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Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson, Porter Hall, Jean Heather ... see more see more... , Tom Powers , Byron Barr , Richard Gaines , Fortunio Bonanova , John Philliber , Al Bridge , Edmund Cobb , Kernan Cripps , Bess Flowers , Miriam Franklin , Judith Gibson , Sam Gorlopis , Edward Hearn , Boyd Irwin , Teala Loring , George Magrill , Sam McDaniel , Clarence Muse , Constance Purdy , Dick Rush , Floyd Shackelford , Lee Shumway , Oscar Smith , Douglas Spencer , George Melford , James Adamson , Betty Farrington

Directed by Billy Wilder and adapted from a James M. Cain novel by Wilder and Raymond Chandler, Double Indemnity represents the high-water mark of 1940s film noir urban crime dramas in which a greedy,... read more read more... weak man is seduced and trapped by a cold, evil woman amidst the dark shadows and Expressionist lighting of modern cities. Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwyck) seduces insurance agent Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray) into murdering her husband to collect his accident policy. The murder goes as planned, but after the couple's passion cools, each becomes suspicious of the other's motives. The plan is further complicated when Neff's boss Barton Keyes (Edward G. Robinson), a brilliant insurance investigator, takes over the investigation. Told in flashbacks from Neff's perspective, the film moves with ruthless determinism as each character meets what seems to be a preordained fate. Movie veterans Stanwyck, MacMurray, and Robinson give some of their best performances, and Wilder's cynical sensibility finds a perfect match in the story's unsentimental perspective, heightened by John Seitz's hard-edged cinematography. Double Indemnity ranks with the classics of mainstream Hollywood movie-making. ~ Linda Rasmussen, Rovi

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46 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 47 min.

Directed by: Billy Wilder

Release Date: September 6, 1944

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DVD Release Date: October 10, 2000

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Flixster Reviews (2,310)

  • emilkakko
    January 29, 2013
    emilkakko
    Highly overrated but arguably stylish film noir from legendary Byilly Wilder. This is nowhere near the best noirs of it's era. Films like Jacques Tourneur's Out of the Past and Howard Hawks' The Big Sleep were the ones that truly defined these kind of hard boiled crime stories of... read more 40's.
    There is nothing wrong in Fred MacMurray's or Edward Robinson's performances here, actually they are quite good all the way. Barbara Stanwyck is the highlight as a typically cold blooded femme fatale. The main problem here is that the dialogue is typical machine gun Wilder; all technique and no real emotion. Raymond Chandler and Billy Wilder wrote this film together, but it is clear that Wilder's touch can be heard on every spoken line that comes out of the actors. This effect makes Double Indemnity feel too artificial, too calculated and too cold for its own sake.
    With characters this rotten there is no true tension at any point and we all know how these kind of morality tales does end up, or often used to back in the 40's. On the surface there is nothing that much to complaint but i just did not find this film that interesting at all. It has style and it has some interesting elements going on but in the end it all feels awfully flat and lifeless. Double Indemnity never comes alive as a film.
  • blacksheepboy
    November 19, 2012
    blacksheepboy
    One of the most indisputable definers of noir, a classic film with a fantastic direction and cinematography, a deliciously acid dialogue, some amazing performances and a diabolical plot that is breathtakingly tense and suspenseful.
  • fb1463751009
    November 5, 2012
    fb1463751009
    "Double Indemnity" is a marvelously crafted noir film that is purely driven by its impeccable narrative and flawless filmmaking techniques. Billy Wilder, Howard Hawks, John Ford, Alfred Hitchcock; all renowned people within cinema history, but were unknown in my book. Little did ... read moreI care to learn about these filmmakers, nor did I care to see their work because it was too "old school" for me. Boy, am I glad to have seen this film.

    James M. Cain, the author of "The Postman Always Rings Twice" which is the source material for the narrative, is beautifully translated from book to film by Billy Wilder's deft hands. The narrative's where all the glory is at: it flows like liquid gold with tensely interesting twists and turns from start to finish; no hiccups found here. And what's found within the storytelling is one of the most highly engaging and innovative crime thrillers to date. Though "Double Indemnity" is already regarded as an exceedingly entertaining film due to the narrative, the film surpasses further due to flawless directing. The noir elements audiences have come to know are present, but with spotless results. The style "Double Indemnity" takes to deliver crisp, sharp-edged shadows, the breathtakingly distinct shots, and the narrative told by flashback are nothing short of astonishing.

    Merely, everything about "Double Indemnity" is perfect. Billy Wilder managed to craft a masterpiece that remains fresh even to the 21st century. Nothing short of cutting-edge, "Double Indemnity" is brimming with an atmosphere of a cool, cold cockeyed-ness style -- a film that will not be forgotten for decades to come.
  • garyX
    November 4, 2012
    garyX
    Fast talking insurance salesman Fred MacMurray falls for beautiful but ice cold oil tycoon's wife Barbara Stanwyck and together they hatch a scheme to kill off her husband for the insurance money. Using the classic technique of beginning at the end, the entire story is narrated b... read morey a blood stained MacMurray as he gives his insight into the downward spiral his life took the moment he got involved with the irresistible femme fatale. Stanwyck is perfect in this role; glamorous, but with a steely gaze that belies the emptiness of her heart. As is MacMurray playing the sap who thinks he is in control, but Edward G. Robinson still manages to steal every scene he is in as the wily investigator. Anyone looking for a feelgood movie with a happy ending should give this one a miss, but if it's an expertly written, brilliantly played and influential cornerstone of an entire genre you want, this is straight down the line...
  • cosmo313
    April 24, 2012
    cosmo313
    Before anything, let's just look at the talent behind this film: Based on a novel by James M. Cain, directed by Billy Wilder, script by Wilder and Raymond Chandler, and starring Fred MacMurray, Barabra Stanwyck, and Edward G. Robinson. Damn.

    Thankfully, this talent doesn't go to... read more waste at all, and the end result is one of the greatest entries into the film noir genre. The plot concerns an insurance salesman named Walter Neff who, smitten with a client's wife, schemes with her to kill the husband in an accident like fashion in order to cash in on the double indemnity clause of their policy- a cluase that will pay out double than normal in the event of a death caused by accident. Things get tricky though, when a suspicious claims adjuster who works with Neff is assigned to the case.

    This is a smart, suspenseful, and tightly written thriller, and despite how old it is, really holds up extremely well. The film has also been very influential not only on the film noir genre, but also several films by a couple of guys you may have heard of named Joel and Ethan Coen (among others). Wilder's direction is superb, and the acting is brilliant. MacMurray and Stnawyck had never done anything quite this sleazy and gritty before, and this also marked the start of a long tenure as a supporting character actor for Robinson..something he was great at.

    From the music, to the technical details like cinematography, editing, etc, the tightness of the plot is made even more spectacular, and this is hands down one of the best ever. Leave it at that and go see it.
  • fb619846742
    January 21, 2012
    fb619846742
    A well-executed noir smash concerning a gullible insurance salesman (Fred MacMurray) who gets suckered into a scheme to murder the much older husband (Tom Powers) of a sultry woman (Barbara Stanwyck) in order to get his money through his newly signed policy. With crackling dialo... read moregue and riveting performances, Billy Wilder keeps this thing trucking along. Although the love story between MacMurray and Stanwyck could have probably used a little more time and feels a bit forced into place to get the story going, this thing excels in keeping the twists coming and the characters interesting. A darker Wilder picture than one is usually used to, but a worthy one nonetheless.
  • fb1664868775
    November 14, 2011
    fb1664868775
    A benchmark in the film noir genre, Double Idemnity is a gritty, cinematic masterpiece.
  • fernandorafael
    November 6, 2011
    fernandorafael
    Even when they reveal the ending right after the initial credits stop rolling, Billy Wilder and Raymond Chandler manage to keep the suspense high. Double Indemnity might seem slow and talky, because it is, but I really can't complain. The cast, particularly Barbara Stanwyck and E... read moredward G. Robinson, delivers. Besides, this film features some of the best dialog I've ever heard! I'm so in love with the script.
  • bookmunki
    August 2, 2011
    bookmunki
    A winning combination: Chandler's dialogue and Wilder's direction.
  • DragonEyeMorrison
    August 2, 2011
    DragonEyeMorrison
    Pretty damn engaging, if i have to nitpick i don't understand why Neff encourges Nino to call Lola, considering the guy is an asshole. Character motivations could have been developed more, but the smooth flow of the story will trap you so well you won't be wondering about all tha... read moret stuff.

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Critic Reviews

Dave Kehr
February 11, 2008
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

Wilder trades Cain's sun-rot imagery for conventional film noir stylings, but the atmosphere of sexual entrapment survives. Full Review

Variety Staff
August 14, 2007
Variety Staff, Variety

MacMurray has seldom given a better performance. It is somewhat different from his usually light roles, but is always plausible and played with considerable restraint. Full Review

Douglas Pratt
September 23, 2006
Douglas Pratt, Hollywood Reporter

The film is a brilliant collision of evil and the mundane, and one of the reasons viewers respond to it so well is that it makes the mundane seem a little sexier in the resulting debris.

January 26, 2006
Time Out

This is the gold standard of '40s noir, straight down the line. Full Review

Bosley Crowther
January 1, 2000
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

Such folks as delight in murder stories for their academic elegance alone should find this one steadily diverting, despite its monotonous pace and length. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Few other directors have made so many films that were so taut, savvy, cynical and, in many different ways and tones, funny. Full Review

James Agee
August 29, 2012
James Agee, The Nation

The picture never fully takes hold of its opportunities, such as they are, perhaps because those opportunities are appreciated chiefly as surfaces and atmospheres and as very tellable trash. Full Review

Charles Cassady
December 14, 2010
Charles Cassady, Common Sense Media

Dark, dialogue-heavy classic of grim suspense. Full Review

Rob Gonsalves
July 15, 2010
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com

The perfect material for Wilder to remake himself as Hollywood's dark jester for decades. Full Review

Cole Smithey
April 12, 2009
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com

Edward G. Robinson stars as MacMurray's associate, but it's Barbara Stanwyck that rules the roost as one of cinema's most diabolical femme fatals. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Phyllis Dietrichson: Walter, I don't want to kill him. I never did. Not even when he gets drunk and slaps my face.
    • Walter Neff: Only sometimes you wish he was dead.
    • Phyllis Dietrichson: Perhaps I do.
    • Walter Neff: And you wish it was an accident and you had that policy for $50,000 dollars. Is that it?
    • Phyllis Dietrichson: Perhaps that too.
    • Walter Neff: They (the insurance company) know more tricks than a carload of monkeys. And if there's a death mixed up in it, you haven't got a prayer. They'll hang you just as sure as ten dimes will buy a dollar.
    • Barton Keyes: You're not smarter Walter, you're just a little taller.
    • Phyllis Dietrichson: It's straight down the line for both of us, remember?
    • Phyllis Dietrichson: And you don't really care if we see each other or not.
    • Walter Neff: Shut up, baby.
    • Phyllis Dietrichson: I think you're rotten.
    • Walter Neff: I think you're swell - so long as I'm not your husband.
    • Phyllis Dietrichson: Get out of here.
    • Walter Neff: You bet I'll get out of here, baby. I'll get out of here but quick.
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Double Indemnity Trivia

  • The classic film "Double Indemnity" directed by Billy Wilder was loosely remade in the 1980s, Name the film:  Answer »
  • What non-action star played an action hero in Double Indemnity  Answer »
  • Which actress starred in Double Indemnity?  Answer »
  • In the 1944 movie "Double Indemnity" Walter and Phyillis plot to murder her husband in order to recive what?  Answer »
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