Double Indemnity (1944)

Director:

Billy Wilder

Writers:

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

Release Date:

24 April 1944 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | 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 | Insurance Policy

Awards:

Nominated for 7 Oscars. Another 3 wins

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		(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)

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

Argentina:16 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #9717) | UK:PG | Germany:16 | Norway:16 | South Korea:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Netherlands:18 (original rating) (1947) | Netherlands:18 (re-rating) (1955) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Author James M. Cain later admitted that if he had come up with some of the solutions to the plot that screenwriters Billy Wilder and Raymond Chandler did, he would have employed them in his original novel.

Goofs:

Continuity: Early in the film, as Phyllis finds Walter's address in the phone book and goes to his apartment, Neff turns on a three-way lamp by the door using a switch on the wall. Later in the film, the lamp is gone.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Gilmore Girls: Rory's Dance (#1.9)" (2000)

Soundtrack:

Tangerine

A Superb Noir Film

If you are a noir fan then this film is an absolute must see. The screenplay itself is a work of art in its charater construction, plot structure and dialogue which is delievered by an ensemble of first class actors divying up first class performances. Barbra Stanwyck as the deadly, smouldering, scheming Phyllis Dietrichson turns in a performance that is right up there with Mary Astor's Brigid O'Shaughnessy. Fred McMurray delievers a performance of a smart but desperately lovelorn patsy and Edward G. Robinson is perfect in the role of Barton Keyes and just about steals the moment every time he appears on screen.

I personally love a good Noir film and this is right up there with the best of them. Billy Wilder should be proud of this work eventhough the Academy didn't see it fit to reward him for his efforts, however I personally think this film is an absolute winner.