Femme fatale....exam!

Check out this...

http://members.aol.com/MG4273/garnett.htm#Postman

GREAT analysis, looks at the feminist aspect and compares it to the working man/business man relationship.

My thoughts on Cora:

First off, Lana Turner is one of the worst actors of old Hollywood, and the platinum blonde hair/white wardrobe makes her character even more unbelievable. But belive it or not, these two qualities make this a great film noir, adding to the enormous pulp atmosphere (in fact, it IS the pulp atmosphere, as there are few noir visuals, like expressionistic shadows), and keeping us in mind that this is from John Garfield's perspective, not necessarily how it happened.

This also is a unique noir for two purposes: it tries its hardest to make the femme fatale and her lover sympathetic, and yet they kill an innocent man. Its the precursor post-60's protagonist, in which it was OK for them to murder (and now they were free of the production code that required them to be punished).

Not to say that Cora isn't as femme fatale as Phyllis Dietrichson in Double Indemnity. SHE controls Garfield's relationship, she rises above oppression through powerful means (murder), and is manipulative and seductive. She's a great example of how the femme fatale uses her sexuality to convince a man to do what she wants.