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Double Indemnity [DVD]
 
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Double Indemnity [DVD]

DVD ~ Fred MacMurray
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Actors: Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson, Porter Hall, Jean Heather
  • Directors: Billy Wilder
  • Format: Full Screen, PAL
  • Language English
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: PG
  • Studio: Universal Pictures UK
  • DVD Release Date: 11 July 2005
  • Run Time: 104 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00079FGSU
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 38,602 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

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Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review

Director Billy Wilder and writer Raymond Chandler adapted James M. Cain's hard-boiled novel into this wildly thrilling story of insurance man Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray), who schemes the perfect murder with the beautiful dame Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwyck): kill Dietrichson's husband and make off with the insurance money. But, of course, in these plots things never quite go as planned, and Barton Keyes (Edward G. Robinson) is the wily insurance investigator who must sort things out. From the opening scene you know Neff is doomed, as the story is told in flashback; yet, to the film's credit, this doesn't diminish any of the tension of the movie. This early film noir flick is wonderfully campy by today's standards, and the dialogue is snappy ("I thought you were smarter than the rest, Walter. But I was wrong. You're not smarter, just a little taller"), filled with lots of "dame"s and "baby"s. Stanwyck is the ultimate femme fatale, and MacMurray, despite a career largely defined by roles as a softy, is convincingly cast against type as the hapless, love-struck sap. --Jenny Brown, Amazon.com

Synopsis

Wilder's classic noir, a familiar brew of lust, larceny, and lethal intentions, stars Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck as a hot-blooded couple. Framed in flashback, the story is told by the dying Walter Neff (MacMurray), beginning with his first meeting with the seductive Phyllis Dietrichson (Stanwyck) during a routine renewal of her husband's car insurance. After some flirtation she arranges a meeting without her husband, where she asks about an accident policy to be bought without her husband's knowledge. Although repulsed by the implications of her suggestions, his obsession with Phyllis leads Neff to contemplate the possibility of finding a way to kill her husband while making his death look like an accident. After she comes to his apartment, the insurance salesman finally agrees to become involved in the murder, and the two of them begin methodically working out the details. After the they dispose of Dietrichson, Neff learns more than he wanted about Phyllis' unsavoury past, but realises he's now too involved to extricate himself. He's also concerned about his a boss (Barton Keyes) Edward G. Robinson, an omniscient insurance investigator who has taken over the case. A brilliant noir, among the best of the genre, with a byzantine yet utterly plausible plot, stylised hard-boiled dialogue by Wilder and Raymond Chandler, and three terrific performances by Stanwyck MacMurray and Robinson.

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Customer Reviews

19 Reviews
5 star:
 (12)
4 star:
 (3)
3 star:
 (3)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.4 out of 5 stars (19 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Check Your Insurance Policy !, 13 July 2005
At last , Billy Wilder's work is coming to region 2. This 1944 film noir sees Fred MacMurray playing insurance agent Walter Neff , who becomes involved with black widow - Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwyck). Cue: double crossing, hard boiled dialogue , much match striking by human thumb and a scene stealing performance by Edward G Robinson as Barton T Keyes. This film just sizzles along and is not to be missed. Double Indemnity was oscar nominated for best picture and director. Unfortunately it lost out , however , Wilder would return the next year with The Lost Weekend which took best picture , director and actor (Ray Milland). When Billy Wilder died in 2002 the world lost a brillaint film director - thank fully his legacy lives on.
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21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Thrilling but expected more..., 16 July 2005
By A Customer
It is thrilling to see 'Double Indemnity' on DVD in any format or region. It has long been out of print in region 1. The movie does not need praise. It is the best film noir ever created. My only complaint is that there are not extras on this DVD, not even a trailer, let alone a commentary. 'Double Indemnity' definitely deserves a full set of extra features.
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28 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The definitive and arguably the greatest film noir of all, 2 April 2006
By Jeff Markham (Walton-on-Thames, UK) - See all my reviews
Along with Tourneur's OUT OF THE PAST (1947), Billy Wilder's DOUBLE INDEMNITY is the definitive film noir, a masterpiece that rewards countless viewings and proved hugely influential. Virtually remade as BODY HEAT in 1981, and the inspiration for any number of sweaty, neo-noir pale imitations, this brilliant film remains the real deal and unsurpassed.

Wilder's fractious collaboration with the great Raymond Chandler produced a wonderful screenplay, dripping with sharp dialogue and fatalistic symbolism, whilst the performances of the three leads - FRED MacMURRAY, BARBARA STANWYCK and EDWARD G ROBINSON - are faultless and represent their finest screenwork. Stanwyck's marvellously cold, cyncial and manipulative femme fatale remains the template for all that followed and her tart as a lemon dialogue exchanges with MacMurray's bluff, self-confident Insurance Claims Investigator are amongst the greatest in any film.

To add to these elements JOHN F. SEITZ, one of film noir's finest cameramen, creates visual poetry from the sunlight streaming through Californian windows and shadows of forboding during the beautifully staged murder sequence.

Come to think of it, this isn't just one of the greatest film noirs ever made, it's simply one of the greatest films ever made, period. If you haven't seen it, buy it now, if you had it on VHS from a long ago TV screening, still buy it as this print is excellent and probably the best available, although there's a disappointing lack of extras on the DVD.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Check the discs
These are all 5-star movies. My 2-star rating is for the cracked disc I received. I didn't notice that 'The Lady Eve' was cracked when I received this item, and since I watched... Read more
Published 23 days ago by Sidney Carton

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Film Noir
Anyone wanting a film noir collection will need this film. The screenplay by Billy Wilder and Raymond Chandler is particularly slick - perhaps too much so, but this is what we... Read more
Published 3 months ago by C. Beattie

5.0 out of 5 stars film noir at its best.
This was probably the first film noir I ever seen and without doubt the best.The reviewer above gives a good account of the movie so I will just let you know about the extras on... Read more
Published 3 months ago by ciaran moore

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic
Simply put this film is beautiful and the quintessential film noir. In fact it was so good I went out and bought the film poster. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Gary 78

3.0 out of 5 stars Not a noir
The credits of "Double Indeminity" are odd. They roll over the silhouette of a man on crutches walking slowly towards the audience. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Peter Scott-presland

5.0 out of 5 stars A gripping film
It may be an old film but I found it utterly gripping - and realised why Barbara Stanwyck is so highly rated as an actress. Read more
Published 10 months ago by EH

5.0 out of 5 stars double indemnity
Fred. excellent. check!
Barbara. excellent. check!
Edward G. SUPERB. DOUBLE CHECK!! Read more
Published 11 months ago by Edward Ashmore

5.0 out of 5 stars One To Buy
I bought this not having seen it and it was a good move. Its a typical film noir, told in flashback, with a good story and good cast. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Alex da Silva

4.0 out of 5 stars A classic
I am not an aficionado of film noir, but I thoroughly enjoyed this pic with its lovely black and white photography, but most of all the dialogue was superb, with some fast... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Miriana Ponte

5.0 out of 5 stars suuuuuurweet!
if ever there was a stereotypical femme fatale the award goes to barbara stanwyck, this film id full of suspense, with a great plot and many jaw dropping moments, a classsc and a... Read more
Published on 17 Jan 2008 by Ms. F. I. Macdonald

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