>Evan Rosenfield wrote:
>
>Isn't an evil hero impossible?

If we define a hero as being the character with whom the film-maker(s)
intends the viewer to most readily empathise with, then a lot of Fritz
Lang's films explore this issue, albeit with similar parameters in mind.
Three which come readily to mind are...

Part 2 of DIE NIEBELUNGEN in which Kriemhild gets up to some pretty nasty
tricks,, most of which she justifies as avenging Siegfried's murder... (cf.
the recent 'evil women' thread)

M - could the paedophile murderer be regarded as a 'hero' (in the context
of the film's narrative) on the grounds that he is apprehended by a gang of
organised criminals?  Most cinemagoers (even in late-Weimar Germany) would
surely prefer the rule of law (which is shown, in the form of the police
inspector, as being somewhat incapable of ruling) over the rule of
self-appointed vigilantes, who are also criminals?  Could it be said that
the Peter Lorre character is depicted as a hero on the basis of who he is
up against?

BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT - we don't want the Dana Andrews character to be
executed despite the fact that he quite clearly murdered his ex-wife.

-------------------------------------
Leo Enticknap
Flat 3, 36 Clifton
York  YO30 6AW
Tel. 01904 673207 (home); 0410 417383 (mobile)

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