Classic Hollywood Archetypes: The Femme Fatale

Jan Sterling

The femme fatale (which translates from the French as "deadly woman") is an archetype that pre-dates cinema. She is often portrayed in literature and film as a sexual vampire (leaving her male victims as shells of themselves), hence the turn-of-the-century American slang term "vamp", synonymous with this character.

The hey-day of the femme fatale  was seen in the film noire era of the 40's and 50's. Some debate whether she's a misogynist representation of something men fear, or response to the war and the new breed of woman independent from men.

You can spot her by her suspiciously seductive sideways glance, her serious bedroom eyes, the cigarette on her lips and the pistol in her garter (but you'll probably see that one too late).

Gloria Grahame

Lauren Bacall

Kim Novak

Ava Gardner

Ann Savage

Veronica Lake

Hedy Lamarr

Lizabeth Scott

Rita Hayworth

Yvonn Decarlo (later asked how she felt about playing Lily Munster, Decarlo said she'd "play her just like Donna Reed")

Linda Darnell

Marlene Dietrich

Peggy Cummings

Joan Bennett