Review of Double Indemnity (1973) by Blake P — 29 Sep 2011

Insurance Walter Neff (MacMurray) is having a stressful but easy life, but things turn upside-down when he begins an affair with his new, sexy client Phyllis Dietrichson (Stanwyck). They're pretty passionate, and they want to get married-- but instead of leaving her husband, Phyllis wants Walter to kill him so they can cash in on his insurance policy.

All goes good, and no one suspects them: until Walter's super smart boss (Robinson) suspects that all isn't as it seems ... "Double Indemnity" is one of the best movies ever made in every sense.

It's the definitive film noir, started a trend in plot devices, brings home to bacon of what you expect a '40's movie to be like, and then-- you get Billy Wilder directing, and that's the key to why the film isn't as ordinary as it could be.

Wilder wanted this to be one of those steamy, erotic thrillers, but we all know that those didn't exist in the 1940's due to the Hays Code, and Paramount wouldn't allow anything "sexy".

Wilder, one of the smartest movie makers of all time, works around it. We know Walter and Phyllis are having an affair, but do we see it? Nope. The most "dirty" thing going on is them kissing, but we get the hint.

Then of course, we have the crime of the movie. But all murderers had to be caught in the '40's. Does he get caught? Yep, but Wilder fashions it to the point to where it covers the plot twist area, and makes no disappointment available.

Who knows how he did it?? Better off, he gets help from screenwriter Raymond Chandler (one of the biggest drunks of the time) who he didn't like, but Chandler makes the lines absolutely perfect, and makes Phyllis more cheap and evil, and Walter the wholesome guy who gives into temptation.

Stanwyck was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress, and Wilder was for directing (who knows how they didn't win) but who gives a crap if they won or not? "Double Indemnity" will always be one of the best, and most daring films of all time.

Recommended.