!!Spoiler Alert!!

"Double Indemnity has been called “a film without a single trace of pity or love.” Do you agree with this statement? Think about the motivations that lie behind the actions of Walter Neff and Phyllis Dietrichson when you consider your response." 



While an incredibly old movie, Double Indemnity still captivates its audience to this day. An outstanding example of cinematography and directing, it is a perfect example of what may be called film noir. Film noir most prevalently portrays a seductive and somewhat psychotic woman as a main character. The other main character is almost guaranteed to be a male with little to no success with women. The psychotic woman then uses her seductive abilities to make like a praying mantis. Aka she gets the man to do the dirty work then bites off his head (not literally of course, I can hardly imagine that would be allowed in theatres). 

With a basic understanding of film noir, it is now possible to analyse the original question stated at the top of the page. Walter Neff appears to show a certain amount of affection for Phyllis Dietrichson (The psychotic woman) and finds himself willing to kill her husband. However, later on we find that he has her all figured out which culminates in Phyllis attempting to kill him. Walter (now Holy Walter [he got shot in the arm]) tells her to try again, but she can't bring herself to shoot him again. She then claims to love Walter because she couldn't shoot him again, the motivation behind this action is almost certainly an attempt to save herself. Walter, who doesn't want her telling the court what really happened, promptly took her gun and shot her twice in the torso. Hardly what I would call love, but to each their own I guess. 

While no love or pity is shown between the two main characters, I cannot fully agree that there is no love or pity in the movie. While it is true that none is shown between Phyllis and Walter, the same cannot be said about Walter and his boss, Barton Keyes. Keyes professed his trust and friendship for Walter at various points in the movie. He defended Walter when he was a main suspect in the death of Phyllis's husband. And when he finally finds out Walter is the murderer, all he talks about is calling an ambulance to take care of Walter's arm (remember my earlier joke?). When Walter tried leaving, Keyes didn't stop him, and when Walter collapsed on the floor from blood loss, Keyes calls an ambulance and stays by Walter's side, even lighting his cigarette for him. The lighting of the cigarette is ultimately what convinced me that there is love in the movie Double Indemnity. This si so because during most of the movie, Keyes can never find his matches and Walter always lit his cigarette for him. The end of the movie when Keyes lit Walter's cigarette was a powerful message showing a very close friendship and love between the two. 

So, as a final message no, I do not believe Double Indemnity is a film with "no traces of pity or love," because a loving relationship between Walter Neff and Barton Keyes is portrayed throughout the entire movie.