Double Indemnity (Universal Legacy Series)
starring: Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson, Porter Hall, Jean Heather
directed by: Billy Wilder
directed by: Billy Wilder
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Product Description:
A salesman & a blonde kill her husband & get away with it until the insurance investigator becomes obsessed with the case.Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca)Release Date: 08/22/2006Starring: Fred Macmurray Edward G RobinsonRun time: 107 minutesRating: Nr
Amazon.com essential video:
Director Billy Wilder (Sunset Boulevard) and writer Raymond Chandler (The Big Sleep) 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 (notably in the TV series My Three Sons and the movie The Shaggy Dog), is convincingly cast against type as the hapless, love-struck sap. --Jenny Brown
A salesman & a blonde kill her husband & get away with it until the insurance investigator becomes obsessed with the case.Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca)Release Date: 08/22/2006Starring: Fred Macmurray Edward G RobinsonRun time: 107 minutesRating: Nr
Amazon.com essential video:
Director Billy Wilder (Sunset Boulevard) and writer Raymond Chandler (The Big Sleep) 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 (notably in the TV series My Three Sons and the movie The Shaggy Dog), is convincingly cast against type as the hapless, love-struck sap. --Jenny Brown
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- a metaphor for cosmic justice?
Although the movie is predictable (both for the genre and because the movie starts a the conclusion) it is a fun ride. Highlights: great writing and actor's chemistry and understanding of their parts also the lovely Barbara Stanwyck. Rent dont buy.
Rating: 
- Universal Legacy disappoints... BIG TIME!!!!!
Yes.... Double Indemnity is a GREAT movie!However, this does NOT excuse the folks responsbile for the Legacy Series for putting out such a crappy product.Having been so impressed with other restorations in the series, I trusted and bought this edition.Technically, I could see very little improvement over a previously released DVD, and the bonus disc, a VERY bad TV remake, is simple a waste to even bother doing!
SHAME!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rating: 
- "You Said it was Murder.Check."
America's cynical, fast-buck id crawls to the surface in this peerless classic that never disappoints.Billy Wilder gives it the pace and rhythm of a comedy, but it's a thrillingly entertaining trip to Hell.
Could a better actor have been as good as lightweight Fred MacMurray is here?He embodies Neff's horny shallowness perfectly.And while people complain about Stanwyck's wig, I think it's dead-on.She's supposed to be cheap, just like she's supposed to be a bad actress, which ... Read More
Rating: - 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. I am one of those suckers who bought the first Universal DVD release, but the transfer was terrible so I waited until this double-disc Legacy Series version came out and re-purchased it.Now, the film finally looks great.
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, ... Read More
Rating: - 3.5 stars out of 4
The Bottom Line:
Though I still maintain that the framing device marrs Billy Wilder's otherwise flawless noir, Double Indemnity is a clever film and worthy classic that should be seen by anyone who enjoys film or the notion of a perfect murder.
- a metaphor for cosmic justice?Although the movie is predictable (both for the genre and because the movie starts a the conclusion) it is a fun ride. Highlights: great writing and actor's chemistry and understanding of their parts also the lovely Barbara Stanwyck. Rent dont buy.
- Universal Legacy disappoints... BIG TIME!!!!!Yes.... Double Indemnity is a GREAT movie!However, this does NOT excuse the folks responsbile for the Legacy Series for putting out such a crappy product.Having been so impressed with other restorations in the series, I trusted and bought this edition.Technically, I could see very little improvement over a previously released DVD, and the bonus disc, a VERY bad TV remake, is simple a waste to even bother doing!
SHAME!!!!!!!!!!!!
- "You Said it was Murder.Check."America's cynical, fast-buck id crawls to the surface in this peerless classic that never disappoints.Billy Wilder gives it the pace and rhythm of a comedy, but it's a thrillingly entertaining trip to Hell.
Could a better actor have been as good as lightweight Fred MacMurray is here?He embodies Neff's horny shallowness perfectly.And while people complain about Stanwyck's wig, I think it's dead-on.She's supposed to be cheap, just like she's supposed to be a bad actress, which ... Read More
- Justifiably At The Top Of Most Film Noir ListsThis is one of the best-liked classic films of all time and I am among that large group of fans as well. I am one of those suckers who bought the first Universal DVD release, but the transfer was terrible so I waited until this double-disc Legacy Series version came out and re-purchased it.Now, the film finally looks great.
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, ... Read More
- 3.5 stars out of 4The Bottom Line:
Though I still maintain that the framing device marrs Billy Wilder's otherwise flawless noir, Double Indemnity is a clever film and worthy classic that should be seen by anyone who enjoys film or the notion of a perfect murder.
