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• Double Indemnity (1944)

  • Mr. Blandings
  • 3/17/12

  After having looked forward to seeing this film for so long I am sorry to say that I am left disappointed. I found the plot far-fetched and the dialogue unintentionally laughable at times (and the less said about Stanwyck's ridiculous hair/wig the better). When people have talked about this film they usually say that it's about a normal, fairly decent guy who was corrupted by a manipulative murderess by seduction. I looked forward to a lot of great acting and drama in that regard. The movie proved to be nothing like this. MacMurray's character was an immoral sleeze to begin with and Stanyck's character was just bland and dopey. On top of that I found the relationship between the two completely unconvincing and utterly sexless, despite all the corny dime store detective novel banter. Very disappointing. Still, there are some good things about the movie: 1) Edward G. Robinson: the only realistic, grounding presence in this entire movie. 2) Cinematography. 3) Score. Glad to have finally seen it, though. ** out of *****

• Double Indemnity

  • David Patterson
  • 5/22/11

  This classic is a top ten of all time, the number one film noire. The dialogue is as sharp as a knife, and MacMurray and Stanwyck are the absolute best at delivering dialogue with wicked incisiveness. The plot is very simple, but is so intense that it can never find the blanket of infinity which devours it. Neff (MacMurray) knows Dietrichson (Stanwyck) is up to no good and is a deviant of the highest stature. He dislikes her, possibly even hates her, but is entangled by her magnetism and potent sexuality. He is a fly caught in her web. He has much opportunity to escape from this nightmare, but never does. What tops it all off, is that I, as the viewer, and I think I can speak for most others, root for them to commit their crime and live happily ever after. Why? Because we always root for romance, especially when it is star-crossed. If Romeo and Juliet were evil, we would still be heart-broken by their demise.

• Film Noir At Its Finest

  • Virgo912
  • 2/24/10

  This movie works from the opening scene to the end. Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck have great chemistry. And I love the way Edward G. Robinson portrays Keys. Double Indemnity is a movie that I watch every time it airs: great acting, great story, and wonderful directing by Billy Wilder. It's film noir at its finest.

• LOVE ME SOME BABS!!

  • dottaye
  • 8/5/09

  BARBARA STANWYCK WORKED THIS MOVIE! AND TO BE HONEST, I COULD HAVE SEEN DICK POWELL IN THIS TOO. I THINK HE WOULD HAVE BEEN JUST AS GOOD. BUT FRED MCMURRY DID ALRIGHT TOO. AND EDWARD G. ROBINSON WAS PERFECT AS KEYES. GREAT FILM NOIR MOVIE. "STRAIGHT DOWN THE LINE!"

• Warning to the Insured

  • Sandra.S
  • 7/18/09

  With the economy this dismal, I'd bet there are plenty of unhappily married insured couples who've thought about that double indemnity clause in their policies more than once. An accidentally on purpose sudden death of one or the other would resolve both being unhappy in a stale marriage and being in debt. But who'd risk it? Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray did. They belonged together but he was her wealthy enough husband's insurance man. She seduced him the 1st time they met. Stanwyck had the art of seduction down pat. She could lure bait to her hook! MacMurray is all too eager to oblige her. He even seeded the idea of an accidental death in her mind. They plot murder together, every detail. Murder's such an complex, nerve racking scheme. Insurance companies aren't ever eager to pay out large lump sums of loot, especially when something about the 'accident's' fishy. The moral of the immoral story is don't even think of doing it because murder will be your undoing. Superb in every way.

• Lethal Doomed Couples 101

  • Q.C.
  • 6/6/09

  They were meant for each other. Of all the people in the world they understood each other best. And a violent death was waiting. Greer and Mitchum, Garfield and Turner,Gardner and Lancaster, Bogart and Astor were prime examples and this pair fits perfectly into the club. Ms. Stanwyck is a perfect femme fatale but if you are old enough to remember "My Three Sons" and see good old surburban Fred McMurray exuding beguiled cynicism and desperation its a "Him?" moment that he carries off well. They make a fine realistic pair: adults getting it all wrong at the wrong time in their lives. That Mr. Wilder got this dark film made at all during WWII should be applauded.

• Best Film Noir Ever

  • Bruce Reber
  • 2/12/09

  Forget about one of the best film noirs, this is THE BEST film noir ever! I have the 2-disk special edition DVD of "Double Indemnity" and watch it an average of once a month. This is no doubt Billy Wilder's most dramatic and darkest film, especially when he is most associated with comedies (Some Like It Hot, Seven Year Itch, etc.). It also has powerful dramatic performances from its 3 stars (Barbara Stanwyck, Fred MacMurray and Edward G. Robinson). I have heard that it took Wilder nearly 8 years to get DI made due to problems with the PCA about its content (adultery and murder for profit). No matter how many times I watch DI it never fails to hold me in suspense form start to finish. For anyone who hasn't seen it (although almost everyone probably has) I recommend DI as film noir that totally defines the genre.

• Wilder and Stanwyck at their best

  • Oliver
  • 8/19/08

  One of the top movies of the 1940's and arguably the best film noir. The three leads are truly outstanding. Although Billy Wilder would go on to make another half dozen film classics, this film is perhaps his masterpiece. Articulate, sexy, suspenseful, and ultimately very sad. It is the story of wised up people destroyed by their cleverness. Must see, again and again for any fan of American cinema.

• The Suspence Will "Kill You"

  • Nicolaus C.
  • 8/22/07

  Before seeing this movie, I had never watched a movie where Fred played the criminal: save The Caine Mutiny (1954). The effect is two-fold and very clever. While you're anticipating Fred's ultimate demise for his crime, you feel the emotions and obvious suspense Fred feels, while daily faces his clairvoyant partner in their insurance business. The very fact that Fred (and you) know the truth causes those scenes to come alive. If you would not be in Fred's shoes, I doubt the picture would be anywhere near a classic.

• Double Indemnity

  • Wendy Winkler
  • 3/29/06

  This movie has everything. A clever, witty, and suspenseful script and a powerhouse performance by Barbara Stanwyck. Fred Macmurray was equally good and probably should have been nominated for an Oscar just as Edward G. Robinson should have been.

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