WOMEN IN FILM NOIR
Individual Questionnaire
This questionnaire has only an academic purpose. Your identity will not be revealed and the answers will be taken into consideration only for this survey.
TYPE. What is your favourite type of female character in film noir and why?
- the femme fatale
- the housewife
- the effective secretary
- other ___________________
Argument for your choice:___________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
DES. How would you describe in three words the “femme fatale” in film noir?
1.______________________
2.______________________
3.______________________
EPIT. Do you consider the femme fatale in film noir the epitome of ideal beauty?
- YES
- NO
EX. Do you think that the femme fatale in film noir is a good example for the contemporary women’s conduct?
- YES, why? ___________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
- NO, why?_____________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
WOM1. (A question only for female respondents) Have you ever imitated the fashion, make-up and/or hairdo of the femme fatale in film noir?
- YES
- NO
WOM2. (A question only for female respondents) Have you ever tried to emulate the conduct of the femme fatale or of any female characters you saw in film noir?
- YES
- NO
CONFEM. Give two examples (if possible) of a contemporary femme fatale in film and of a femme fatale in real life (more or less known to the general public).
1._______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2._______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
COMINS. Do you consider the femme fatale an effective commercial instrument in the cinema industry or in the media, in general?
1. YES, why?_____________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2. NO, why?______________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
FEMFA1. Which of the following characters is, in your opinion, the definitive femme fatale in the classic film noir and why? (Choose only one answer.)
- Cora (Lana Turner) in “The Postman Always Rings Twice”
- Phyllis (Barbara Stanwyck) in “Double Indemnity”
- Laura (Gene Tierney) in “Laura”
- Gilda (Rita Hayworth) in “Gilda”
- Kitty (Ava Gardner) in “The Killers”
- Other____________________________________________
Argument for your choice:___________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
FEMFA2. Which of the following characters is, from your point of view, the definitive femme fatale in neo-noir and why? (Choose only one answer.)
- Dorothy (Isabella Rossellini) in “Blue Velvet:”
- Catherine (Sharon Stone) in “Basic Instinct”
- Lynn (Kim Basinger) in “L.A. Confidential”
- Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer) in “Batman Returns”
- Other______________________________________________
Argument for your choice:___________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
FN. What was the first film noir you ever saw and what was your reaction to it?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
FF. Who was the first femme fatale in film noir that you ever saw and what was your impression towards her?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
WOM3. (A question only for female respondents) If you were to play the role of a femme fatale in a film noir, who would you like to be and why?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PROD. If you were a producer, what film noir would you choose for a remake and why?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
WAT. Give three reasons why you enjoy watching films noirs.
1._______________________________________________________________________
2._______________________________________________________________________
3._______________________________________________________________________
CONP. Do you consider the femme fatale a popular character to the contemporary public?
1. YES, why?_____________________________________________________________
2. NO, why?______________________________________________________________
CHAR. What would be, in your opinion, the three characteristics of the femme fatale in film noir that you found in a real-life woman?
1._______________________________________________________________________
2._______________________________________________________________________
3._______________________________________________________________________
FEMAN. If you were to choose between the femme fatale and her antagonist (the housewife, for instance), which one would you choose and why?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
DOM. Why do you think that the dominant female character appeared in the film industry?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
GEN. Do you consider that the femme fatale will continue to impress future generations of moviegoers?
1. YES, why?_____________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2. NO, why?______________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
FMED. Could you give an example of a femme fatale that you have seen in other media than the cinema (in commercials or on television, for instance)?
- YES, who?____________________________________________________________
- NO
SIM. What would be, in your opinion, the similarity and, respectively, the distinction between the femme fatale in classic film noir and the femme fatale in neo-noir?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
POR. How do you find the portrayal of women in film noir? (Choose only one answer.)
- inspirational
- stereotyped
- challenging
- exciting
- emotional
- other, what?_____________________________________
RES. Do you find any resemblance between the women in film noir and the women in other film genres, such as the female gothic film?
1. YES, why?_____________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2. NO, why?______________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
SUB. Is there anything else you would like to say on the subject of women in film noir?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Personal information:
Name:______________________________
Gender:
- male
- female
Age (years):
- 20 & under
- 21-29
- 30-39
- 40-49
- 50-59
- 60 & over
Marital status:
- single
- married or cohabitating
- separated/divorced
- widowed
Highest education level:
- High School or equivalent
- Some College
- Bachelors Degree
- Masters Degree
- Doctorate Degree
- Professional Degree
Occupation:___________________
Contact person: Monica Ilie-Prica
monik.ilie@yahoo.com or
moniqueclassique1990@gmail.com
Thank you very much for your cooperation!