Double Indemnity is a 1944 American crime thriller film noir directed by Billy Wilder, co-written by Wilder and Raymond Chandler, and produced by Buddy DeSylva and Joseph Sistrom. The screenplay was based on James M. Cain's 1943 novel of the same title, which appeared as an eight-part serial for Liberty magazine in February 1936. The film stars Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, and Edward G. Robinson. It tells the story of an insurance salesman, Walter Neff, who gets involved in a murder scheme with a seductive housewife, Phyllis Dietrichson, to defraud her husband's insurance company.
The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Screenplay. The film was a box office sensation and solidified Wilder as one of the most creative and daring voices in cinema.
The film broke new cinematic ground by being the first time a Hollywood film explicitly explored the means, motives, and opportunities of committing a murder. The film was a key factor in gaining Hays Office approval for the script, as it had the two protagonists mortally wound each other, which satisfied the Production Code's demand that criminals pay, on screen, for their transgressions.
The film's screenplay was written by literary giant Raymond Chandler and Hall Of Fame director Billy Wilder, and the snappy dialog was not in the original book.
Double Indemnity is considered a classic film noir and a powerful meditation on masculinity, desire, and the fantasies of America. It is a standout film noir that still stands rather tall and deserves to be seen and praised by all.
Plot
Double Indemnity is a film noir classic about murder and insurance fraud. The plot revolves around Walter Neff, an insurance salesman, who meets Phyllis Dietrichson, the seductive wife of one of his clients, and they have an affair. Phyllis proposes to kill her husband to receive the proceeds of an accident insurance policy, and Walter devises a scheme to receive twice the amount based on a double indemnity clause. When Mr. Dietrichson is found dead after falling off a train track, the police accept the determination of accidental death.
However, Walter's colleague, claims manager Barton Keyes, suspects that Dietrichson was murdered by his wife, Phyllis Dietrichson, who was claiming double indemnity on her husband's accident insurance policy. Walter dictates an inter-office memo to Keyes about killing one of his clients, Mr. Dietrichson. Phyllis pursues Walter to his own home and persuades him that the two of them, together, should kill her husband. Walter knows all the tricks of his trade and comes up with a plan in which Phyllis's husband will die an accidental death..
They execute the plan, but Keyes suspects foul play and continues his investigation. Phyllis files a suit against the insurance company, and Keyes says that somebody else showed up, who turns out to be the stepdaughter's ex-boyfriend. Walter listens to Keyes's office memo and realizes he's been investigated and that Keyes vouched for him. The film ends with Walter's confession to Keyes and his death.
Trailer
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Cast
Fred MacMurray as Walter Neff, an insurance salesman who gets involved in a murder scheme with Phyllis Dietrichson.
Barbara Stanwyck as Phyllis Dietrichson, a seductive housewife who convinces Walter to help her kill her husband.
Edward G. Robinson as Barton Keyes, Walter's colleague and an insurance investigator who suspects foul play in the death of Mr. Dietrichson.
Porter Hall as Mr. Jackson, a claims adjuster who works with Walter and Keyes.
Jean Heather as Lola Dietrichson, the stepdaughter of Phyllis and Mr. Dietrichson.
Tom Powers as Mr. Dietrichson, Phyllis's husband who is killed in the murder scheme.
Other cast members include:
Byron Barr as Nino Zachetti, Lola's ex-boyfriend.
Richard Gaines as Edward S. Norton Jr., the president of Pacific All-Risk Insurance Company.
Fortunio Bonanova as Sam Garlopis, a Greek immigrant who owns a market.
John Philliber as Joe Peters, a man who works at the train station.
Director: Billy Wilder
Writers: Billy Wilder, Raymond Chandler, James M. Cain
Box Office Gross: $14,651
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Genre: Crime Drama Film-Noir Mystery Thriller
Release date: September 6, 1944