In response to Louis Rayner's question concerning the differences between 90's femme fatales and those of the early noir period. let me suggest the following differences: 1. Early femme fatales were concerned with traditional greed. Bridget O'Shaunessy of the MALTESE FALCON (1941) and the Lana Turner character in THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE (1946) are examples. The Sharon Stone character in BASIC INSTINCT is more concerned with mind games than with money. 2. Later femme fatales are better educated and wealthier than their predeccesors. In short, femme fatales, like most Americans, have enjoyed the benefits of the post-WWII prosperity. But the most striking thing about the two groups is that they rely on seduction to serve desctructive (to say nothing of illegal and/or immoral) ends. Whatever their time period, they are femme fatales and as such have to have certain basic characteristics. Peter Latham ---- To sign off Screen-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF Screen-L in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask]