The History and Influence of the Femme Fatale in Film 🎥

Introduction

• Recent video issues with Paramount
• Topic focus: Femme Fatale in Hollywood’s history
• Definition of Femme Fatale (Oxford): Attractive and seductive woman likely to cause distress or disaster to a man
• Controversial character trope, particularly criticized by second wave feminists

Origins of Femme Fatale

Biblical Roots

• Eve from the Book of Genesis often considered the first femme fatale
• Temptation and fall in the Garden of Eden

Greek Mythology

• Medusa as an iconic femme fatale figure
• Connections between feminine beauty, monstrosity, and danger
• Lucian's version emphasizing her beauty over monstrosity

19th Century Developments

Literary Context

• No established type of femme fatale until mid-19th century
• Anxiety around rising lower classes, foreign invasion, and feminism influencing depictions

Female Crime

• Rise in female crime led to public shock and fear
• Infanticide and arsenic poisoning prevalent due to socioeconomic factors
• Legislation around arsenic sales

Early Cinema

• Rise of Theda Bara as an early film femme fatale
• Anti-immigrant sentiments reflected in cinema casting and character development

Film Noir Era (1940s-50s)

Characteristics of Film Noir

• Paranoid, claustrophobic, hopeless moods
• Dark visual style with under-lit and night scenes
• Key elements: male protagonist, criminality, lack of morality, ambiguous plot

Influences on the Genre

• Post-war depression and economic reorganization
• Impact of women entering the workforce and shifting family dynamics

Defining the Femme Fatale in Film Noir

• Significant traits: cigarette, sexy legs, thick lips, wavy hair, flashy attire
• Sexual power and its psychological impact on male protagonists

Scholarly Views

• Femme fatale as a manifestation of male fears of sexuality
• She often embodies male existential threats and must be punished

Counter-Arguments and Reinterpretations

• Femme fatales also viewed as empowering figures by some women
• Movies like “Out of the Past” and “Gilda” offering complex portrayals
• Potential for reinterpretations as empowering roles
• Female spectatorship and admiration of femme fatales

Case Studies

• Examples from “Mildred Pierce” and other films illustrating different facets of the femme fatale
• Historical context of women's roles influencing character portrayals

Conclusion

• Femme fatale as a multifaceted, complex character
• Different interpretations depending on perspectives and scenes

Final Thoughts

• Invitation for audience engagement
• Personal favorite femme fatale: Barbara Stanwyck in “Double Indemnity”
• Acknowledgment of differing views and experiences

End of Lecture