Film Studies - The Black Dahlia
In the closing scene, as
I mentioned before, is used a lot of flash-backs, which change the scene non-linear. The
flash-backs help the audience to draw connections bethween previous sequences, also to
find the conclusion to the story. As a narrative device, there is used dramatic tension as
the plot progresses. It is really clear in the last scene, when Madeline's strange mother is
telling the whole story, which the audience never would be thought about. The tension
rises, when Bucky threathens to kill Madeline. There is a question, will he shoot the
woman? Can Madeline manipulate Bucky?
The analysed sequence shows that the genre codes, conventions and narrative
devices in it are unique and recognisable for Film Noir. Changes take place in films,
because society is changing, the audience expectations are changing. People know more,
people have seen more, so films have to be able to give more to them. Every genre is
annaabi.ee 
