The Second Time Around August 21, 2006
Posted by jackal in : Films , trackback
I watched Universal’s new ‘Legacy Series’ Double Indemnity DVD at the weekend. I’d seen the film only once previously, and had been holding out until this release for a second viewing. The film, of course, had me spellbound. What had struck me as ‘merely’ an excellent crime thriller first time around suddenly became oh-so-obviously one of the all-time greats; arguably the apotheosis of film noir.
Which brings me to my point, one I notice with film noir more than any other genre: almost without exception, I find that I only fully appreciate a noir after a second viewing. Even genre classics such as Laura and Night and the City that I loved
first time around, still got better with a second viewing; they seemed richer, more ‘perfect’. Where the Sidewalk Ends, on the other hand, left me cold on a first viewing, but hugely impressed me the second time around. I was left thinking: did I really change that much in six months?
I don’t know why this should be the case specifically with noir; maybe because on an initial screening, you’re concentrating on plot, trying to follow the story, figure out who the murderer is, etc. There’s a limit to how much of the film’s nuances and other touches you can absorb. Watching for a second time, you know the plot already. Instead, you can soak up the atmosphere, admire the cinematography, appreciate the performances, take in every line of snappy dialogue, and the whole package comes together.
I’ve got a growing pile of noirs due for an encore: some I loved (Nightmare Alley, Detour, The Killers, The Big Clock), others that didn’t live up to my expectations (Criss Cross, Fallen Angel, The Big Heat, The Lady from Shanghai). Fingers crossed that the same will be true for each of them.
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