I do agree with this statement, that Double Indemnity is indeed "a film without a single trace of pity or love." Although it may seem that the two main characters, Walter and Phyllis, are in love with one another, by taking a look at the motivations behind their actions, as well as the way that the film ends, we can see that this is not exactly the case.
Phyllis, as revealed more clearly at the tail end of the movie when she shoots Walter, only really got Walter to help her plan and execute the murder of her husband because she wanted to use him in order to make off with the insurance money that came with the murder. Phyllis did not actually love Walter Neff, for in this scene at the end of the film that takes place in her home Phyllis says to Walter, "I never loved you Walter, not you or anybody else. I'm rotten to the heart I used you just as you said. That's all you ever meant to me."
Walter, similarly, does not truly love Phyllis either. He is persuaded, by her beauty and poise, as well as his own dark and convoluted desires, to assist Phyllis in contriving a plan and carrying out the murder of her husband. At the end of the film he too reveals his true motivations when he asks Phyllis, "Don't tell me you've been in love with me all this time?", as if it would be sooo crazy for these two to actually have feelings of love for one another.
One that is on the opposing side of this argument, contending that there indeed is a trace of pity or love in Double Indemnity might use the fact that Phyllis says to Walter in this scene at the end of the film, "That's all you ever meant to me...until a minute ago, when I couldn't fire that second shot. I never thought that could happen to me," with tears in her eyes. One might use this piece of evidence to argue that Phyllis does really love Walter now, that her feelings have changed throughout the course of the movie. But my rebuttal to this counterargument is that Walter had just taken the gun from Phyllis's hand when she said this quote - she was merely coming up with another persuasive plead, as she has done time and time again in this story, in order to save her life. She was attempting to use her "puppy dog eyes" to convince Walter to alter his actions.
For those reasons, I agree with the statement that Double Indemnity is "a film without a single trace of pity or love." I mean, "film noir" does literally mean 'black film or cinema' right? And it is not just because the films of this genre are shown in black and white...
I think your analysis of the end of this movie really helped to show the true motivations of the characters. I agree as well that this is "a film without a single trace of pity or love" but I had not thought about it in the same way that you did. My thoughts were more along the line of how from the very beginning, Phyllis' mannerisms were sly, cunning and persuasive. She seemed to always be wanting something from Walter, rather than wanting him. I believe Walter may have thought he was in love with Phyllis, and then later realized it was only infatuation. I agree with you, I think theses aspects were revealed in the end of the movie. Great post!!
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