Women in Film Noir

Femme-fatale: a seductive woman who leads men into danger. Often double crossing, beautiful, unreliable, manipulative and desperate. Thier role in the film is generally to act as the 'evil seductress' who leads the hero into trouble or crime.

Conventional film noir women: dutiful, reliable, trustworthy, and loving. The conventional woman is often 'traditional' in the form of her place as a housewife and mother. The women are normally passive and non-threatening. Thier role in the storyline is to seek the main character/hero but normally loses him (in love). They act as an opposite force to the femme-fatale.

5 examples of conventional women in film noir:

Ann - 'Out of the Past'

Sue - 'Pitfall'

Lagana - 'The Big Heat'

unknown name - 'The Killers'

Melanie - 'Gone with the Wind'

5 examples of femme-fatale women in film noir:

Cathy - 'Out of the Past'

Ida - 'Road House'

Rhonda - 'Cry Danger'

Joan - 'Sudden Fear'
Claire - 'Born to Kill'