In celebration of its greatness, here are 10 facts about how double indemnity got. Double indemnity tv movie 1973 double indemnity tv movie. Oct 17, 2010 c ameron crowe called double indemnity flawless film making. Cains 1943 novella of the same name, which originally appeared as an eightpart serial in liberty magazine, beginning in february 1936.
Double indemnity is a 1944 film noir directed by billy wilder. Seitz art direction hal pereira, hans drier film editor doane harrison. Robinson, porter hall, tom powers cinematography john f. Double indemnity 1973 tvpg 1h 15min crime, drama, romance tv movie october 1973. While hollywood has gone after greedy executives that colorize blackandwhite films and sought disclaimers on widescreen movies that are. Double indemnity is a film classic that holds up thanks to deft plotting that puts the audience in the place of the killers, solid twists and turns, and a clear understanding of the strengths of. March 2014 double jeopardy is a 1999 american neo noir adventure crime thriller film directed by bruce beresford and starring tommy lee jones, ashley judd, and bruce greenwood.
Film noir is the most intoxicating of hollywood cocktails, and none is more potent than double indemnity. Richard crenna and samantha eggar in double indemnity 1973 richard crenna in. An insurance representative lets himself be talked by a seductive housewife into a murderinsurance fraud scheme that arouses the suspicion of an insurance investigator. Double indemnity film wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. Even if you cant go along with that, there can be no disputing that it is. Double indemnity is a 1944 american film noir directed by billy wilder, cowritten by wilder and raymond chandler, and produced by buddy desylva and joseph sistrom. The film stars fred macmurray as an insurance salesman, barbara stanwyck as a provocative. Double indemnity tv movie 1973 double indemnity tv. Stanwyck who played phyllis in the original version both saw the film in their. Double indemnity 1973 a classic movie, played for a sucker. Oct 14, 20 glenn kenny will introduce a screening of double indemnity at the central branch of the brooklyn public library, by grand army plaza, in brooklyn on wednesday october 16 at 6. C ameron crowe called double indemnity flawless filmmaking.
It put wilders name on the map as an innovative director. This blu ray is a respectable print for an old film. Double indemnity is a clause or provision in a life insurance or accident policy whereby the company agrees to pay the stated multiple i. Had no idea this was ever made and there was no reason to, making it a perfect entry in this blogathon. Disney is developing a liveaction hercules remake, and more news. Double indemnity scene remake by thomas leedham, robert hunt and jake goodall. A scheming wife lures an insurance investigator into helping murder her husband and then declare it an accident. It was a remake of double indemnity 1944 based on the film rather than the original novel. Remake of the classic 1944 film noir in which an insurance salesman is coerced into murder by a femme fatale. This film has the perfect cast, with characters who are very believable in their respective roles. Walter neff in double indemnity most critics declare film noir as a hollywood subgenre that had its golden age during the period ranging from the end of the 1930s to the 1950s. Cameron crowe called double indemnity flawless filmmaking. The 1973 tv remake of double indemnity 1944 didnt have a chance to begin with, so i guess they just decided to film the script reading of one of hollywoods untouchable classics.
Double indemnity tv is a film directed by jack smight with richard crenna, lee j. Wilder was known for his tendency to remove vital scenes from final prints of his films. A tv remake of billy wilders film classic 1944 about a scheming wife who inveigles an insurance agent into helping her bump off her husband and of the dogged investigator, the agents boss, who. Movies dont get much better than double indemnity 1944. Double indemnity is a classic piece of filmmaking that is perhaps the personification of the film term noir. Cains classic 1936 tale of lust and murder and insurance. A woman seduces an insurance man to help her murder her husband and. It could very well be terrible, but i for one would be interested to see a serious, committed remake of the classic 1944 film noir double indemnity.
Double indemnity legal definition of double indemnity. Barton keyes is the dogged, determined investigator for general fidelity of california who puts it all together in double indemnity, james m. With ashley judd, tommy lee jones, bruce greenwood, benjamin weir. Double indemnity as a television movie in 1973 starring richard crenna who also starred in body heat, lee j. Bfi what marks double indemnity out from other great film noirs is that sense, among all the crazy, twisted, duplicitous shenanigans, of real, human heartbreak. The hero is not a criminal, but a weak man who is tempted and succumbs. It was a remake of double indemnity based on the film rather than the original novel. Double jeopardy is a 1999 american neo noir adventure crime thriller film directed by bruce beresford and starring tommy lee jones, ashley judd, and bruce greenwood. Double indemnity is the most excellent example of a noir film to date. Double indemnity definition is a provision in a lifeinsurance or accident policy whereby the company agrees to pay twice the face of the contract in case of accidental death. This includes murder by a person other than, and not in collusion with, the beneficiary of the insurance policy, and most accidental deaths. The classic film gets a modern treatment in this stunning update.
These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of double indemnity by director billy wilder. Strange that it only got a 90 minuted block on abc when most tv movies get a full two hours. Aug 27, 2006 double indemnity critics debate whether double indemnity was the first true film noir, but the real question may be what took so long for billy wilders 1944 pic to finally get the deluxe dvd. The film is known for setting the standard for its genre some argue it being one of the first. Film remakes by constantine verevis senses of cinema. I had no idea that double indemnity was even remade. The story is told in flashback and shows the salesman writing a double indemnity accidentaldeath policy on the womans husband to set the wheels in motion for her evil scheme. A woman framed for her husbands murder suspects he is still alive. Double indemnity critics debate whether double indemnity was the first true film noir, but the real question may be what took so long for billy wilders 1944 pic to finally get the deluxe dvd. Licensed to youtube by sme on behalf of sony music entertainment. Film analysis of double indemnity film studies essay. Double indemnity 1944 is the perfect film noir, filled with deception, crime, forbidden love, and suspense. Both are attracted not so much by the crime as by the thrill of committing it with the other person.
Double indemnity lost alternate endings of film noir. This gradeb tv fodder also illustrates the folly of remakes in general. In the classic black and white aesthetic, it goes further and turns up the darkness. Double indemnity lux radio theater broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on october 30, 1950 with barbara stanwyck and fred macmurray reprising their film roles. The film is about a woman wrongfully imprisoned for murder who, while eluding her parole officer, tracks down her husband who had framed her. About the only thing it doesnt have is a fasttalking detective, replaced by a fast. Double indemnity was directed by billy wilder who used. Fred macmurray and barbara stanwyck were both major movie stars when double indemnity came out in 1944.
The investigators boss, not knowing his man is involved in it, suspects murder and sets out to prove it. Still, as far as the book goes, hes a relatively minot character. Film noirs dont come any betteror tougher and more seductivethan billy wilders 1944 movie of james m. Cains 1935 novella of the same title which originally appeared as an eightpart serial in liberty magazine the film stars fred macmurray as an insurance salesman, barbara stanwyck as a. Aug 30, 2006 double indemnity is a classic piece of filmmaking that is perhaps the personification of the film term noir. This 1973 remake of the classic 1944 billy wilder film, double indemnity, is a textbook example of how to destroy a great script. Barbara stanwyck and fred macmurray star in this gripping film noir from academy awardwinning director billy wilder. About genre crime, filmnoir summary an insurance claims manager gets a familiar feeling of foul play while investigating the death of a man whose wife just had him sign a doubleindemnity policy. Woody allen declared it the greatest movie ever made.
After thoroughly enjoying the cat and the canary the bob hope version i was very disappointed with the remake. Aug 25, 2006 film noirs dont come any betteror tougher and more seductivethan billy wilders 1944 movie of james m. In this double story, the woman and man tempt one another. Cain, written for the screen by billy wilder and raymond chandler, an enterprising film score by miklos rozsa and starring barbara stanwyck, fred macmurray and edward g. About genre crime, film noir summary an insurance claims manager gets a familiar feeling of foul play while investigating the death of a man whose wife just had him sign a double indemnity policy. Double indemnity 1973 a classic movie, played for a. Glenn kenny will introduce a screening of double indemnity at the central branch of the brooklyn public library, by grand army plaza, in brooklyn on wednesday october 16 at 6. Yesterdays double indemnity perfect fit for today screenings. As for another 1981 remake, lawrence kasdans body heat, an unacknowledged updating of double indemnity billy wilder, 1944 and another adaptation from cain, verevis claims that it reinvents the classic noir visual style for the 1980s p.
A calculating wife encourages her wealthy husband to sign a double indemnity policy proposed by smitten insurance agent walter neff. Cains 1943 novella of the same name, which originally appeared as an eightpart serial in liberty magazine. No 6 best crime film of all time film the guardian. Universal home entertainments new legacy series dvd release does the movie proud, offering a 2disc edition of billy wilders classic film noir that boasts an outstanding transfer of the picture itself, two audio commentaries, an introduction by tcms own robert osborne, a documentary on the films making, a trailer, and even a long.
Double indemnity has one of the most familiar noir themes. Double indemnity is a 1973 american made for television crime film directed by jack smight and starring richard crenna, lee j. The film is a masterpiece in the filmographies of wilder and stars barbara. Double indemnity is the perfect mix of talents that combined to create one of the best films of all time.
Review by brent paton pointless and inferior remake which adds nothing to the original except color. Double indemnity is a 1944 american film noir, directed by billy wilder, cowritten by wilder and raymond chandler, and produced by buddy desylva and joseph sistrom. Double indemnity trailer directed by billy wilder and starring fred macmurray, edward g. A term of an insurance policy by which the insurance company promises to pay the insured or the beneficiary twice the amount of coverage if loss occurs due to a particular cause or set of circumstances.
Double indemnity essays are academic essays for citation. Double indemnity 1944 is director billy wilders classic film noir masterpiece a cynical, witty, and sleazy thriller about adultery, corruption and murder. Double indemnity clauses are found most often in life insurance policies. Double indemnity definition of double indemnity by. The screen guild theater broadcast a 30 minute radio adaptation of the movie on february 16, 1950 with barbara stanwyck again reprising her film role. It was a remake of double indemnity 1944 based on the film rather than the. Watch walter and phyllis as they get together in a luminous white southern california superstore, sporting dark glasses, not shopping or still watching each other while plotting up plans for a homicide.
Double indemnity is a 1944 film noir directed by billy wilder, cowritten by wilder and raymond chandler, and produced by buddy desylva and joseph sistrom. The urgentlytold, highlystylized story was wilders third film after the major and the minor 1942 and five graves to cairo 1943. Double indemnity 1944 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. The movie is based on a brilliant novella by james m. Oct 04, 2015 i had no idea that double indemnity was even remade. Cains blistering crime novel double indemnity, available now in a twodisc special. This 1973 tv remake of the billy wilder classic is inferior to the original.
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