adonis98-743-186503 An insurance representative lets himself be talked into a murder/insurance fraud scheme that arouses an insurance investigator's suspicions. Double Indemnity might be a crime thriller but it's sure as hell not a very good one people, the film was super slow and just boring, the acting nothing really special and the storyline didn't go anywhere until the end that even cut short and just stupid. This isn't a movie that deserves to be on the Top 250 movies of all time but then again? lot's of other movies don't belong on that list either and they know it. (0/10) (F)

Musashi94 When I think of Film Noir, Double Indemnity is the film I immediately think of. It has almost all the tropes characteristic of the genre. Voice-over narration, murder, a determined investigator, the corruption of an otherwise upstanding citizen, and the quintessential Femme Fatale of all time.The backbone of the film is the outstanding script by Billy Wilder and Raymond Chandler, perhaps the greatest writer of 'hardboiled' detective fiction, which was adapted from the novel of the same name by James M. Cain. The dialogue is dark, witty and poignant and crackles through the air like electricity. The film is as much a joy to listen to as it is to watch. Of course, part of the reason the dialogue is so great is the performances Wilder got from his actors. Barbara Stanwyck gives the best performance of her career as the scheming housewife who convinces Fred MacMurray's insurance salesman to help her plan the murder of her husband. Edward G. Robinson is almost as good as the investigator at the insurance company whose eccentric mannerisms and dour demeanor make him one the most entertaining detectives in fiction.The true appeal of Noir is in its look and John Seitz does a marvelous job with the cinematography. I've rarely seen light used so effectively in a film or such a richness in the shadows and the contrast between the blacks and whites. Topping off all these fantastic ingredients is a tremendous score by Miklós Rózsa. A somewhat overlooked score, it has a powerfully foreboding main theme that gives the opening and ending scenes of the film an atmospheric punch that sears the sequences into your memory.One of the few films I've seen without any flaws, each aspect of Double Indemnity complements each other and makes the film not only one of the best examples of Film Noir but one of the greatest films of all time.

jacobs-greenwood Fred MacMurray plays Walter Neff, an insurance salesman seduced by Barbara Stanwyck's Phyllis Dietrichson (AFI's #8 villain) into killing her husband (Tom Powers). Edward G. Robinson is the claims manager, Barton Keyes, who is assigned to investigate. Noted character actor Porter Hall also appears, as a kind of witness to the "act". Richard Gaines plays an insurance company executive, whom Robinson 'dresses down' in one of the movie's many taut scenes.The story is told in flashback, by MacMurray's character, who gets to watch Robinson's work the case (not unlike the way Peter Falk later played TV's Columbo).The film received Academy Award nominations in several categories, but failed to win a single Oscar: Best Picture, Best Actress for Stanwyck, Best Director for Billy Wilder, Screenplay by Raymond Chandler and Wilder, its John Seitz B&W Cinematography, its Miklós Rózsa Score, and Sound by Loren Ryder. #38 on AFI's 100 Greatest Movies list. #24 on AFI's Most Heart-Pounding Movies list. #84 on AFI's 100 Greatest Love Stories list. Added to the National Film Registry in 1992.

utgard14 Film noir classic, directed by Billy Wilder, about an insurance salesman (Fred MacMurray) who falls for a married woman (Barbara Stanwyck). She uses him to help her get rid of her husband problem. It's a firecracker of a film that moves quickly, with hard-bitten characters and snappy dialogue brought to life by a great cast and a legendary director. Easily MacMurray's best role on the big screen. Wonderful supporting work from Edward G. Robinson. Stanwyck is terrific, as well, although selling her as the kind of woman a man could fall in lust with at first sight is one of the film's only flaws. Beautifully shot by John Seitz. The incredible score is courtesy of Miklós Rózsa. A lot of top talent worked on this. Nominated for seven Oscars, it took home zero. Which is a crying shame, especially with regard to the screenplay written by Billy Wilder and Raymond Chandler, adapted from a novel by James M. Cain. I like Going My Way as much as the next person but, come on now, this script has quite possibly the best dialogue in movie history. It's on my list of top ten favorite movies of all time so obviously I recommend it.