Whoa, that was a lot to
read.
‘I Love You Too’:
Sexual Warfare and Homoeroticism in Billy Wilder’s Double Indemnity” by Brian
Gallagher brought up a lot of interesting points about the film and the novel
that I didn’t pay much attention to before. But, I disagree with some of what
Gallagher said.
First off, I still do
not see the homoeroticism in either the novel of the film. Not as it is
described anyway. I don’t see any sexual tension, suppressed or otherwise,
between Walter and Keys. All I can see is a close bond, either a long lasting
friendship or a father-son sort of thing, between two men who have been working
close together for a long time and have come to know and respect each other.
When Walter says that he loves Keys, it doesn’t mean that he has any sort of
desires to be with him. I ‘Love’ a lot of people. I care a great deal about
them, and I would do almost anything for them. A lot of them are guys. I don’t
want to be intimate with them. They’ve just made their way into my circle of
people that I trust, and who I consider family.
As for the cigar being
a “Clearly phallic” (234) object, I would like to ask why it is seen that way.
Cigars are typically a male thing, and most people in my experiences who smoke
them are men. Yes, lighting another persons smoke is typically seen as a
romantic thing, or something that men do for women, but it could also just be a
kind gesture. Keys refuses to carry matches because they are unsafe, and Walter
always happens to have some because he also smokes. He’s just helping his
friend.
Something interesting
that he pointed out, but I have not real argument for, is when Keys picks up
Walters phone when he is in his office, assuming the role of the “Secretary”. I
just like how observant and analytical some people are.
The only time that I
saw that might have been slightly homoerotic was the very end of the film, when
Keys states that Walter was closer than just across the desk. But again, these
men have been working together for a long time, and have come to know and
respect each other. They trust each other. They are friends, and friends don’t
normally like to accuse each other of murder and insurance fraud. Also, death
can do something to you. Keys saw that Walter was in serious pain, and might
not make it to the hospital. I don’t really like putting personal things in
here but I’ve sort of been in that situation. You get either really
desensitized to the world, or you realize just how much someone meant to you.
Gallagher says that this is the only time that he feels he can express his true
feelings; I think it is just how humans work.
Gallagher compares the
tension between Huff and Keys to that of soldiers in the war. Where, if a
comrade is dying, it is acceptable to hold them, kiss them, show affection.
This irritates me. If Mr. Gallagher was reading this, I would ask him to place
himself in their boots. That is a person you have gone through hell with. They
are your brother. You are watching your brother die, in an already emotionally
tense situation. Nobody would just let them die. You comfort them, you let them
die in a friends arms, in relative peace.
I’m at 600 words now,
so I have to stop. This was a good article, and I liked some of the
perspectives it took. I just don’t see them in the story.
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