All the films that were produced during the 1930 to 1968 have to follow a certain set of industry moral censorship guidelines, the "Motion Picture Production Code" also known as the Hays code. The film "Double Indemnity" really pushed the boundary of the "Hays code". Firstly, crimes against the law are not allowed to show in a particular way in order to prevent the possibility of inspiring others with a desire for imitation. In the film, when the protagonist Walter attacks Mr. Dietrichson we can not actually see how the murder was committed but hearing the horning of the car and the yawning of the victim because the hays code has restricted the way of the murder must be presented in a way that will not inspire imitation. Also, the methods of crime should not be explicitly presented. Therefore, when the protagonists were trying to dispose the body of the victim also we were not be able to see how it really happens instead of showing the imply the idea by showing them throwing the walking sticks on the rail way.
Secondly, The sanctity of the institution of marriage and the home shall be upheld. Therefore, the film shall not infer that low forms of sex relationship are the accepted or common thing. In the film, the director has really pushed the boundaries by showing adultery on screen. For example, when we see Phyillis the femme fatale for the first time she was wearing nothing but a bath towel covering her body. Also, the close up shot on her anklet should not be shown on screen since seduction are forbidden by the code. Also, the film included a lot of kissing and hugging scenes even thought lustful kissing, lustful embraces are restricted. Also, the director implied the scenes of passion by showing the change of the position of the characters when they are sitting on the sofa.
Lastly, the Restrictions of the Hayes code has actually made Double Indemnity a better film. Not being allowed to show sex instead it was implied with editing and Instead of showing the murder the camera pans to Barbara Stanwyck while the killing takes place off camera. I think Double Indemnity has changed the film world. The use of dark back-and-white theme and story of lust, greed and murder told from the killers point of view by using voiceover. It is really unique compared with other noir film in that time period.
Secondly, The sanctity of the institution of marriage and the home shall be upheld. Therefore, the film shall not infer that low forms of sex relationship are the accepted or common thing. In the film, the director has really pushed the boundaries by showing adultery on screen. For example, when we see Phyillis the femme fatale for the first time she was wearing nothing but a bath towel covering her body. Also, the close up shot on her anklet should not be shown on screen since seduction are forbidden by the code. Also, the film included a lot of kissing and hugging scenes even thought lustful kissing, lustful embraces are restricted. Also, the director implied the scenes of passion by showing the change of the position of the characters when they are sitting on the sofa.
Lastly, the Restrictions of the Hayes code has actually made Double Indemnity a better film. Not being allowed to show sex instead it was implied with editing and Instead of showing the murder the camera pans to Barbara Stanwyck while the killing takes place off camera. I think Double Indemnity has changed the film world. The use of dark back-and-white theme and story of lust, greed and murder told from the killers point of view by using voiceover. It is really unique compared with other noir film in that time period.