Rating: 
Summary: Billy Wilder's gripping "film noir" masterpiece.
Review: Insurance salesman Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray) makes a routine call on the Dietrichson house to renew the husband's car insurance. Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwyck) is planning to get rid of her husband and sees in Neff a willing accomplice. He falls for her charms and with his inside knowledge of the insurance business comes up with what seems to be a foolproof plan and they carry it out together. Neff suggests the murder should take place on a train and look like an accident so they can claim "double indemnity" accident insurance and receive double the money. However, the "perfect crime" starts to fall apart when insurance investigator Barton Keyes (Edward G. Robinson) begins to suspect the "accident" theory and realises it was murder. He confides his suspicions to Neff who is very concerned how close Keyes is getting to the truth. Further complications follow and Neff begins to realise he should never have got involved with this murder plot in the first place but he is now in too deep to get out of it."Double Indemnity" is a classic thriller of which it can be honestly stated "They don't make them like this any more!". Told mostly in flashback the film holds your attention throughout with its crackling dialogue, impeccable acting from the principals and a plot full of suspense. Directed by Billy Wilder and written by Wilder and Raymond Chandler (from the novel by James M. Cain) it was surprisingly released as long ago as 1944 but still stands up well today and hasn't really dated at all. This was the film that first brought director Billy Wilder to my attention and I made a point not to miss any of his future films - and I didn't!! It was a complete change of pace for nice guy Fred MacMurray (in a part turned down by George Raft and Brian Donlevy). He gave a powerful performance and I was surprised that he never even received an Oscar nomination for his work in this film. Edward G. Robinson as the insurance investigator Barton Keyes was absolutely brilliant and dominated every scene he was in. Barbara Stanwyck as Phyllis Dietrichson was breathtaking and this was without doubt one of her best roles ever. "Double Indemnity" had a particularly strong supporting cast including Porter Hall, Richard Gaines, Tom Powers, Jean Heather, Byron Barr and Fortunio Bonanova. Some favourite lines from the film: Fred MacMurray: "Walter Neff. Insurance salesman, 35 years old, unmarried, no visible scars - until a while ago that is". Barbara Stanwyck (to MacMurray): "There's a speed limit in this state Mr Neff, 45 miles an hour". MacMurray (to Stanwyck): "I think you're swell - as long as I'm not your husband!". Edward G. Robinson (to Richard Gaines): "No soap Mr Norton - we're sunk and we'll have to pay through the nose, and you know it!". Robinson (to MacMurray): "You'll never even make the elevator!". "Double Indemnity" was remade in 1973 as a TV movie with Richard Crenna, Lee J. Cobb and Samantha Eggar but this doesn't come close to the Wilder version. If you haven't seen the original you are in for a treat and if you have seen it then you know this is a film worth many repeat viewings. Don't miss it - a real "film noir" classic.
Rating:
Summary: film noir at its best!
Review: A great Billy Wilder film right up there with Mr. Wilder's magnificent Sunset Boulevard and The Apartment! From its opening title sequence to its final fade out this is what film noir is all about! Barbara Stanwyck is spectacular as the femme fatale with ice water running through her veins and deserved the Oscar. It is truly her pinnacle performance in a career that spanned decades.It is the best piece of work Fred McMurray ever did! As for Edward G. Robinson, what can I say? Whether in a lead role or a supporting role the man was truly a giant in films! Don't miss this one gang!
Rating:
Summary: Straight down the line!
Review: Billy Wilder grabbed the rising art of Film Noir and added one film the redefined the crimes of seduction, murder, and betrayal. Fred MacMurray is excellent as Walter Neff the insurance salesman who soon gets entangled into a feindish plot of murder which is concocted by Barbara Stanwyck (who may very well be the greatest femme fatale of all time) who upstages every actor in the film with her potrayal of the bored housewife who double crosses her husband, Neff, and even her daughter. But if you want to find my favorite character it would have to be Edward G. Robinson's role as the hard nosed claims manager Keyes who unfolds the mystery piece by piece leading to the smashing climax. While the film may not be as praised as films like "The Maltese Falcon" or "Chinatown" it has earned it's rank in the top ten of great film noirs.
Rating:
Summary: Sizzling Film Noir at its Thrillingest!
Review: The film noir genre is full of elements that comedians love to pantomime: The way characters seem to stop whatever they are doing to reveal their private thoughts to the audience. By no means, though, were all film noir motion pictures like that. Some had truly frightful moments and heightened drama. Such was the case with "Double Indemnity", starring the inimitable Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck. MacMurray is Walter Neff, a life insurance salesman who seems like an average working stiff, until he meets the fiery and mysterious Phyllis Deitrichson (Stanwyck). Phyllis welcomes Neff into her and her husband's ornate home; Neff wishes to give his sales pitch to Mr. Deitrichson. The average joe Neff falls for the charms of Mrs. Deitrichson, who happens to be by her lonesome the afternoon Neff visits. Neff is apparently swayed by her stories of her husband's cruelty, and motivated by his physical want for Phyllis; he decides to conspire to kill Mr. Deitrichson with the disastisfied wife. Yet, how to do it? Surely a man such as Neff, who has seen the various ways in which people planned murders in order to collect copious amounts of insurance dough, yet were foiled in the attempt by faulty planning, would know a way to kill a man without making serious mistakes that would make it easier for the law to find out. He agrees to do it, figuring he has what it takes to get away with the crime. But how to cover his tracks from his co-worker, Keyes (Edward G. Robinson), a very observant chap when it comes to foiling insurance scammers? Keyes feels "in his gut" there is something fishy about the murder of Mr. Deitrichson, and is going to find out why, come hell or high water! Yet, he doesn't suspect his own co-worker, Walter Neff; Phyllis, however, is another story. This tale of murder for gain, sleazy cover-ups, and eventual treachery is well-done; no wonder "Double Indemnity" was chosen as an American Film Institute's Top 100 Movies of All-Time winner. Enjoy the suspense and especially the cutting dialogue. Stanwyck never looked so alluring as she did in this picture. MacMurray is fine as the fella you'd never suspect was capable of being involved in conspiracy to murder. Do yourself a favor: Rent this classic, or better yet, buy it! You won't be disappointed!
Rating:
Summary: Top-Notch Thriller--One of Billy Wilder's Best!
Review: Who could ever forget Barbara Stanwyck as "femme fatale" who ruins the career and life of an insurance investigator (played by Fred MacMurray). Barbara's scheme to kill her fuddy-duddy-husband and collect the life insurance seemed like a sure thing, so easy-going Fred agrees to do the dirty deed. Fred's boss (endearingly played by Edward G. Robinson) refuses to believe any rumors pointing to Fred's involvement in the insurance scam, sighting Fred's loyalty and devotion to the company. -- There is great chemistry between the leads, and the story told is quite magnetic. Once you start watching you don't want to stop until the ending. This is one of Hollywoods best and earned Billy Wilder one of his 6 career Oscars for Best Director. Watch this gem again and again!
Rating:
Summary: The perfect film noir
Review: "Double Indemnity" is considered to be the quintessential film noir. Every aspect of this film is pure movie perfection. From the acting and direction, to the script and musical score, "Double Indemnity" packs more punch than most copycat film noirs of today. A blonde Barbara Stanwyck is absolutely seductive as the impeccable femme fatale Phyllis Dietrichson who lures the naive insurance man Walter Neff (played amazingly by a cast-against-type Fred MacMurray) into her den, in an attempt to kill her husband and collect the money. Billy Wilder's classic touches are present throughout making the film all the more enjoyable to watch. You're drawn to this film like moths to a flame, absorbing every guise like a sponge. With a script so biting, so fierce that it should be the basis for all aspiring screenwriters, "Double Indemnity" packs quite a wallop.
Rating: 
Summary: Movie is Great, But DVD is Great Disappointment
Review: This classic of film noir deserved the Oscar nominations it received and the praise given it by reviewers at this site. The film, however, gets a disappointing treatment in this DVD release lacking in any extras whatsoever-not even a menu page; no features or supplements-not even a trailer! Moreover, the print is not terrific, showing scratches, reel-change marks in the corner of the picture, and picture dimensions that fill slightly less than the full screen. This is a careless release of this picture. I can't imagine why Universal would put its name on a release that looks like the efforts of someone learning how to make a DVD. Five Stars for the movie content. Two stars for the weak DVD. The VHS version, for now, will show you just as much of this movie.
Rating: 
Summary: BLONDE IS BEAUTIFUL
Review: Director Billy Wilder's DOUBLE INDEMNITY is still one of the rare film noir of the 1940-1950 period to be available in the DVD standard. I really don't understand what's going on in the head of the men in charge of releasing old movies in this new standard. Everybody knows that DOUBLE INDEMNITY is not going to be the top-selling DVD of the century and that the movie will only be bought by nostalgic or cinephilic aficionados. And this category of customers expects a little respect from the studios. So, once again, we are disappointed ; NO extra-features except for the scene access (Thank you very much !) and a copy that has known better times. OK ! It doesn't matter, I will keep it my library until the day Criterion will release a special edition of DOUBLE INDEMNITY. Let's back to this movie whose glorious fathers are James Cain, Raymond Chandler and Billy Wilder. The camera was in love with Barbara Stanwyck, who plays the role of Phyllis Dietrichson, a character à la Marlène (Dietrich, of course). Witty dialogs and Edward G. Robinson, one of Hollywood giants. How can you ask for more ? One should always have this kind of movies in one's library, just in case. A -look at the wig- DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Billy Wilder Perfection.
Review: Billy Wilder really had to work on MacMurray to take this part. Up till this film MacMurray had played heroes and light comedy..this was to be a bit different. During Billy Wilders AFI Tribute, MacMurray gets up to the podium and says " after some 25 films in this one I had to act" And so he did. MacMurray personna makes it all the more chilling and here Stanwyck matches him with intensity. She has a blond wig and glib dialogue and doesnt try too hard to mask her intentions. In this film Robinson delivers one of those great solo routines in the office with boss Richard Gaines( Mr. Norton) along with Neff and Dietrichson) ..ending with .." next time I,ll rent a Tuxedo"! Great Film
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Pulp Fiction
Review: This film is excellent "boys-in-the-back-room" pulp fiction. James M. Cain / Raymond Chandler stuff come to life. It's not real, nor is it supposed to be. Authentic street location photography gives it a look ahead of its time. While I don't mind it, many people seem to dislike voice-over narration in a script. Wilder and company found the perfect way to use it by making it Neff's confession to Barton Keyes. I highly recommend this movie.
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