According to Paul Shrader, “Notes on Film Noir” the qualities of film noir are "nightmarish, weird, erotic, ambivalent, and cruel.” The first thirty-three pages of the book Double Indemnity by James M. Cain are so far living up to the difinition of Film Noir. It definately starts off wierd. It doesn't waste any time getting to the crime factor. You have the protaginist, Walter, who seems to be legitimate but also shows a shady side. It appears to be two femme fatale's with their own malnipulative agendas, and the poor inocent bystander, Phyllis's husband blind to the con that is beginning to take place to end his life. There is definately evidence of foul play that would lead to a violent death in the future. The whole plot so far is very dark. Both femme fatales seem to be mysterious, double-crossing, gorgeous, and manipulative, Which is stated as some of the charateristics. You can feel the deception and the fact that people are not telling the whole truth. Paul Shrader states " It is the presence of crime that gives Noir it's most constant charateristic, and in every sense of the word a noir film is a film of death." So far the fiirst thirty-three pages of the novel confirm that it has the qualities of a noir novel.
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