Double Indemnity

Rating:
Summary: Superb Film Noir
Review: From the James M. Cain novel this is the finest film of its genre under the masterful of Billy Wilder and an absolute must-see for any devote of film noir. Barbara Stanwyck is at her peak as a lying, cheating, double-crossing blond tramp(who can ever forget her ankle bracelet?) who schemes with Fred Mac Murray to murder her husband for the most base reason - his insurance money. Edward G. Robinson is fine as the insurance investigator who goes by his hunch that there's more than meets the eye than just a simple suicide.With a brilliant script (the double entendres when Stanwyck fobs off the attentions of Mac Murray are a gem!) by Wilder and Raymond Chandler "Double Indemnity" is a spellbinding rollercoaster into a world of murder, lust and betrayal moodily set in 1944 Hollywood. Double Indemnity stands as a towering achievement in cinema when a brilliant script, superb acting and excellent art direction and lighting are under the hands of a master. They just don't come better than this and not to be missed.

Rating:
Summary: What is film noir?
Review: With apologies to Jeff Foxworthy, of all people:

If the opening credits contain the name Raymond Chandler, the author best known for creating detective Philip Marlowe...you might be watching film noir, even if, like "Double Indemnity," Marlowe is not involved.

If critical scenes are almost completely dark, especially if it's shot in black and white and your scheming central characters are just as dark...you might be watching film noir.

If the dialogue contains lines like "The whole place smelled like honeysuckle. I never knew murder could smell like honeysuckle"...you might be watching film noir.

If the lead male character is an ultra-tough guy who's sleazy enough to make you check to see if your wallet is still in place...you might be watching film noir.

If the lead female character slithers down the stairs with her hips and shoulders moving enough to register on the Richter scale...you might be watching film noir.

If said male repeatedly looks at said female like a tiger prowling for his next meal...you might be watching film noir.

If he refers to her almost exclusively as "baby"...you might be watching film noir.

If he lights a match with his thumbnail more than twice during the first act...you might be watching film noir.

If the plot includes characters double-crossing each other at least twice...you might be watching film noir.

And if you're watching "Double Indemnity," you're watching one of the two or three best examples of this much-discussed genre of film, a uniquely American style of highly stylized thriller. If you're still not sure what "film noir" is, watch this movie. It's unforgettable.

Rating:
Summary: An almost perfect crime and an even better film noir
Review: Walter Neff is an insurance salesman at the top of his game. Self-assured, confident and when he meets the lonely, sexy housewife of a man he's trying to get to renew an auto-insurance policy, he's downright lecherous. Boy if he had a dame like that he'd know what to do, but could he afford her? He could if his Employer paid him what he's really worth. But then the dame, Phyllis is her name, starts to talk about taking a life insurance policy out on her husband without his consent. Alarm bells start ringing in Walter's head but he's already been hooked. The husband has got to go in order for Walter to get the girl, and he'll need alot of cash to turn that trick. And so, Walter plans the "perfect" crime. Insurance companies pay Double Indemnity for railroad accidents because of their rarity, so hubby will have to eat it on a train, at least for the record. Walter's smart but he's not as smart as he thinks, and Phyllis is hardly innocent. When Walter finally thinks he knows the score, who can he turn to when his only confidant is his boss, Barton Keyes - an Inspector Colombo like character played to the hilt by Edward G. Robinson. Keyes will stop at nothing to solve a crime, and unfortunately for Walter, Keyes is as sharp as they come. A nearly flawless film and one that really defines the genre. The film is based on the novel, Double Indemnity, by James M. Cain and adapted to the screen by Raymond Chandler. The Novel was based on an actual murder case.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent American Film Noir!
Review: Double Indemnity is an excellent example of American film noir. The stars (especially Barbara Stanwyck, Fred Macmurray) are great in their roles. They are cynical and have seen just about all there is to see in life. The last scenes of the movie are poignant and extremely well written and acted. The script is one of the best, too. Double Indemnity is a movie to watch again and again. It passes the test of time with flying colors. Billy Wilder did a great job directing the film.

Rating:
Summary: Sizzles!
Review: The classic film noir that often appears on kitchen TV sets in other movies. Dialogue bristles--makes Lauren Bacall and Bogart look like Shirley Temple and Little Lord Fauntleroy!


Rating:
Summary: A powerful jewel !
Review: This work may be well considered as the masterpiece of Biily Wilder . This movie was done as a majestic symphony in which every little detail , turn and twist was calculated , achieving its effect with the simplest of means . Fred Mc Murray is the insurance salesman enhanced by Barbara Stanwick in a plot to kill her businessman husband .
The ethical crossroad and the dark shadows of the film noir are shown so clearly in this film as very few have been able to do it .
One of the fundamental clues of this genre is the hopeless , the distrust and the double moral in all the characters . There is no tomorrow and the destiny follows your steps . For every inch you walk , the tragical and sinister fog of the fatality will surround you , no matter what side of the coin you represent . The fate intersections and the soul darkness emerge to prevail on your behavior .
Famous adaptation of James Cain 's novel and screenplay of Raymond Chandler . Add besides the Edward G Robinson and Barbara Stanwick presence and you will obtain a classic sample of one of the top films of the forties .


Rating:
Summary: STANWYCK AND MACMURRAY WERE OSCAR ROBBED
Review: Starting with an amazing cast and a great plot, this film lives up to anyone's expectations. Life insurance agent falls into the clutches of a woman looking to collect a double indemnity on her husband's death benefits because he died accidentally. One problem - her husband is not dead yet. By ensnaring the insurance agent into a plot to kill the woman's husband and making it look like an accident, everything is in place. I don't want to give much more away, but, even if you are not a film noir fan, you will find this to be a tightly written, wonderfully acted drama. This classic is well worth owning.