Double Indemnity (1944)

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Double Indemnity (1944)

7/10

Starring

Fred MacMurray

Barbara Stanwyck

Edward G. Robinson

Directed by Billy Wilder

The movie is about greed and seduction with a plot that probably won’t fly in the modern film era, as it would be ripped apart by forensic evidence and detections; but in the 40s such science was not that much available so the plot was just right.

The plot is about an insurance salesman (Fred Mac Murray) who got lured (which was quite easy due to his greed) into insurance fraud. The story was simple he taught, all he had to do was kill the lady he so desires husband and make it look like an accident, while tricking him to sign an accident insurance policy where everything goes to his lady friend, so he will get the girl and with her comes the money.

The movie is best put using the word nice, and a classic as it has come to be. Double Indemnity is beautiful and captivating, based on a 1943 novel of the same name by James M. Cain. This movie was the height of film noir in the 40s spring out many copycat B movies from other producers.

The screenplay is penned down by Billy Wilder, who also directed the movie, and from the way the movie drove you just have to appreciate the work of the screen writer, I while watching I was so eager to know if they will get away with it or not. Fred MacMurray narrated and starred in the movie, although the movie was a huge critical success and was nominated for seven Academy Awards but did not win any. Billy Wilder’s writing and directing of this movie is a masterpiece worth treasuring and a work of art worth owning.

The movie and the book’s idea is based on the Double indemnity clause provided in life insurance or accident policy whereby the insurance company agrees to pay the stated multiple (double) of the face amount in the contract in the case of death caused by accidental means.

The movie was a box office success making over 5 times its production cost, and the cinematography used "venetian blind" lighting which became popular in later film noir. Double Indemnity was well received by the American Film Institute, in AFI's 100 Years…100 Movies (10th Anniversary Edition) it was rated 29^th; it also got other American Film Institute recognitions.

This movie is wonderful, so if you have not seen or heard about the movie now you have so go see it.