Double Indemnity (1944)

Director:

Billy Wilder

Writers:

Billy Wilder (screenplay) and
Raymond Chandler (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

24 April 1944 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Film-Noir | Thriller

Tagline:

It's Love And Murder At First Sight !

Plot:

An insurance rep lets himself be talked into a murder/insurance fraud scheme that arouses an insurance investigator's suspicions.

Plot Keywords:

Insurance | Double Indemnity | Insurance Investigator | Murder | Death

Awards:

Nominated for 7 Oscars. Another 1 win

Cast

Fred MacMurray	...	Walter Neff
Barbara Stanwyck	...	Phyllis Dietrichson
Edward G. Robinson	...	Barton Keyes
Porter Hall	...	Mr. Jackson
Jean Heather	...	Lola Dietrichson
Tom Powers	...	Mr. Dietrichson
Byron Barr	...	Nino Zachetti
Richard Gaines	...	Edward S. Norton, Jr.
Fortunio Bonanova	...	Sam Garlopis
John Philliber	...	Joe Peters
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
James Adamson	...	Pullman Porter (uncredited)
John Berry	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Raymond Chandler	...	Man Reading Book (uncredited)
Edmund Cobb	...	Train Conductor (uncredited)
Kernan Cripps	...	Conductor (uncredited)
Betty Farrington	...	Nettie - Dietrichsons' Maid (uncredited)
Bess Flowers	...	Norton's Secretary (uncredited)
Miriam Franklin	...	Keyes' Secretary (uncredited)
Harold Garrison	...	Redcap (uncredited)
Eddie Hall	...	Man in Drug Store (uncredited)
Teala Loring	...	Pacific All-Risk Telephone Operator (uncredited)
George Magrill	...	Man (uncredited)
Sam McDaniel	...	Charlie - Garage Attendant (uncredited)
Billy Mitchell	...	Pullman Porter (uncredited)
Clarence Muse	...	Man (uncredited)
Constance Purdy	...	Fat Shopper in Market (uncredited)
Dick Rush	...	Pullman Conductor (uncredited)
Floyd Shackelford	...	Pullman Porter (uncredited)
Oscar Smith	...	Pullman Porter (uncredited)
Douglas Spencer	...	Lou Schwartz (uncredited)

Directed by
Billy Wilder

Writing credits
Billy Wilder		(screenplay) and
Raymond Chandler		(screenplay)
James M. Cain		(from the novel by)

Produced by
Buddy G. DeSylva	....	executive producer (uncredited)
Joseph Sistrom	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Miklós Rózsa		(music score) (as Miklos Rozsa)

Cinematography by
John F. Seitz		(director of photography) (as John Seitz)

Casting by
Harvey Clermont		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Hans Dreier
Hal Pereira

Set Decoration by
Bertram C. Granger		(as Bertram Granger)

Costume Design by
Edith Head		(costumes by)

Makeup Department
Wally Westmore	....	makeup artist
Hollis Barnes	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Robert Ewing	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Al Trosin	....	assistant production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Charles C. Coleman	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Bill Sheehan	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Jack Colconda	....	props (uncredited)
Jim Cottrell	....	props (uncredited)
Paul Tranz	....	engineer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Stanley Cooley	....	sound recordist
Walter Oberst	....	sound recordist
Jack Duffy	....	cableman (uncredited)
H.O. Kinsey	....	recordist (uncredited)
Loren L. Ryder	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Farciot Edouart	....	process photography

Camera and Electrical Department
Ed Henderson	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Walter McLeod	....	key grip (uncredited)
Otto Pierce	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Bill Pillar	....	mike grip (uncredited)
Chet Stafford	....	electrician (uncredited)
Harlow Stengel	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Paul Tranz	....	dolly grip (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Neva Bourne	....	wardrobe (uncredited)
Eugene Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)
Bill Rabb	....	wardrobe (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Doane Harrison	....	editorial supervisor
Lee Hall	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Eugene Zador	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Jack Gage	....	dialogue director (uncredited)
Nancy Lee	....	script clerk (uncredited)
Dorothy Staton	....	stand-in: Ms. Stanwyck (uncredited)
John R. Woolfenden	....	publicist (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1944) (USA) (theatrical) (as A Paramount Picture)
• Eureka Entertainment (2012) (UK) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Paramount Pictures (1945) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Paramount (1946) (France) (theatrical)
• Motion Picture Export Association (MPEA) (1947) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Paramount Pictures (1949) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Paramount Films (1955) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (re-release)
• 4 Front Video (2005) (UK) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2000) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Atlantic Film (2010) (Finland) (DVD)
• Atlantic Film (2008) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2000) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Giangiacomo Feltrinelli Editore (2006) (Italy) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (19??) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MCA/Universal Pictures (1958) (USA) (TV)
• Madman Entertainment (2006) (Australia) (DVD)
• Madman Entertainment (2008) (Australia) (DVD)
• Madman Entertainment (2008) (New Zealand) (DVD)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1978) (Finland) (TV) (as MTV1)
• Pan Vision Oy (2009) (Finland) (DVD)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD) (4 film set)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2012) (Canada) (DVD) (4 film set)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
• Versátil Home Vídeo (2006) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2001) (2007) (2009) (Finland) (TV)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

107 min | Argentina:110 min | Canada:90 min (Ontario)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

Germany:16 | Norway:16 | South Korea:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Netherlands:18 (re-rating) (1955) | Netherlands:18 (original rating) (1947) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Argentina:16 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #9717) | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

1825 N. Kingsley Drive, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

In 2007, the American Film Institute ranked this as the #29 Greatest Movie of All Time.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Although set in 1938, Walter Neff makes reference to the "The Philadelphia Story", which did not debut on Broadway until 1939, and on film until 1940.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Building attendant:Well, hello there, Mr. Neff.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Living Single: Double Indignity (#2.10)" (1994)

Soundtrack:

Symphony in D minor

An all-time Hollywood classic

This film noir classic may be the best murder mystery of all time in this storied Hollywood genre. Fred MacMurray and Edward G. Robinson are excellent but it is Barbara Stanwyck who really makes the picture come together as a woman without a moral compass. Stanwyck set the standard for tough, calculating, shady women who exploit men without shame or remorse and her masterful manipulation of MacMurray is the movie's central theme. The film's imagery is filled with shadows and low lighting, accompanied by a tense, brooding music score. Stanwyck spins her web of ensnarement like a black widow with her victim seemingly unaware of the danger that enfolds him. MacMurray provides the narrative of the film which is told in flashback and delivers a cryptic account of the events in a confession to a boss who trusted him completely. Robinson is on target as the skeptical and suspicious boss who has a sixth sense about phony insurance claims. A nice supporting cast contributes to this thriller, namely Richard Gaines and Porter Hall.