Double Indemnity (1944)

An insurance representative lets himself be talked by a seductive housewife into a murder/insurance fraud scheme that arouses the suspicion of an insurance investigator.

Director:

Billy Wilder

Writers:

Billy Wilder (screenplay), Raymond Chandler (screenplay)

Stars:

Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson

Top Rated Movies #118 | Nominated for 7 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited 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	...	Mr. Norton
Fortunio Bonanova	...	Sam Gorlopis
John Philliber	...	Joe Pete

Storyline

In 1938, Walter Neff, an experienced salesman of the Pacific All Risk Insurance Co., meets the seductive wife of one of his clients, Phyllis Dietrichson, 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 on a train track, the police accept the determination of accidental death. However, the insurance analyst and Walter's best friend Barton Keyes does not buy the story and suspects that Phyllis has murdered her husband with the help of another man.

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Plot Keywords:

insurance investigation | murder disguised as accident | insurance | insurance policy | insurance salesman | 

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Taglines:

Paramount's terrific story of an unholy love, and an almost perfect crime!

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

G

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to an April 1975 career article on Brian Donlevy in "Films in Review," the actor turned down the lead role because it was "too shady."

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Goofs

When Keyes approaches to speak to Neff as Neff enters work one morning, Neff asks Keyes if it has to do with the "Peterson" case. The name of the character in question is "Dietrichson," not "Peterson". However, this could be seen as Neff's try to show no interest to the case.

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Quotes

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

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits are shown over a silhouette of a man on crutches, walking toward the camera.

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Connections

Referenced in Throw Momma from the Train (1987)

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Soundtracks

My Ideal
(1930) (uncredited)
Music by Richard A. Whiting and Newell Chase

User Reviews

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.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [UK]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 August 1944 (Canada)

Also Known As:

Double Indemnity

Filming Locations:

Bryson Apartments, 2701 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$927,262 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$13,886

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min 90 min (Ontario)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1