| Proverbs 5:3-5 For the lips of a
strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother
than oil. But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged
sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.
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The story is told by narration in a series of
flash backs, from Walter Neff's point of view, which is very
effective and well done.
The story begins with insurance salesman, Walter
Neff (Fred MacMurray) calling upon the luxurious abode of the
Dietrichsons to renew Mr. Dietrichson 's car insurance. Upon
arriving at their mansion, Walter Neff finds out that Mr. Dietrichson
is not at home, but that his wife, Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara
Stanwyck) is there in her husband's place to carry on the business
at hand. Struck by her beauty and purring sensuality that Phyllis
isn't shy in showing this male visitor, Walter Neff and Phylis
are soon involved in a flirting game which goes down the slippery
slope into a passionate affair, 1944 style. It becomes apparent
that Phyllis Dietrichson knows how to manipulate the unthinking,
weak male's heart and soon has drawn dumb bunny Walter Neff
into a murder scheme to off her husband for the insurance money.
While the audience must of been yelling at Walter to run like
hell from this woman, he blithely follows her in an unaware
state of mind, into calamity and plenty of hot water, from the
frying pan into the fire, only to discover that he has been
"played" by this narcissist woman, and that life as
he knows it is about to get very difficult and sticky indeed,
and may not end so well for him. He finds himself in the position
of not only having to deal with her, but also trying to dodge
the scrutiny of his pretty sharp boss, Barton Keyes (Edward
G. Robinson), who has ambitious motives of his own, and the
suspicious step daughter, Lola (Jean Heather).
"Double Indemnity" is considered to be
a classic example of the Film Noir genre, made very popular
in the time period after World War 2, a genre that takes a dim
view of the nature of human beings, and the world that they
create from the worst part of themselves. As with other Film
Noire productions, it was filmed in black and white, which enhanced
feeling of the wonderful screenplay by Billy Wilder and talented
screenwriter / dialog genius Raymond Chandler, who together
created a story based on James M. Cain's novel, which tells
a dark tale of lust, greed, betrayal and murder, all mixed together
with cynicism and paranoia. The dark side of human weakness
and natureof all the characters is the star of the plot line,
brought to life with a bang by a stellar cast of actors and
actresses, under the insightful direction of the late great
Billy Wilder.
Fred MacMurray excels as Walter Neff, a man
without a moral compass, heading for a world of problems once
he foolishly follows his heart and sinful nature down the path
to his own sorry future.
Barbara Stanwyck also is diabolically stunning
as the manipulating, narcissist love temptress who pretends
to love, knows how to manipulate others to accomplish her own
self-serving agenda - Not the kind of woman you take home to
mother! Her performance in this role was considered her best,
and Barbara received her third Academy Award nomination for
Best Actress.
Edward G. Robinson does a wonderful job portraying
insurance investigator, Barton Keyes who has a gut that never
fails him, and has the drive, smarts and determination to follow
through on his hunches, which supports his own dark motives
as well.
My favorite series of scenes are those between
MacMurray and Robinson. Although Robinson suspects MacMurray,
he toys with him, like a cat "playing" with a dazed mouse, before
having it for dinner.
This film is unrated, but I would give it a
PG-13 due to subject matter, and the film's gloomy opinion of
the human race. It would go over the heads of children but would
perhaps open a dialog with teens about how choices based on
momentary feelings, not on a moral base of beliefs can lead
to deep trouble. Doing what feels good at the time can lead
to foolish choices and disasterous results.
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