Double Indemnity(1944). Noir, directed by Billy Wilder, co-written by Wilder and Raymond Chandler, and produced by Buddy DeSylva and Joseph Sistrom. Cast: Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck and Edward G. Robinson.
This film noir is one of best murder mysteries of all time. The story begins when Walter Neff, a insurance salesman, returns to his office late one night after he has been shot. He sits down at his desk and begins dictating a memo for his boss Barton Keyes.
The dictation tells how Neff, meets Phyllis Dietrichson at her home to renew a car insurance policy for her husband. Phyllis, asks how she could take out a policy on her husband's life without his knowing it. Neff, realizes she is up to no good.
Neff's, libido quickly takes over and he agrees that together, they will kill her husband. Neff comes up with a plan in which Phyllis's husband will die an accidental death. The couple carry out their plan. Investigator Keyes, has a nagging feeling that Dietrichson and a accomplice must be behind the husband's death.
Fred Murray and Edward G. Robinson give perfect performances, but... it is Barbara Stanwyck, who really makes the film with her talent to exploit men.
I love Double Indemnity- and agree that Stanwyck's performance really makes this film.
ReplyDeleteI am a huge Stanwyck fan and really like this movie. She definitely was fabulous in her role.
ReplyDeleteI am on record as saying that I think Fred MacMurray not even receiving an Academy Award nomination in 1944 was totally a crime. I never would have given Bing the award that year...would have given it to Charles Boyer for Gaslight. But, I think Fred MacMurray was totally amazing in Double Indemnity, especially because he generally plays likeable guys. He was really out of character, and he did it fabulously. Not sure why he was overlooked by the Academy.
Dawn, nobody played a bad girl better than Barbara Stanwyck
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