For those who think that all old Hollywood movies have happy endings and sugary values, "Double Indemnity" will change your opinion. It is a dark crime drama that ruthlessly explores how people will not stop at murder in the search for love and money.
Fred MacMurray is cast against type as insurance peddler Walter Neff. Neff is a little too sure of himself, and thinks he knows all the angles. He visits a client at his home, but instead meets his wife Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwyck). Stanwyck soon realizes that MacMurray is stuck on her, and that this is a golden opportunity for her to rid of her hated husband, who shows no interest in her. Stanwyck presses MacMurray for accident insurance on her husband, and drops hints of murder as she bats her eyes at him.
Throughout the movie, Stanwyck's character is
evil incarnate. She has murdered before, and
plans to again. She has no feelings, but can act
any emotion required to get what she wants. Soon
MacMurray has been reeled in completely, and
schemes to kill the unlucky husband to collect a
$50,000 insurance policy. To collect double the
policy amount, Stanwyck's husband must be killed
in a train accident. Stanwyck and MacMurray kill
him, MacMurray impersonates the husband on the
train, and once alone, jumps off the train. The
body is then placed on the tracks by the
murderous couple.
MacMurray's boss Norton is suspicious of the
"accident", suspecting suicide. Claims adjuster
Barton Keyes (Edward G. Robinson) suspects
murder. Fortunately for MacMurray, Robinson is a
long time co-worker and confidant, and he does
not suspect him.
Edward G. Robinson was one of the all-time great
character actors. He did not have the looks or
voice of a leading man, but he had sufficient
charisma to get leading roles anyway, usually as
a crime boss. On an occasion when he had a
leading man role, he played the love-blinded sap
as in "Scarlet Street".
Robinson does a great job as Barton Keyes,
scowling, growling, and suspicious of everything.
He suspects that MacMurray's imaginary girlfriend
Marjorie drinks from the bottle. Keyes was once
engaged, but then suspected his girlfriend. He
had her investigated, then broke the engagement!
He always has a two-for-a-quarter cigar in his
hand, but can never find a match. Perhaps that is
why he enjoys MacMurray's company, as he
constantly lights his cigars for him.
The script, co-written by director Billy Wilder
and crime novelist Raymond Chandler, is terrific.
The direction is excellent as well and milks the
inherent suspense from every scene. Many times,
MacMurray or Stanwyck are on the verge of having
their evil plan collapse, but survive after much
dramatic tension. Oh, and there's also a
needless romance between MacMurray and Stanwyck's
doe-eyed daughter-in-law Lola (Jean Heather). And
MacMurray's character has an unlikely change of
heart at the end. But few movies are perfect!
(91/100)
Billy Wilder's classic noir a familiar brew of lust larceny and lethal intentions stars Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck as a hot-blooded couple. F...More at Family Video
Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray star in this gripping film noir from Academy Award-winning director Billy Wilder. A calculating wife encourages he...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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