Question #3
I feel when a film opens with the ending or after the climax part in a story it automatically draws the audience in like how Double Indemnity opened in their first scene showing the main character, Walter wounded. We are now curious to how Walter came to this conclusion. In the novel, the story is told in chronological order minus Walter narrating his story. When I was reading the first few pages of the book, I wasn't really interested as much as I was in the beginning of the film because the book just opening with some boring insurance salesmen talking about his job and other information about other characters. It wasn't really an attention grabber like how it would be if the story opened with a death or an outcome that the readers can be curious about. The ending in the beginning is also good for a film noir movie because it's a popular trait. It's usually about knowing the main character's predicament or death first, then they narrate to the audience of how it was led to that point. It's also usually a first person point of view.
Question #9
There are definitely noticeable changes of Barton Keyes' character between the film and novel. In the novel, we do see a closer bond between Huff and Keyes other than just being coworkers. Keyes' character is a tough "hardboiled detective" but it seems he has a soft spot for Walter. When the company does a routine investigation on Walter about the murder, Keyes immediately sends a message claiming he is innocent and has nothing to do with the crime. Though there is an apparent connection between the two in the novel , the film emphasizes it greatly. The biggest emphasis would be the narration. Walter is confessing in a recording to Keyes about the murder, Therefore the film is directed to Keyes. It is gravitating more towards Walter's and Keyes' relationship because it's somewhat like a conversation between them. There was even less chemistry between Walter and Lola in the film because it was focused more between Keyes and Walter.
I agree the movie was more excited and mysterious especially how it opened with Walter confessing all his misdeeds to keys over the phone. The narrator looking back telling his story is definitely consistent with film noir. he novel was more detailed but yet at times boring. I also agree with you in that keys and Walter relationship plays to be mush closer on film as throughout the movies he lights keys cigars, tells him he loves him and looks up to him.
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