Characters / actors and directors of the focus films for the exam.

Alfie.
Director- Lewis Gilbert

Characters / actors.
	Michael Caine	...	Alfie
	Shelley Winters	...	Ruby
	Millicent Martin	...	Siddie
	Julia Foster	...	Gilda
	Jane Asher	...	Annie
	Shirley Anne Field	...	Carla
	Vivien Merchant	...	Lily
	Eleanor Bron	...	The Doctor
	Denholm Elliott	...	The Abortionist
	Alfie Bass	...	Harry Clamacraft
	Graham Stark	...	Humphrey
	Murray Melvin	...	Nat
	Sydney Tafler	...	Frank

US FILM COMPARATIVE STUDY.

2 Films  - Double Indemnity
               The last seduction

• Film noir and new neo-noir.
• Focus areas  - macro elements, last seduction (the lead film in your essay)

                               - Femme fatales (key elements in your film essay)

                          Note: All of these areas should 'drive' your essay forward in the exam.

• Both Phyllis and Bridget are femme fatale characters within both film narratives.
• Both these characters are strong, sexually confident women.
• The use of mise-en-scene in particular is used to emphasise this type of character - tight clothing, high heels, make-up, long hair, long finger nails are the main visual codes for this character type.
• Note that Bridget is a far more stronger, dangerous and seductive 'femme fatale' than Phyllis.
• Bridget is a representation of the way in which women had become stronger (1990s).
• NO HAY'S CODE - The last seduction is more explicit.
• Both women are representations of strong women seen in western society during the 20th century but at a given time - both are challenging existing ideas about gender roles in relation to women unlike Phyllis who represents a new type of woman that emerged during and after world war 2.
• Bridget repersents a strong post-feminist type of woman that emerged during the 1980s and 1990's - one who is very strong almost masculine in their character traits and values.
• Both of these women go against traditional values of love and monogamy.
• Bridget leaves her husband unlike Phyllis who because of the time did not have that option - both of these women enjoy sex not love.
• Both of these women are very much against family life as seen when Bridget puts out her 'cig' in the homemade apple pie from Mike's granny.
• They also seem to be in conflict and feel trapped in suburban, middle class America.
• Bridget in particular seems to 'mock' this type of lifestyle which exists in Beston.
• In one scene she takes refuge in her jeep (to hide from the overly optimistic surroudings).
• Within the narrative both women are motivated by three main themes in this genre - sex / lust , murder and money  !!
• One big difference between the narratives is that Bridget gets away with her crime - however Phyllis does not and has to pay for her crime. (note - the hay's code would not have allowed Phyllis to get away with her crime.
• In terms of male characters - Mike represents a post-modern man in terms of wanting love and a relationship - he challenges stereotypes.
• Men are seen as weak often in these films and are usually passive as opposed to being active.
• These films allow for a strong female protagonist which is a role still rare in Hollywood.