white horns

In film noir movies the femme fatale always appear in a light color to hide the fact that she had a dark side to her and to show a kind of purity to the audiences. In double indemnity Phyllis was never seen in any thing black except the black hat she wore when she came in Norton’s office. “Double Indemnity absolved the femme noire from wearing black, even though the western had long freed the villain from the obligatory black hat. Her emancipation, however, has more to do with ambiguity than equality. To appear less mono-linear and capable of non-lethal moods, she frequently wears white. Thus Phyllis is first seen draped in a white towel in Double Indemnity”. (Dick, Bernard F.) so even when Phyllis is first the elusion of her purity was camouflaged by the covering of a white towel. Like the femme fatale’s role of deception the colors or shades of the film deceived as well. Though the movie was black and white the colors played a big part. Phyllis the woman of many hidden evil agendas dress in the pure colors of lighter shades, while the woman Lola pure at heart dressed in dark colors the entire film. The article played a big role in expositing this minor detail in the film and book. Like in the book when Walter saw Phyllis for the second time the book describes her wearing a all white pants suit, where there after Walter helped her button up the blouse after they kiss.