Double Indemnity

1944
Approved
1h 47m

IMDb RATING

8.3/10

172K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

Play trailer2:16

Film Noir Hard-boiled Detective Crime Drama Mystery Thriller

An insurance representative is seduced by a dissatisfied housewife into a scheme of insurance fraud and murder that arouses the suspicion of his colleague, a claims investigator.An insurance representative is seduced by a dissatisfied housewife into a scheme of insurance fraud and murder that arouses the suspicion of his colleague, a claims investigator.An insurance representative is seduced by a dissatisfied housewife into a scheme of insurance fraud and murder that arouses the suspicion of his colleague, a claims investigator.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.3/10

172K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

2,595

1,241

See production info at IMDbPro

Top rated movie #104

Nominated for 7 Oscars
- 2 wins & 9 nominations total

Trivia
The house used as Barbara Stanwyck's character's home still stands today at 6301 Quebec Drive.

Goofs
When Phyllis is listening at Neff's door as he talks with Keyes, Keyes exits into the hallway and Phyllis hides behind the door. The door opens into the hallway which isn't allowed by building codes, even back then, but it does give Phyllis something to hide behind and increases the tension.

Quotes
[last lines]
Walter Neff: Know why you couldn't figure this one, Keyes? I'll tell ya. 'Cause the guy you were looking for was too close. Right across the desk from ya.
Barton Keyes: Closer than that, Walter.
Walter Neff: I love you, too.

Crazy credits
Opening credits are shown over a silhouette of a man on crutches, walking toward the camera.

Connections
Edited into Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982)

Soundtracks
Tangerine
(1941) (uncredited)
Music by Victor Schertzinger
Played on a radio

User reviews496

Review

Featured review

10/10

Justifiably At The Top Of Most Film Noir Lists

This is one of the best-liked classic films of all time and I am among that large group of fans as well.

Few movies have ever had dialog this entertaining.....at least the conversations between Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray. I think it's a big appeal to this movie, except to younger folks who look at it as "cheesy."

I read the book, Double Indemnity written by James Cain, and was surprised that the film's snappy dialog was not in it. This is one of the rare times when the movie was far better than the book. That's not a shock after you find out that literary giant Raymond Chandler and Hall Of Fame director Billy Wilder combined to write the screenplay,

For a murder/suspense story, there is very little action, almost none, yet there are no boring lulls. The three main actors - Stanwyck, MacMurray and Edward G. Robinson, are what make this so good.

MacMurray's narration is fun to hear as he tells the story in flashback, from the beginning by dictating into an old Dictaphone to his co-worker Robinson. The latter is almost mesmerizing in his performance, the way he delivers his lines. He can even make a speech about something as boring as insurance and still keep you riveted to the screen.

Stanwyck was no sex symbol (at least to me) but she looked great here in the most seductive of 1940s clothing and, like Robinson, has a distinctive voice and accent that keeps your attention.

This film was the inspiration for the 1980 movie, "Body Heat," starring William Hurt and Kathleen Turner. That, too, was a very, very good movie....but not many films are in the class of this one.