The Woman in the Window: Difference between revisions

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[[Fritz Lang]]'s 1944 [[Film Noir]], one of the [[Trope Maker|first films]] to be so called. Married, middle-aged psychology professor Richard Wanley falls in lust with a provocative portrait of a young woman. When the portrait's model, a budding [[Femme Fatale]], catches him ogling it, she invites him up to her apartment. The two are interrupted by her boyfriend, who tries to strangle Richard, and Richard kills him in self defense. Now the two must try to quietly dispose of the body to avoid scandal, but are hampered by their lack of trust for each other. Complications include Richard's friend, a district attorney who investigates the man's disappearance, and a third party scheming to blackmail them both.

 

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* {{spoiler|[[All Just a Dream]]: A textbook version. The whole plot is a dream of Richard's. Yes, even the many scenes he's not in. This was tacked on by Fritz Lang to conform with the [[Hays Code]].}}

* [[A Tragedy of Impulsiveness]]: The adultery and the killing are regrettable, but it's {{spoiler|the suicide}} that makes it a true tragedy; if Richard had just waited a little longer, he would have discovered it to be unnecessary.

* [[Blackmail]]: Unbeknownst to the conspirators, the murdered man had a bodyguard...an ex-cop who was fired for blackmailing.

* {{spoiler|[[Driven to Suicide]]: Richard, when he thinks he's about to be caught.}}

* [[Femme Fatale]]: Alice, the title character.

* [[Pygmalion Plot]]: The general concept is alluded to. As Richard stares at the portrait, suddenly the real woman appears, reflected in the window, as though the painting had come alive.

* [[Sarcastic Confession]]: Richard, repeatedly.

 

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[[Category:The Woman in the Window]]

[[Category:Film]]