“The Third Man”

“The Third Man” by Carol Reed is a film noir which heavily highlights the use of homosexuality.  Throughout the film there are many moments which portray male characters as overly effeminate and presumably homosexual.  These men are introduced as Holly Martins scours Vienna trying to solve the murder of his dear friend Harry Lyme.  Baron Kurtz and Doctor Winkel are two characters who depict the strongest portrayal of homosexuality in the film.

            The characters of Baron Kurtz and Doctor Winkel are first seen at Harry Lyme’s funeral.  They are standing side by side and very close.  Both are dressed somewhat feminine and look odd.  Holly later meets these two personally, the first being Baron Kurtz.  Holly talks with Baron to investigate what happened step by step to Harry after being hit by the car.  Kurtz is wearing a very long slender jacket that is buttoned up all the way, which has fur along the neck.  The coat is extremely feminine and looks like it is that of a woman’s.  He is also wearing very tight leather gloves, a bowtie and is carrying a small dog.  Also, the mannerisms used suggest that Kurtz is somewhat off; he doesn’t seem like someone you would trust.  This scene is very relevant regarding Kurtz and Winkel because the dog that Kurtz is holding is the same dog which is later seen in Winkel’s apartment.  It is implied that Kurtz and Winkel are in somewhat of a relationship.

            Doctor Winkel is formally introduced when Holly decides to pay him a visit at his residence.  This scene is very important in regards to Winkel’s character.  The heavy use of Dutch angles on Winkel suggests that there is something wrong with him and that there is tension.  Inside Winkel’s apartment it is very cluttered and filled with art, sculptures, clocks and other collectibles.  This is a key identifier in film noir of someone who is homosexual.  Dr. Winkel’s attitude towards Holly in this scene is very cold giving Holly only short answers in a rude manner.  In this scene Dr. Winkel strokes the wick of candle while Holly is talking to him.  Again this is a very odd mannerism which can be interpreted as a sexual gesture.  Another strong homosexual reference in the movie is when Holly sees both Kurtz and Winkel on the balcony.  Kurtz is again wearing a fur coat and gloves; he is seen standing shoulder to shoulder with Dr. Winkel.  At the end of this scene when both Kurtz and Winkel retreat into the apartment, for a split second you can see Kurtz putting his arm around Winkel before the shot fades out. 

            “The Third Man” is a fantastic film which embodies the noir style leaving you captivated throughout the entire story.  Through the use of homosexuality the film helps to displace the main character as he searches an un-known city for the facts regarding his friend’s murder.  The use of homosexuality in the characters can be seen across many points in the film.  Both Baron Kurtz and Dr. Winkel strongly portray homosexuality in this classic film noir.

“Laura”: Gender Roles and Sexuality

Otto Preminger’s Laura is a film riddled with insinuations about gender roles and homosexuality.   The film is about a detective who is investigating the murder of Laura Hunt, whom in actuality was never killed, and the search for the murderer who wrongfully killed someone.  Waldo Lydecker is Laura’s good friend who mistakenly killed Diane Redford in Laura’s apartment.  Waldo’s character is very important when discussing gender roles and homosexuality. 

Waldo Lydecker is a very smart and whimsical man who is always quick with a sassy comeback.  He is a famous writer/journalist that Laura looked up too.  Waldo’s character is very unique because he does not abide by conventional film gender roles or sexuality.  His gender role is unique because Waldo’s it fits closely with that of a strong female character more than a male.  His character is portrayed much like that of a female.  Unlike the men of the time who are quick to throw a punch or pull a gun, Waldo slanders and ruins his “enemies” lives through his column.  Waldo’s enemies are any man that tries to date or get close to Laura.  Waldo’s character is also very controlling over things.  He is very controlling over Laura and he doesn’t like things or people he cannot control.  Waldo’s character seems to be hateful and resentful towards almost all men.  It seems as though he has some type of built up frustration and irritation.

Waldo Lydecker is also an important character because of the homosexual insinuations that the movie implies.  Throughout the film there are many hints and clues that led you to believe Waldo’s character is homosexual.  The first scene with Waldo takes place in his bathroom with him in the tub.  Waldo is completely nude and openly talking with detective Mark McPherson.  He then gets out of the tub, and has Mark hand him a robe to put on.  Waldo’s house is also very lavish.  It is filled with art, statues, fancy curtains and furniture.  He keeps everything very clean and takes very good care of his artwork and statues.  This is a key insight into the characters sexuality, because film regulations at the time limited characters from being outright homosexual.  This led to directors finding ways to portray the sexuality of a character through his belongings and attire.  Waldo’s attire in the film is also somewhat effeminate.  He is always seen with a big white flower on the lapel of his coats.  Waldo’s interest in art can be seen when he asks detective McPherson for his vase and his clock back from Laura’s apartment.  Waldo’s character touches upon not only gender roles but the role of sexuality in film.  Laura is a fantastic film noir which keeps you active in your search for gender roles and sexuality regarding the characters.”

“Shadow of a Doubt” easily overlooked Symbols

Alfred Hitchcock’s “Shadow of a Doubt” is a film noir which journeys through the tale of Charlie Oakley and his endeavors while staying at his older sister’s house in Santa Rosa, California.  Little does everyone know that Charlie is not the man he is made up to be.  Throughout the film there is a heavy influence of symbolism which can be easily overlooked.  Two of the most important symbols are the hand of cards played by the doctor on the train and the character of Herbie Hawkins.

In the film, when Charlie is going to visit his sister Emma, Charlie pretends to be ill so that he does not have to come in contact with any other train passengers.  During this scene it shows a group of three people playing what is assumed to be bridge or another card game close to it.  The passengers playing are bickering at the Doctor about helping Charlie with his illness.  Luckily for Charlie, the doctor refuses saying that he is on his vacation for a reason.  There is then a shot of a hand of cards, all Spades, a full house.  The best hand you can get.  This scene serves as a very important symbol for Charlie Oakley.  Just like the people playing, Charlie seems to have the best hand over his family.  They have no clue about his other life “in the east.”  The cards are important because just like everyone on the train, Charlie has everyone fooled, including his family he is soon to be staying with.  Another way this can be interpreted is that he is on his last hand.  With a hand of cards like that, the game would be over once played.  Just like Charlie, this trip to Santa Rosa is his last hand, and once it is played the game will be over.  As we can see, Charlie never really does get to leave Santa Rosa because of his death after falling out of the moving train car.

Herbie Hawkins unseeingly is an important character because he is at the opposite end of the spectrum that Charlie Oakley is.  Herbie, like Charlie is somewhat obsessed with the idea of murder.  Throughout the film Joe and Herbie discuss different methods and ways to kill people and how to not get caught.  Herbie’s character, unlike Charlie’s, does not actually murder people.  In fact Herbie saves young Charlie’s life from the garage when it was filling with car exhaust.  The symbolism here is not only that Herbie’s character is supposed to represent a man who is also obsessed with murder but does not actually murder people, but that Herbie foreshadows how Charlie will die.  Herbie, throughout the movie would tell Joe that he would kill people and make it look like an accident so that he would not get caught.  Young Charlie, when thrusting away from Uncle Charlie, causes Uncle Charlie to slip out the train door and into an oncoming train.  Herbie is opposite man of Charlie, very soft-spoken and always appearing at the wrong time.  Whereas Charlie seemed to have showed up at the perfect time and seems to enthrall everyone in the family as well as in Santa Cruz.  Herbie’s character is important because he portrays the more common type man that Charlie could have been.  is easily overlooked do to his quietness and almost humorous attitude and personality.