Female roles

Women were often seen as support for the male hero or anti hero within the film plot. The role of women often fell within the stereotypical roles amplified and made up by Hollywood such as The Femme Fatale who would of course come to a nasty end. This can be seen probably most notably through the Film Noir genre in films such as ‘Double Indemnity’ and ‘Murder my Sweet.’

The nurturing motherly role and the girl next door were other stereotypical roles which female film stars portrayed at the cinema. Examples of this can also be seen through films in the Film Noir genre acting as a contrast to the Femme Fatale.

The Musical films of the 1950’s also showed the nice homely girl next door placed as a contrast to the show girl, all they want is to find a nice husband.