Rating: 
Summary: A Classic
Review: This is a great movie, but one thing I noticed is that Barbara Stanwyck doesn't try to hide that Brooklyn accent of hers. That's perfectly fine with me, being a Queens man myself, but I think they should have just made her character from New York instead of California b/c it wasn't essential to the plot anyway. Well, anyway, it's not real important but just something I thought I'd share.
Rating:
Summary: "I never knew that murder could smell like honeysuckle."
Review: Double Indemnity is a superb story about an insurance salesman who gets involved with a woman married to a husband she doesn't care for. The murder of her husband is planned perfectly and brilliantly, but it all comes crashing down. The cause was due to themselves (Plot details). Although it received a total of six Oscar nominations (With no wins), none of the nominations went to Fred MacMurray as Walter Neff ("Insurance salesman, age 35"). Neff is very successful at what he does (He's been at it for eleven years). He visits the home of Mr. Dietrichson to renew automobile insurance but soon finds himself falling in love with his wife Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwyck), who convinces Walter to have Mr. Dietrichson sign an accident insurance without his knowing it so he can be killed. But it's the Double Indemnity clause that gets them really involved, since they will get double the pay. Stanwyck provided, for me, a superb performance as the cold, calculating Mrs. Dietrichson, who used Neff so she could get rid of her husband and collect up some money. Meanwhile, Walter finds himself getting involved with her step-daughter Lola. He discovers from Lola that her ex-boyfriend has been seeing Phyllis, suggesting perhaps that Phyllis has plans for him. One of the most memorable performances in the movie is Edward G. Robinson's Barton Keyes, the claims manager, a brilliant fellow who is by hunches when a claim doesn't seem right. He's the one who figures out that the Dietrichson claim doesn't seem right, but can't quite figure out who assisted. In fact, most of the safeguards put into the plot by Neff were done so to prevent Keyes getting any major suspicions. "I did it for the money and for a woman. I didn't get the money and I didn't get the woman". These words said by Neff form a sense of irony. The murder fell apart not because of the authorities, who were too dumb to figure it all out, but because of themselves. Murder's never perfect.
Rating:
Summary: Overcoming Mutual Antipathy
Review: By all known accounts Billy Wilder and Raymond Chandler could not stand each other. All the same, mutual antipathy was overcome on a grand scale when they collaborated on the screenplay of "Double Indemnity," which Wilder also directed. The result was one of the greatest screenplays ever penned and one of the most memorable film noir suspense movies ever made. The dialogue crackles sharply throughout, and never more notably than in the first meeting between Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck in the latter's home in the Los Feliz section of Los Angeles. Insurance salesman MacMurray figured his stop as routine, a chance to renew a policy about to lapse, but it turned out to be the most momentous meeting of his life. When Stanwyck begins subtly pitching murder in the form of taking out a large policy on her oil executive husband's life, MacMurray becomes hot and leaves. Stanwyck was enough of a shrewd femme fatale to know that, despite MacMurray's abrupt departure, he was strongly attracted to her. It turns out to be a fatal attraction. Stanwyck visits his apartment and MacMurray rapidly succumbs. The insurance pro decides on a policy with a double indemnity clause for a larger payoff, assuring her that the plan will work since he is professional enough to carry it off. While Stanwyck and MacMurray provide stellar performances as the conspirators and ultimately murderers, Edward G. Robinson provides a performance on par with his brilliant effort in "Little Caesar," which skyrocketed him to stardom. Robinson plays a man married to his job, a titanic in the claims investigation field who knows more about the subject than anyone else around. His clue, he tells MacMurray, that something is amiss is when the "little man" in his stomach begins churning. The little man goes to work on Robinson one night after the presumably accidental death of Stanwyck's husband, who, it was believed until then, had fallen from the observation deck of the train he was taking to a Stanford University reunion. When Robinson, aided by his little man, concludes that it was a shrewdly planned murder and not an accident, the heat is on Stanwyck and MacMurray. Stanwyck is like Jane Greer in "Out of the Past" when it comes to the labyrinthian twists of her mind and how she uses it to double deal her victims. When MacMurray realizes she is double crossing him he flares up, then confronts Stanwyck. Their kind of relationship was inevitably destined for trouble, which ultimately occurs on a large scale. For gripping suspense, superb acting, and brilliant dialogue one cannot hope to top "Double Indemnity." It deserves the celebrated masterpiece label which it has been accorded.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Film Noir of the Forties
Review: Writer John M. Cain's story of lust, greed, and murder is brought to life in the film Double Indemnity. Director Billy Wilder (Sunset Boulevard) along with writer Raymond Chandler (The Long Goodbye) brings Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, and Edward G. Robinson into a great film noir. Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray) is a successful insurance salesman. He falls in love with Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwych). Mrs. Dietrichson is trapped in a loveless marriage and wants her husband, Mr. Dietrichson (Tom Powers) killed off so she can claim the insurance money. This wonderful plot in Double Indemnity has many twists and turns in it. There are so many obstacles for Walter Neff and Phyllis Dietrichson to overcome. They have to time everything just right and this keeps you on the edge of your seat. There are so many moments in the film where you think the whole scheme is about to collapse. Neff and Dietrichson are such witty characters that they seem to have the right thing to say or do at the right time. Until the end of the story there never seems to be a crack in the plan. Neff is even surprised how good the plan is working out. After they have committed the murder, Lola Dietrichson, (Jean Heather) Mr. Dietrichson's daughter, becomes attached to Neff. At the very end of the movie Neff finds out what Phyllis Dietrichson's real plan is and tried to put a stop to it. You will have to watch the movie to find out how they both end up. I highly recommend this movie for people of all ages. The film really kept me on the edge of my seat the entire second half. I cannot think of any other film noir made in the nineteen forties with such a good story line. This is one film noir you can't miss.
Rating: 
Summary: Great movie, mediocre print transfer, no added features
Review: This is one of my all-time favorite movies. Watching this on my 35" tv from a DVD is perhaps similar to watching it in a theater with a worn print. Although the picture is very sharp it has many scratches on it. Something this good should either have been restored or printed from a new negative. The only added DVD features is the chapter selection. In all fairness, this DVD was probably released before DVD's really caught on and would be better if it were redone today.
Rating: 
Summary: I liked it in spite of the Black and White
Review: Old Black and White movies are generally difficult for this reviewer to watch. However, Fred MacMurray's portrayal of Walter Neff had me zoned right in. I'm not use to seeing him as this type of character. I must admit I've only seen him in his TV show, My Three Sons. Walter Neff is a sharp, quick witted, slick insurance salesman who finds himself consumed with thoughts of Phyllis Dietrichson played by Barbara Stanwyck. He seems, however, to be a very straight laced by the books kind of guy. Ms. Dietrichson's determined to "unstraighten" Mr. Neff. The bantor between the two starts out steamy and never lets up. It' steamy in a mid 40's kind of way, but it's enthralling none the less. The story, directed by Billiy Wilder, is one for the ages, boy meets girl, girl manipulates boy into killing her husband, boy and girl run off with the money. Only this time, girl gets greedy as the plot thickens. Neff's boss (Keyes) played by Edward G. Robinson plays an important role in the movie. He smells a rat in the fraudulent insurance claim made by Ms. Dietrichson. His part is of an antagonistic nature, but you can't help but like the guy. It was a good story that was fun to watch and I really enjoyed it. The ending had a bizarre twist to it that I didn't expect, but that made me like it even more. I liked this movie and and would suggest it to anyone into noir films.
Rating:
Summary: A Classic Film Noir From Start To Finish
Review: Double Indemnity is one of Billy Wilder's best films. It is a classic film noir and it contains all the trimmings to make it what it is. As in most other films in the film noir genre, it contained dark nights, spooky shadows, and an eerie plot to match. Billy Wilder did an excellent job making this film one of my favorites full of dark, spooky, and eerie film with a plot full of suspense. The story begins with a failing salesman named Walter Neff who is giving a confession of a "perfect crime" which he committed, trying to finish before his boss and friend, Barton Keyes, shows up to hear it. It all began when Mr. Neff was sent to a Mr. Dietrichson's house to discuss his car insurance policy. He finds that when he arrives Mr. Dietrichson isn't present, and the only one who is present is the wife, Phyllis Dietrichson, who Walter finds very attractive. They begin discussing the lapse of car insurance payments when Phyllis brings up the she wants to get accidental insurance for her husband without him knowing. Walter finds this a little odd that she doesn't want her husband to know, and ends his involvement in the discussion. Walter always wanted to cheat the system, and he believes that involvement with Phyllis is his only chance. He visits he again, and soon they have a growing relationship. They then begin planning the murder of Mr. Dietrichson to appear suicidal so that they can get the insurance money and run off together. Knowing that his boss my figure it out he tries his best to pull it off. In the end he finds out that Phyllis was just using him and others to get money and what she wanted. She attempts to kill him, but he kills her first and then goes back to his office dying to leave his story for his boss on the Dictaphone. I would recommend this film to anyone and everyone who loves to sit and watch movies especially if they like movies with crimes, murder, a plot full of suspense and drama, and even love.
Rating:
Summary: A great Noir
Review: Double indemnity is a Film Noir classic. Director Billy Wilder gives the film the classic Noir look, with dark shadows and a twisted murder plot. Whether it's the darkness of a house or a poorly lit street the scenes are given an attitude by the lighting that Wilder chose.
Walter Neff, played by Fred MacMurray is pushed in the middle of a femme fatales unscrupulous scheme. Neff an insurance salesman is coaxed into a murder/fraud scheme by a beautiful woman. Neff gets lured into this plot of deceit because of an anklet that the femme fatale, Phyllis Dietrichson played by Barbara Stanwyck, wears throughout the film. Stanwyck's performance is superb, she plays a cold-blooded woman with a mindset of taking what she believes belongs to her. Dietrichson is nonchalant, and methodical when it comes to her femme fatale characteristics. Neff and Dietrichson tend to light up the dark scenes with their lustful looks towards each other. Lola, Phyllis' stepdaughter, on the other hand is the complete opposite of the femme fatale. Jean Heather playing Lola does an excellent job of selling her character as an innocent and meek teenager wary of her stepmother's actions. Edward G. Robinson plays Barton Keyes an insurance investigator with a "little man" that gives him clues to the status of a claim. Keyes is like a father figure to Neff and they spend much time together as Keyes throws his ideas of what happened around.
This was a great film going to great lengths to please the viewer. This Film not only leans towards the serious side but also has some comic relief mainly in the use of the word baby, and the endless search for one mans matches. A great work of art Double Indemnity should be on everyone's list of movies to see soon. It will not only keep you wrapped up but also will keep you on the edge of your seat waiting for the next plot twist.
Rating:
Summary: A Masterpeice of Classic Film Noir
Review: Billy Wilder's film, Double Indemnity is a masterpiece filled with devious schemes, lustful
desires and financial gain. With its dark shadows, dreary nights and a twisted plot, it is
apparent that this is a perfect example of the classic film noir genre. The story line begins
with an "all washed up" insurance salesman, Walter Neff, giving his flashback testimony of
"the almost perfect crime." He gives his confession through a Dictaphone, hoping to finish
before his boss/friend, Barton Keyes, finds him in his office. It all began when Walter Neff
was sent to the home of Mr. Dietrichson to discuss his insurance coverage. He realizes
Mr. Dietrichson is not present, but his beautiful, enchanting wife, Phyllis Dietrichson was
there. They discuss in a flirtatious manner the lapse on her husband car insurance plan
which leads to Phyllis questioning him about obtaining an accidental death insurance plan
for her husband. Walter Neff, being one of the best in the business, smells foul play and
disengages in the conversation. Later Neff realizes that there is something about Phyllis
Dietrichson that intrigues him to visit her again. Walter Neff, good at heart, always had an
hidden urge to over throw the system, to fool everyone. He believes that Phyllis is his way
to fulfill that urge. An exciting relationship develops between these characters as they
begin creating a devious plan for the murder Mr. Dietrichson, which would include
collecting double indemnity off his accidental death insurance policy. The main obstacle
that Walter and Phyllis will have to overcome to pull off the crime of the century is to
carefully fool his boss Barton Keyes. Neff knows that Barton Keyes is the master at
seeing through faulty claims, and solving mysteries, and that is why the plan had to be
perfectly organized and conducted. The almost father-son like relationship between Keyes
and Neff leaves him with the utmost admiration and respect for Keyes. Neff also has
feelings of inferiority towards Keyes, which turns into his motive for helping Phyllis. Even
though this film mistakenly received no Academy Awards, it was nominated for seven,
including Best Picture. I would recommend this film to everyone who likes to sit down
and just watch a good classic film and also to viewers who enjoys crime, murder, shocking
schemes, and a suspense filled plot.
Rating:
Summary: The fall guy and the femme fatale
Review: Deadly film-noir with lots of wonderfully snappy repartee about a pair of lovers who scheme to kill her husband, then take the insurance money and run! A platinum Barbara Stanwyk is perfect as the quintessential femme fatale Phyllis Dietrichson, a cunning dame who knows what she wants and sets out to make it happen in typical cold-blooded fashion. Fred MacMurray makes a marvelous departure from his usual nice-guy roles as Walter Neff, a slick but not exactly bright insurance salesman who becomes Phyllis' unwitting chump after taking one glance at her gorgeous gams and come-hither look. Of course their ingenious scheme and subsequent murder of her husband goes nothing as planned due to a savvy insurance investigator by the name of Barton Keyes (excellently played by Edward G. Robinson), Phyllis' double-dealing and Walter's all-too-late realization when he discovers her true venomous nature. Wonderful performances, atmospheric B&W cinematography, and memorable lines make this film-noir at its peak!
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