We decided to go into the DVD basket tonight and pull out a classic: Billy Wilder's masterpiece from 1944, "Double Indemnity."
This movie is considered a classic early example of film noir. In fact, many will say that it set the standard for the genre in all the years to follow. The story involves and insurance salesman, Fred McMurray, who meets up with the wife, Barbara Stanwyck, of a client, and the two of them concoct a plot to murder her husband and collect the double indemnity amount from the old man's insurance policy. But will they pull it off? Can they get past the wily insurance claims investigator, Edward G. Robinson? And will there be any unforeseen twists and double crosses?
The answers to all of these questions is what makes "Double Indemnity" so good and so much fun to watch.
Some of the themes of this movie - such as adultery and murder for profit - were taboo in Hollywood when this movie was made. Wilder and his co-screenwriter, Raymond Chandler, pulled it off with some classic dialog and suggestive direction. The acting is top notch: McMurray played against type as the plotting salesman taken in by Stanwyck's charms, and Stanwyck was a marvel as the slutty, conniving wife, but Robinson virtually steals the show as the the investigator who senses that something isn't right and just won't let go until he figures it out. Robinson has some of the best lines of dialog in the entire movie.
If you've never seen this classic, or if it's been a long time since you have seen it, get it on your Netflix queue ASAP.
If you are a fan of the Kathleen Turner / William Hurt movie, "Body Heat", what I have described above may sound familiar. Director Lawrence Kasden has never denied that "Body Heat" was inspired by and is a tribute to Wilder's "Double Indemnity."
Bob ... You mentioned E.G. Robinson's good dialogue. I agree, and seem to remember one of his classic lines in this film. After leaving a meeting with his boss - in shirtsleeves - didn't he say something like "Maybe next time I out to wear my suit coat". Out of context, it's nothing ... but in the movie, you're right, it is a classic.
ReplyDeleteYou got the line correct, BigPoppy. The whole movie was filled with stuff like that. check out the clip I posted on Facebook with McMurray and Stanwyck talking about the speed limits. Great stuff!
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