Double Indemnity – 1944 – Crime, Thriller
Directed by: Billy Wilder
Written by: Billy Wilder; Raymond Chandler
Main Players: Fred MacMurray; Barbara Stanwyck; Edward G. Robinson; Tom Powers; Jean Heather; Byron Barr
Anyone that watches classic noir films will already know this one, but should a modern audience give movies from the 1940s a chance? Most definitely, as there are a lot of really good classics, and this is one. Double Indemnity tells a classic tale of murder, deceit, and… insurance. It has an excellent and winding crime plot and very good cast.
Insurance salesman Walter Neff (MacMurray) goes calling on Mr. Dietrichson at his expensive $30,000 house in order to make sure he realizes that some of his automobile policies have lapsed. Wouldn’t want to get in a fender bender now, would we? While he is not home, the maid answers and his wife Phyllis (Stanwyck) shows up on the landing to look down from above.
Walter is thunderstruck, ready to do most anything to see the lady again, and is happy she will be there the following evening with her husband to sign the updated policies. While she cancels that appointment, she makes another one for the following afternoon. Walter meets up with Phyllis again, and isn’t even upset that the husband is again away.
Things take a strange turn however when Phyllis suggests that her husband has also been looking into accident insurance policies also. She actually hopes to save time and effort if maybe she could just set them up for him and solve her poor husband of taking time from his busy schedule and doing it himself.
Walter isn’t too happy with this idea, however eventually Phyllis reveals that her husband really isn’t that good of a guy. Outside of the obvious money that he has, he abuses her in all ways, emotionally and physically. She is looking for a way out. Additionally, there was an additional “double indemnity” clause which could kick in a double payout if the… ahem… right accidental death were to occur. Whatever will our boy Walter do? Tune in to find out.
The plot in general continues to take nice turns, and a cast full of classic actors helps turn this movie’s tension up a notch when it needs. It is well scripted and well shot, and there is no surprise it is hailed as a classic.
See This If You Liked:
Dial M For Murder; Blood Simple; Out of the Past; Chinatown; Body Heat; Laura; The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946); The Lady from Shanghai; Dark Passage; The Big Sleep; Strangers on a Train; Suspicion; Rope; The Woman in the Window (1944); Diabolique
Score:
8.0