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Product Description
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Director Billy Wilder (Sunset Boulevard) and writer Raymond Chandler (The Big Sleep) adapted James M. Cain's hard-boiled novel into this wildly thrilling story of insurance man Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray), who schemes the perfect murder with the beautiful dame Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwyck): kill Dietrichson's husband and make off with the insurance money. But, of course, in these plots things never quite go as planned, and Barton Keyes (Edward G. Robinson) is the wily insurance investigator who must sort things out. From the opening scene you know Neff is doomed, as the story is told in flashback; yet, to the film's credit, this doesn't diminish any of the tension of the movie. This early film noir flick is wonderfully campy by today's standards, and the dialogue is snappy ("I thought you were smarter than the rest, Walter. But I was wrong. You're not smarter, just a little taller"), filled with lots of "dame"s and "baby"s. Stanwyck is the ultimate femme fatale, and MacMurray, despite a career largely defined by roles as a softy (notably in the TV series My Three Sons and the movie The Shaggy Dog), is convincingly cast against type as the hapless, love-struck sap. --Jenny Brown
Product Description
Barbara Stanwyck And Fred Macmurray Star In This Gripping Film Noir From Academy Award-Winning Director Billy Wilder. A Calculating Wife Encourages Her Wealthy Husband To Sign A Double Indemnity Policy Proposed By Smitten Insurance Agent Walter Neff. As The Would-Be Lovers Plot The Unsuspecting Husband'S Murder, They Are Pursued By A Suspicious Claims Manager (Edward G. Robinson). It'S A Race Against Time To Get Away With The Perfect Crime In This Heart-Racing Academy Award-Nominated Masterpiece. Starring: Fred Macmurray, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson, Porter Hall, Jean Heather, Tom Powers, Byron Barr, Richard Gaines, Fortunio Bonanova, John Philliber Directed By: Billy Wilder
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I purchased the double dvd special edition set of "Double Indemnity" last week. *****WARNING***** Please be VERY careful when opening this set up. The dvd case is a total nightmare. It fits together way too tightly and to open it up you really have to tug on it which takes the glue away from the paper case underneath the plastic that holds the DVD's. This is what happend to me. The movie itself is a true classic so that gets 5 stars and the double DVD special edition is great but the DVD case gets zero stars which comes out to an average of 3 stars for the product overall. Thrilled with the movie. Disappointed beyond belief with the cheap, sloppy packaging. For the expensive price tag on this item, one would think that the people over at Universal would have done a better job with the finished product.
14 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:DVD
Do not purchase this DVD release. Its transfer to DVD is truly horrendous.
Wait for some other distributor to release it.
Wonderful film. Totally botched DVD release.
Wait for it...
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:VHS Tape
Yes, they deserved the 1944 Academy Award. Both of them. They were robbed. Perhaps its because they played murderers and MacMurray was caught in Stanwyck's spider web. The movie was released during the prime war years (1944) and Hollywood chose to go the sentimental route with "GOING MY WAY". But Ingrid Bergman's performance in "Gaslight" in no way comes close to touching Stanwyck's bravura in "Double Indemnity". It was a close race between them but Bergman won out (inexplicably because her performance in Gaslight is overwrought and over the top). Stanwyck's evil restraint with one look that could burn a house down. And that wig!! That awful unflattering wig on her! Maybe that's why she didn't win?????
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4.7 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Double Indemnity
This movie has all the elements of a good film noir: crackling and quick dialogue, a ferocious femme fatale and an almost sympathetic leading man as played by Fred MacMurray. Read more
Published on Jun 2 2009 by R. Mclellan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb Film Noir
From the James M. Cain novel this is the finest film of its genre under the masterful of Billy Wilder and an absolute must-see for any devote of film noir. Read more
Published on Mar 1 2005 by RVJ Nahabedian
5.0 out of 5 stars
Possibly the Best Noir Film of the Era
Starting with an amazing cast and a great plot, this film lives up to anyone's expectations. Life insurance agent falls into the clutches of a woman looking to collect a double... Read more
Published on July 5 2004 by Steve Nathan
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of The Best Film Noirs!
The title says it all. If you love film noir or if you want to start watching some film noir films, this is the one. Read more
Published on Jun 9 2004 by Brian Jaszkowiak
5.0 out of 5 stars
Barbara Stanwyck glitters in this classic dark mystery
Quintessential film noir story that set the standard for femme fatales, shady women who exploit men's weaknesses and then discard them like nylons that have too many runs in them. Read more
Published on May 29 2004
5.0 out of 5 stars
Double Indemnity
An insurance agent goes to the house of a policy holder and meets the man's sexy wife. Together they plot the murder of her husband. Film Noir at it's best!! Read more
Published on May 17 2004
5.0 out of 5 stars
"It's a one way trip and the last stop is the cemetery."
Great stuff. One of the greatest movies ever made. The obvious reason is Billy Wilder, the genius of film noir '40's. And the other reason? Read more
Published on May 2 2004 by Larry Scantlebury
5.0 out of 5 stars
A 4 Way Classic!
It seems safe to offer the opinion that "Double Indemnity" is a 4-Way Classic! The 4 categories would be noir movies, those directed by Billy Wilder, films that unfold in flashback... Read more
Published on Feb 19 2004 by Mcgivern Owen L
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Movie
"Double Indemnity" leads all the rest in the noir genre. The movie is everything a movie should be. Fred MacMurray gives a surprisingly great performance as a semi-sleazy insurance... Read more
Published on Feb 6 2004 by Nancy Tannenbaum
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the very best film noir
This is a terrific movie, beautifully directed by Billy Wilder, one of his better films, and he made some very good ones. Read more
Published on July 26 2002 by Dennis Littrell
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