sound

The sound is non-diegetic as we do not hear any outside things such as cars and people talking but only the music which sets the mood and atmosphere of being quite scary. The dialogue starts to come into the film when the short man is opening the doors for Mr Neth and starts to greet the man. The music to this film is quite gloomy, I think this could be because it is an old film.

Story - How the opening sets the story up

When we first see the man speeding down the road in the car we automatically think what is this person's hurry. We then see the man going to the office where he chats a little with another man, just being friendly. He then goes to his office late at night this is and reveals to the audience that he has a gun shot wound to his should, making the audience wonder how and why the man got this. The man then decides to get a piece of electrical equipment and make a confession. The sets the story up because we see that what this man's confession is has got him shot and that he and other people could be in some sort of trouble.

How the opening suggests the genre (thriller)

The opening suggests the genre is being fulfilled here because the audience are a bit puzzled about what is going on, why the man is speeding, why the man is at work so late and why the man has a gun shot wound to his shoulder. As we do not really understand what is going on it suggests the genre because what is going on is mysterious and scary.