AaronCapenBanner Jack Smight directed this TV remake of the original 1944 film, based on James M. Cain's novel, that stars Richard Crenna as Walter Naff, an insurance salesman seduced by a client's wife named Phyllis Dietrichson(played by Samantha Eggar) to murder her husband for the insurance money, with the double indemnity clause giving them twice the payout, though Walter's boss Barton Keyes(played by Lee J. Cobb) is suspicious of Phyllis, convinced she murdered her husband with the help of another man, not knowing that it's Walter... Needless and ineffectual remake still has a good cast and story, but no atmosphere or point at all.

MartinHafer An insurance agent is seduced by a woman. She convinces him to sell her a huge policy on her husband...and then help her kill him so she can collect and live happily ever after with the agent. However, this great plan doesn't play out exactly as they'd anticipated when the husband and agent begin wondering whether or not they can trust their new co-conspirator.The idea of remaking the classic 1944 version of this film is pretty pointless. After all, why remake a film that is considered a classic?! Yet, oddly, this is exactly what happened over the years. Consider that they made a sequel to "Gone With the Wind" and remakes of "High Noon" and musical versions of "Lost Horizon" and "Goodbye Mr. Chips"--and all of them totally stank. Why, oh why?! Perhaps they were easy and cheap to make and even if they were bad they were guaranteed a certain audience...but it still seems wrong to have done this.Richard Crenna plays the part originally played by Fred MacMurray. Samantha Egger plays the part originally played by Barbara Stanwyck. And, Lee J. Cobb plays the part originally played by Edward G. Robinson. All of these are reasonably good actors...but certainly not up to the quality of the originals. What's worse, however, is that the original director (Billy Wilder) was a genius...yet here the film is helmed by 'Jack Smight'?!? And, they sped up the film a bit as well. Why?! Now if there never had been an earlier version of this film, then it would have been a made for TV movie that would have been worth seeing--one you'd probably remember. It IS good for what it is--because the original story was very good...but it's also too close to the original and offers nothing new or interesting. Overall, it's like the saying goes "you can't go back".

santafesheriff ATMOSPHERIC THRILLER directed by Jack Smight exceeds the 1944 original. Richard Crenna mantains his reputation as a major 60s/70s leading actor teamed with the excellent Samantha Eggar in this vastly superior remake of the 1944 "classic film noir" that had an inferior team of Fred McMurray and Barbara Stanwyck. Being a well made, tightly budgeted Television movie this 1973 thriller is beautifully written, plotted and acted, giving full value for money in each scene. Richard Crenna is totally head and shoulders above the fumbling and uncertain Fred McMurray and Samantha Eggar adds real style, glamour and sexiness in her role. Absolutely recommended in all departments this is yet another TV Movie that is hugely well made and exceeds the efforts of a cinema release.

mrb1980 When someone remakes a classic movie, the remake is always unfavorably compared to the original. Also, there's a chance that the remake is so radically different that it is just too unfamiliar to audiences.Well, the 1973 TV version of "Double Indemnity" has almost identical scenes and dialogue as the 1944 original. The main difference is that the remake just seems to have no energy at all. Fred MacMurray was great as the lecherous, leering insurance agent Walter Neff in the original; Richard Crenna just seems world-weary and tired. Edward G. Robinson brought great manic energy to his role as MacMurray's boss Barton Keys; Lee J. Cobb, a fine actor, appears almost bored with the proceedings. Samantha Eggar is all wrong as the conniving, back-stabbing Phyllis Dietrichson; while Barbara Stanwyck was just superb in this wicked role, Eggar is overly polite and mannered and just seems way out of place.Robert Webber, in the old Richard Gaines role as Robinson's boss Norton, and John Fiedler taking the Porter Hall role as the crucial witness, bring some life to the movie. In particular, Webber recreates the Norton role well in a 1970s context.However, after the movie starts, the whole thing just sort of lies there, without any life or electricity. This is one film that never should have been remade.