English 101 Blog # 7

          In reading The Kidnapper Bell and City Of Commerce you can see how the writers used the individual landscape in Los Angeles to give the reader a mental picture of the city. In The Kidnapper Bell the story starts out with the main character in a seedy bar in Chinatown. Many big cities on the west coast have a Chinatown such as San Fransisco, and San Jose to name a few, so this isn't a distinguishing factor as a sense to being in Los Angeles. The writer then takes us on a brief trip through the city to get to the L.A. River. Describing places in the story like Echo Park, San Fernando Road, and the L.A. River, these do however give us a sense of the landscape. The writer at one point describes the L.A. River in great detail. The book states "it has Graffiti covered cement. A hint of water. Chain link, barbed wire, and corrugated steal."(The Kidnapper Bell) Knowing the area it makes it a little more interesting to be able to place where they are, it kind of gives you a better picture to visualize what is taking place in your mind.

           In the book City Of Commerce the writer uses a lot more Los Angeles related mainstays, he describes the 5 and 110 freeways. Sates how the main character meet his wife at a Santa Monica beach party. The main character describes his feelings for the landscape of Los Angeles when the book states "This town, to me, isn't notable for it's candlelit, leather bound night clubs or fancy gallerias. Like anywhere else, it's the outlet malls and truck stop Arby's, pathetic little trees dwarfed by ten foot freeway sound walls."(City Of Commerce) Also the main character mentions L.A. sports teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Dodgers, as well as mentioning The University Of California Los Angeles (UCLA). The writer even goes as far as describing the brutal traffic conditions Angelinos have to deal with on a daily basis. I think that both stories create a sense of place, City of Commerce did a much better job of distinguishing that the story took place in Los Angeles. The Kidnapper Bell described one landmark in Los Angeles with great detail, where as The City of Commerce made you feel a little more at home.

English 101 Blog # 4

There are vast differences in the ending of Double Indemnity when it comes to the book and the movie. In the movie, Walter meets Phyllis at her home with the intent to kill her, but Phyllis had plans of her own to end Walters life. She shoots Walter in the house, and he seems unscathed by the shot. He walked over to Phyllis asking her why she wouldn't shoot him again. She then proffessed her love for him, Walter then took the gun and killed her. While he was recording what had taken place in Keyes office, he realized that Keyes was standing in the door way and had overheard his confession. Keyes called for an ambualance as Walter tried to get away, but he couldn't. Keyes advised the dispatcher that it would be a police job as well and Walter was caught. In the novel Walter is shot by Phyllis in a park while he waits for her to show up so he can kill her. When he wakes up in the hospital he confesses to Keyes all that had taken place. Instead of Keyes calling the police he decides to send Walter away, to protect the face of the insurane company. So he sends Walter on a boat to get away and while on the boat he see's Phyllis. Phyllis tries to make things work with Walter, who shuts her down. She decides to kill her self and Walter choses to join her. With the final passage being a memoire that Walter is writning. The biggest difference to me is that the novel is left more open ended. We dont exactly know the fate of Phyllis and Walter but essentially know that they commit sucide together. Keyes doesn't notify the police, to save the company, and Walter is more amicably depicted in the novel. I enjoyed the ending of the novel more than the book. In the film Double Indemnity various aspects of film noir were aparent. In the film when something bad was happening the sceane would be in a darker setting. When Walter meet with Mr. Dietreckson to discuss insurance the setting had Phyllis above all the others, as to show if she was the one with all the power. In the end of the film when Walter shot Phyllis, he was standing above her to show how he had taken the power back. I enjoyed the film also, but did perfer reading the novel.

English 101 Blog # 3

         I woke up this morning in a fog, last night still seeming to be a blur to me. I had a story to tell and no one to tell it to, unless of course I wanted to send myself down the river. It all started a couple of months ago, late June if I recall. I was in my office on an average day unlike any other, until she walked in. A tall slender drink of water, light green eyes, hazel hair, and body to die for. I shot out of my chair and introduced myself." The names Maroney... Alex Maroney, private dick." She was more beautiful than all the women I had seen in the picture shows, and that was saying something. She opened her mouth, and at that very moment I knew I was trouble.

        "My name is Candice Simone, Obviously I know your a private dick, or why else would I be here."
"So it's a private dick you're searching for, well you have found a good one Mrs. Simone."
 "Lets just cut to the chase, Mr. Maroney."
"Alex, call me Alex."
"Very Well, Alex, I had a hunch to come in here and ask you if I could retain your services?"
"Depends, what kind of servicing do you need ?" I wanted to be frank and tell her that I would do what ever it was that she needed, but I figured I would here her out first. See exactly what kind of scheme she was waiting to deploy. " I need to know how much you would charge for a tail?"
"A tail you say?"
"Yes a tail"
"What kind of tail would I be providing Mrs. Simone? And to whom?"
"It's my husband, he has been awfully distant and some times down right vile. I need to know if there is someone else." At this point Candice dropped her handkerchief and I thought it suspicious, when she turned around to bend over and pick it up I knew then and there that it had been on purpose. "Well I certainly would hate to let someone like you down. How do you suppose you'll pay me?"
"Well I get a weekly allowance and..." I cut her of then and there. "You can have my services as long as you'll see me."
"See you, I'm a married woman."
"Look I can help you, as long as you can help me. You're a smart woman, you get my drift."
"Then Alex, shall we?"
"Shall we what?"
"Get down to business?" Like I said I knew I was in trouble, I just couldn't help myself. That is how this whole damn thing started, over a dame, one that I thought I could'nt live without.



                                                                                                               Marvin Long

English 101 Blog# 2

            In the novel Double Indemnity by author James M. Cain, in classic, or typical noir fashion, the story is set in Los Angeles, California.We find the lead character Walter Huff, an insurance agent to be a little shady, whom seems to be a natural born hustler from the start. Walter visits the home of Mr. Nerdlinger where upon arriving, he finds that Mr. Nerdlinger is not home. That is when Walter meets Phyllis Nerdlinger, the spouse of Mr. Nerdlinger. From the very onset of their meeting Walter fixes his sites on her as he describes her figure and how it is enough to drive any man wild. While talking with Phyllis she asks the seedy insurance agent if his company offers accident insurance? On this premise Walter new exactly what Phyllis had in mind. After this inquiry is where the plot begins to thicken.

            Phyllis pays Walter a visit and he let's her know that he is on to her play to kill Mr. Nerdlinger. She adamantly denies, and acts insulted by Walter's accusations. Walter though tells Phyllis that she is going to do it, and shocks Phyllis when he tells her that he is going to help her do the dirty deed. Phyllis still unsure of what to think of it all reluctantly gives in, and advises Walter of her devious plans to off Mr. Nerdlinger. Walter being an insurance agent then shows it's worth, he has the inside track on what to do, and what not to do. He knows what the insurance investigators would look for from every angle and how to capitalize on the policy to get even more money. He then reveals to Phyllis how to get double indemnity, by Mr. Nerdlinger having an accident on a train. During all the insanity of plotting a murder Walter makes a move on Phyllis adding even more to the elements of danger already surrounding the story line. Walter kisses her, and the married woman kisses back. From that moment on everything had changed, who holds the power over who? Which one would do the others biding on command? Phyllis seems to put all of her trust into Walter a man that she had just meet and does not know much about. Other than the fact that he is an insurance agent who came to sell her husband an automobile policy, and that he had figured out her scheme quickly. Walter was also putting a lot of trust into Phyllis who he knew nothing about other than, she was immensely attractive to him, and she had thoughts of killing her husband for money.                                                    

            Both of the lead characters in this noir novel are on the criminal side of things to this point in the story. With the existence of plotting to murder Mr. Nerdlinger. As Raymond Borde and Etienne Chaumeton reveal, "it is the presence of crime which gives film noir its most constant characteristic." In the case of Double Indemnity this appears to be the premise of the story line in the beginning chapters of the book. A classic tale of deceit, lies, and inapropriate sexual circumstances often seen in noir novels and films. Double Indemnity is right up that alley at this point in the thrilling novel.


                                                                                                              Marvin Long

                 

The Neo-Noir 90s

The Neo-Noir 90s was an interesting article showing how the noir movement had evolved in film, and then devolved. While it's stylish, dark, and filled with twists and turns, producers today don't like doing such films. They feel there is no profit involved because it is a dead art form. Even though a recent noir film had some success (L.A. Confidential), there is a feel that only other directors, producers, critics, and film buffs like noir films anymore. With that said they don't want to spend money on a film that possibly wouldn't reach a big audience. While they can be exciting they are viewed as to old of a product to atract the masses.