Film Femme Fatale - The Role of the Hollywood Femme Fatale
The definition of the "Femme Fatale" archetype is derived from the french phrase that translates in English to mean "deadly woman.
" A classical example of a femme fatale is a woman who uses her charms to engage men into an overpowering desire for her that could only lead to dangerous, compromising, and even fatal situations.
Additional adjectives associated with the description are seductress, vamp, sultry, demon, witch, black widow, and even heroine.
The enchanting and hypnotizing effect of the "femme fatale" lies in her ability to be villainous while seeming vulnerable in nature, yet beautiful, alluring and virtually irresistible to the opposite sex.
These are the qualities that bring her power of manipulation up to a nearly supernatural level.
In early Hollywood, the role of the "femme fatale" was fascinating to audiences because it broke the social conventions as to what a lady should be and how she should act.
Women in this role actively denied any Victorian era social roles to the point of becoming the complete opposite.
She would now be a woman who expressed her sexuality openly, who would manipulate men to meet her desires, and who could choose to ultimately reject any type of real romantic, intimate relationship.
It was now fair to say that the Hollywood "film femme fatale" is a woman who never really is whom she seems to be.
The first clearly identifiable role of this type was played by the lovely Theda Bera in the film "A Fool There Was" (1915).
She played the classic "vamp," seducing and entrapping men with dark coercion, charm, and irresistible beauty to the point of their demise.
Her famous line "kiss me, you fool" signaled the beginning of the end for her chosen male prey.
In the 1940's, female movie stars who portrayed "femme fatales" included the beautiful Rita Hayworth in the film "The Lady From Shanghai" (1948).
Rita Hayworth skillfully exhibited all the characteristics for this type of role portraying the excessively desirable, sexually provocative temptress, who, like a preying cat, knew exactly when to pounce on her prey.
In this role, she classically assumes the guise of a victim in a situation that she cannot escape.
This allows her to lure her intended victim into a web of deceit and ultimate betrayal.
The role for which Rita Hayworth won enthusiastic critical acclaim as a femme fatale was in the film "Gilda" (1946).
Here she plays the beautiful, hedonistic, auburn haired wife of a South American casino owner played by George Macready.
Marliyn Monroe brought another slant to the role of the femme fatale by playing the the character as less villainous and more childlike.
She was beautiful and sexy, yet aloof, while appearing to not be responsible, or even aware, of using her own manipulative methods to get what she wanted from men through her sexuality.
Many of early Hollywood's most beautiful women were often portrayed in this manner, and audiences loved it.
However, this portrayal would soon change as a much more liberated and independent femme fatale role began to take the lead in films.
Whichever interpretation you prefer, the allure is irresistible.
Why? Because the truth is that all of us love to hate them, and that is what makes the femme fatale classically wicked, irresistibly desirable, and stunningly beautiful.
" A classical example of a femme fatale is a woman who uses her charms to engage men into an overpowering desire for her that could only lead to dangerous, compromising, and even fatal situations.
Additional adjectives associated with the description are seductress, vamp, sultry, demon, witch, black widow, and even heroine.
The enchanting and hypnotizing effect of the "femme fatale" lies in her ability to be villainous while seeming vulnerable in nature, yet beautiful, alluring and virtually irresistible to the opposite sex.
These are the qualities that bring her power of manipulation up to a nearly supernatural level.
In early Hollywood, the role of the "femme fatale" was fascinating to audiences because it broke the social conventions as to what a lady should be and how she should act.
Women in this role actively denied any Victorian era social roles to the point of becoming the complete opposite.
She would now be a woman who expressed her sexuality openly, who would manipulate men to meet her desires, and who could choose to ultimately reject any type of real romantic, intimate relationship.
It was now fair to say that the Hollywood "film femme fatale" is a woman who never really is whom she seems to be.
The first clearly identifiable role of this type was played by the lovely Theda Bera in the film "A Fool There Was" (1915).
She played the classic "vamp," seducing and entrapping men with dark coercion, charm, and irresistible beauty to the point of their demise.
Her famous line "kiss me, you fool" signaled the beginning of the end for her chosen male prey.
In the 1940's, female movie stars who portrayed "femme fatales" included the beautiful Rita Hayworth in the film "The Lady From Shanghai" (1948).
Rita Hayworth skillfully exhibited all the characteristics for this type of role portraying the excessively desirable, sexually provocative temptress, who, like a preying cat, knew exactly when to pounce on her prey.
In this role, she classically assumes the guise of a victim in a situation that she cannot escape.
This allows her to lure her intended victim into a web of deceit and ultimate betrayal.
The role for which Rita Hayworth won enthusiastic critical acclaim as a femme fatale was in the film "Gilda" (1946).
Here she plays the beautiful, hedonistic, auburn haired wife of a South American casino owner played by George Macready.
Marliyn Monroe brought another slant to the role of the femme fatale by playing the the character as less villainous and more childlike.
She was beautiful and sexy, yet aloof, while appearing to not be responsible, or even aware, of using her own manipulative methods to get what she wanted from men through her sexuality.
Many of early Hollywood's most beautiful women were often portrayed in this manner, and audiences loved it.
However, this portrayal would soon change as a much more liberated and independent femme fatale role began to take the lead in films.
Whichever interpretation you prefer, the allure is irresistible.
Why? Because the truth is that all of us love to hate them, and that is what makes the femme fatale classically wicked, irresistibly desirable, and stunningly beautiful.
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