The Seven Deadly Sins In The Film 'Double Indemnity'
The Seven Deadly Sins
Brianna Kibler
Introduction To Film Studies- HUM/150
Dominic Biondi The 1944 film “Double Indemnity” is about an insurance salesman, Walter Neff, who gets entangled in a plot to kill an unhappy wife’s husband, Phyllis Dietrichson, over greed. They work together to stage a suicide that should later be determined accidental. Little does the salesman know the wife will get what she wants, no matter the cost. This paper will dissect the movie to help illuminate underlying themes and how the seven deadly sins are portrayed. It will also compare and contrast the two main characters, Walter Neff and Phyllis Dietrichson, while exposing any motifs shown. Lust appears to be the most flamboyant theme throughout the film. The most basic and familiar definition of lust is a strong desire for something. In …show more content…
Phyllis was guilty of this and it was openly discussed when her husband brought up her spending habits on clothing and hats. Neff and Phyllis also show gluttony together with their smoking habits, which is another motif in the film. Both have this “gotta have” attitude toward the things they want and over use. Lastly, is the sin of greed, which is also the main theme of the movie. Both main characters want money. It is obvious that the main theme would have something to do with money, hence the meaning of “double indemnity”. The whole plot and events occurred because of one woman’s greed that ended up blinding another person to fall into her trap. We will never know if either one of them truly did love each other. In conclusion, it is clear to see that the two main characters are both different but alike in so many ways. The film consists of all seven deadly sins, weather that was the producer’s intention or not. The motifs present play a critical part in the film, and show what kind of character each person posses. Overall, the film is not your basic love story and ends with a breathtaking
Brianna Kibler
Introduction To Film Studies- HUM/150
Dominic Biondi The 1944 film “Double Indemnity” is about an insurance salesman, Walter Neff, who gets entangled in a plot to kill an unhappy wife’s husband, Phyllis Dietrichson, over greed. They work together to stage a suicide that should later be determined accidental. Little does the salesman know the wife will get what she wants, no matter the cost. This paper will dissect the movie to help illuminate underlying themes and how the seven deadly sins are portrayed. It will also compare and contrast the two main characters, Walter Neff and Phyllis Dietrichson, while exposing any motifs shown. Lust appears to be the most flamboyant theme throughout the film. The most basic and familiar definition of lust is a strong desire for something. In …show more content…
Phyllis was guilty of this and it was openly discussed when her husband brought up her spending habits on clothing and hats. Neff and Phyllis also show gluttony together with their smoking habits, which is another motif in the film. Both have this “gotta have” attitude toward the things they want and over use. Lastly, is the sin of greed, which is also the main theme of the movie. Both main characters want money. It is obvious that the main theme would have something to do with money, hence the meaning of “double indemnity”. The whole plot and events occurred because of one woman’s greed that ended up blinding another person to fall into her trap. We will never know if either one of them truly did love each other. In conclusion, it is clear to see that the two main characters are both different but alike in so many ways. The film consists of all seven deadly sins, weather that was the producer’s intention or not. The motifs present play a critical part in the film, and show what kind of character each person posses. Overall, the film is not your basic love story and ends with a breathtaking