The Selection of the Movies
The main reason for choosing these three specific movies is that they all have to do with a “investigation ” style story. In particular, there is a sort of battle between the main character of a detective/killer and the anti-character of the opposite field - the femme fatale. The common point on these three movies is that, the mystery that the detective/killer tries to solve is the one that the character of femme fatale secretly hides from him. And all this mystery has to do with unsolved cases of the past that arise in the present out of the blue, looking for their finale solution. There is a saying “ No one can escape of his past ” and that is exactly what these films share.
As far as the male/female peculiar couple of characters is concerned, the main intriguing point is the contradiction between them. And that what makes them interesting. Two totally different worlds live and act in a same parallel. The underworld of each era. The battle between the legal and the illegal, constantly changing positions. The immoral femme fatale stereotype and the moral detective/killer colliding in the dark universe of the underworld. The peculiar in this case is that the male character has to give up his morality and follow the dirty paths of the femme fatale. While at the same time the immoral female stereotype bears her own legal style in a corrupted world. They both fight against all their personal and social norms, trying to achieve their own personal goals: the femme fatale to keep her secrets sealed and the detective/killer to solve the mystery. The main point though, is that the only mystery that a detective has to solve is the femme fatale ' s one. More analytically, one could claim that the main mystery in the film noirs is the femme fatale stereotype itself. For the hero, on the other hand, it is almost « unacceptable » not to solve a mystery and on that point they run against each other on the opposite sides but on the same field. It seems as a paranoia but it ' s a matter of love and hate. A situation from which no one can escape or survive, at least totally unscathed.
In these three movies, though one can see the changes of the stereotype of femme fatale throughout the years. The effects of the social changes have almost enforced this specific figure to “ compromise ” in a way with the necessities of each era. Or even better to evolve in certain periods.
Some Basic Thoughts
In the first movie the femme fatale seems to act like a victim in order to seduce the detective. She usually uses her feminine “ innocence ” to persuade him. On the contrary in the last one, the “ Basic Instinct 1 ”, a femme fatale does not have that need. Instead, she uses her ultimate feminine power to make him believe her. That ' s the main difference that society « imposed » in the femme fatale figure. The woman is totally independent and now she is using her strength to impose herself. That specific change occurred in the early 70 ' s and specifically with the feministic movement.
From now on, women ' s position would never be the same. From the 70 ' s since now the stereotype of femme fatale stands for herself. In the same way that women gained their position in the industrial world by taking part in the labour society, the “ new woman”achieves her goals in the contemporary consuming society.
All these changes are in fact the “ relics ” of a post-modern society overwhelmed by riots, revolutions and confrontations. And probably that ' s the main reason that film noir and the stereotype of femme fatale managed to survive in cinema. The cynicism and the corruption of contemporary society are totally depicted in the film noir.
The Birth of Femme Fatale
The first appearance of femme fatale lies back in the early 40 ' s. The eruption of the World War II called for men to enrol in the military service. That automatically meant that the industry world would come into a decline unless there were found people to fill in them. These people were the housewives of the 30 ' s who in a way were forced to take up the men ' s position in the industry. This evolutionary “ themes ” were the first steps for women to chase their own lives and finally a brand new role in a man ' s world. The previous stereotype of the housewife, who was raised by her family with the only goal to take care only of her family, was now substituted by a dynamic, independent woman. This revolution is known as the “ Rosie-the-Riveter ” syndrome.
When men returned from the battlefield, they had to face the new reality of women no longer been weak and dependant on them. This new stereotype, although a bit weird at the start, gave men the chance to start wondering about the primitive archetype of “femme fatale ” . The independent, strong, desirable woman that could achieve anything she wanted. And the new woman was almost fulfilling that “ dream ” .
