Fred macmurray s walter neff, an insurance salesman, is the patsy she ensnares in a plot to kill her businessman husband and collect on the double indemnity clause in his policy. In the films dialogue, fred macmurray talks with barbara stanwyck about the 2 cars she and her husband own, the plymouth and the. Both are attracted not so much by the crime as by the thrill of committing it with the other person. Everett collectionrex features who would have thought a movie about an insurance guy could be so bitter, so suspenseful, so. The film stars fred macmurray as an insurance salesman, barbara stanwyck as a provocative housewife who wishes her husband were dead, and edward g. Macmurray also gained famed for playing steve douglas on the popular television show, my three sons, from 1960 to 1972. During his career, he appeared in more than 100 films and tv shows. Find movie and film cast and crew information for double indemnity 1944 billy wilder on allmovie. The double indemnity of the title refers to a clause in the policy which stipulates that in the case of certain more unlikely accidents, i. Fred macmurray is normally in good guy roles but here he went into a villainous situation but still gave a nice performance. This scene occurs early in the movie where walter neff fred macmurray, smoothtalking insurance salesman, first intersects with phyllis. Fred macmurray 19081991 was an american actor who appeared in more than 80 movies. The film was adapted by director billy wilder and writer raymond chandler from the 1935 novella by james. After the husband has been tricked into signing a double indemnity accident policy, they kill him to make it look like an accident.
Double indemnity 1944 was directed by billy wilder, cowritten by wilder and raymond chandler, and produced by buddy desylva and. Frederick martin macmurray august 30, 1908 november 5, 1991 was an american actor and singer who appeared in more than 100 films and a successful television series during a career that spanned nearly a halfcentury, from 1930 to the 1970s his career as a major movie leading man began in 1935 but macmurray is best known for his role in the 1944 film noir double indemnity directed by. Jan 31, 2017 n insurance representative lets himself be talked into a murderinsurance fraud scheme that arouses an insurance investigators suspicions. No, i never loved you walter not you or anybody else. Fred macmurray s sharpasaknife voiceover, which barely lets up from start to finish, is an unremitting delight in the hollywood film noir classic double indemnity. To be sure, there are more typical examples of the strengths.
However the spoiler doesnt keep the movie from grabbing your attention in the same way an impending train wreck catches the eyes of onlookers. The film was adapted by director billy wilder and writer. This scene occurs early in the movie where walter neff fred macmurray, smoothtalking insurance salesman, first intersects with phyllis dietrichson barbara. In the 1944 movie double indemnity, it is established at the beginning that the story is taking place in 1938. He soon finds himself a willing accomplice to a murder plot. Insurance man walter fred macmurray, fading as he confesses via dictaphone to his boss, recalls his meeting with his lover and coconspirator phyllis barbara stanwyck, her husband didrickson tom powers and his daughter lola jean heather, in billy wilders double indemnity, 1944. See who they starred with and what they are working on now. Watch double indemnity starring fred macmurray in this drama on directv. Oct 10, 2000 double indemnity movie yify subtitles. Insurance salesman walter neff fred macmurray meets and falls for the married phyllis dietrichson barbara stanwyck. Macmurray was the first person honored as a disney legend, in 1987. Amazingly enough, as you can see above, the house has remained virtually unchanged since 1944 when double indemnity was filmed. Double indemnity continues to play out, crosscutting between macmurray and the original femme fatale, barbara stanwyck as phyllis dietrichson.
Even though walter dismisses phyllis attempt to purchase life. Fred macmurray, cast against type, gives a perfect performance as the insurance salesman who turns into a scheming killer. Walter neff fred macmurray works for pacific all risk insurance co. He may have been one of those guys who simply would not take his wedding ring off for any reason. Fred macmurray full list of movies and tv shows in theaters, in production and upcoming films. From the first moments of double indemnity, you know this story isnt going to end well. Dietrichsons daughter, lola jean heather, insurance investigator.
Double indemnity, american film noir, released in 1944, that was considered the quintessential movie of its genre. Robinson, porter hall the movie has a runtime of about 1 hr. In this classic film noir, insurance salesman walter neff fred macmurray gets roped into a murderous scheme when he falls for the sensual phyllis dietrichson barbara stanwyck, who is intent on killing her husband tom powers and living off the fraudulent accidental death claim. An insurance representative lets himself be talked into a murderinsurance fraud scheme that arouses an insurance. Robinson, introduced here grilling inept fraud artist gorlopis fortunio bonanova, still early in billy wilders double. The lasalle being the car used for the murder and the one shown above. Double indemnity is 75, but anklets and film noir are. Double indemnity new classic bluray disc billy wilder. Robinson, porter hall the movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 46 min, and received a score of 95 out. In body heat it is clear that they engage in all kinds of sex. An insurance representative lets himself be talked into a murderinsurance fraud scheme that arouses an insurance investigators suspicions. Given that fred macmurray built a successful film career as the quintessential nice guy, its rather ironic that some of his strongest and bestremembered performances cast him against type. While remaining known as a fixture of light comedies and.
Double indemnity quotes, movie quotes movie quotes. Billy wilder pulls this film together with an awesome cast, perfect lighting and an amusing script. Fred macmurray plays the hapless insurance salesman in the classic noir double indemnity, which turns 75 this month and helped launch a fraternity of films about wounded men in fedoras falling. She is watching double indemnity, and we see her watching the movie in her reflection off the glass tv screen. It followed the timehonoured noir plotline of a man undone by an evil woman. If you look at any lists of best film noirs you are likely to find that many people place double indemnity 1944 at the top. This and other perks can be found on our patreon page. Double indemnity begins with a car speeding on a dark, rainy night.
In this double story, the woman and man tempt one another. In the first scene in which walter first kisses phyllis, we see a wedding ring on walters hand. Fred macmurray into murdering her husband to collect his accident policy. Fred macmurray plays walter neff, an unsuspecting insurance salesman. Fred macmurray 19081991 was a popular movie star during hollywoods golden age. Fred macmurray list of movies and tv shows tv guide. A calculating wife encourages her wealthy husband to sign a double indemnity policy proposed by smitten insurance agent walter neff. As the wouldbe lovers plot the unsuspecting husbands murder, they are pursued by a suspicious claims manager edward g. In double indemnity there is one scene where phyllis goes to neffs. Insurance man neff fred macmurray, narrating as he appears to be dying, continues his flashback, addressing his boss and confessor keyes edward g. And like body heat, double indemnity is based on the premise that a femme fatale gets some ignoramus so hot and horny that he is willing to commit murder for her.
Double indemnity 1944 movie cilp my little man tells me. As the wouldbe lovers plot the unsuspecting husbands murder, they are pursued by a suspicious claims manager edward. Barbara stanwyck and fred macmurray star in this gripping film noir from academy awardwinning director billy wilder. The academy film archive houses the fred macmurrayjune haver collection. 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 woman is barbara stanwycks beautifully rotten phyllis dietrichson, the best example of a femme fatale thats ever hit the screen. Cosidered one of the bestliked classic films of all time, double indemnity focus on an insurance representative lets himself be talked into a murder, insurance fraud scheme that arouses an insurance investigators suspicions. An insurance representative lets himself be talked by a seductive housewife into a murderinsurance fraud scheme that arouses the suspicion of an insurance investigator. Apr 20, 2011 fred macmurray 19081991 was a popular movie star during hollywoods golden age. For most of his career, macmurray played likeable characters in comedies, musicals, and dramas.
Double indemnity 1944 stream and watch online moviefone. He started as a singer and slowly turned to acting. Fred macmurray plays the hapless insurance salesman in the classic noir double indemnity, which turns 75 this month and helped launch a. Dietrichson unknowingly sign a double indemnity policy prior to the murder. Frederick martin macmurray was born in kankakee, illinois, to maleta martin and frederick macmurray. Fred macmurray had been married to lillian lamont since 1936, and would remain with her until she passed away, nine years and two children after the films release. Released april 24th, 1944, double indemnity stars fred macmurray, barbara stanwyck, edward g. Double indemnity 1944 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. Double indemnity 1944 billy wilder cast and crew allmovie. Cain novel by wilder and raymond chandler, double indemnity represents the highwater mark of 1940s film noir urban crime dramas in which a.
He was so popular, that in 1943, macmurray was the highest paid movie star in the world. Double indemnity is 75, but anklets and film noir are forever. Fred macmurray, who tended to play amiable chumps, was here recast as a devious murderer. A calculating wife stanwyck encourages her wealthy husband to sign a double indemnity policy proposed by smitten insurance agent walter neff macmurray. Double indemnity has one of the most familiar noir themes. During the confrontation between fred macmurray and barbara stanwyck at her house near the end of the movie, the poignant strains of tangerine, a song written in 1941, could be heard through an open window. True, his earliest work is mostly dismissed as pedestrian, but no other actor working in the 1940s and 50s was able to score so supremely whenever cast against type. In this classic film noir, insurance salesman walter neff fred macmurray gets roped into a murderous scheme when he falls for the sensual phyllis dietrichson barbara stanwyck, who is intent on killing her husband tom powers and living. Barbara stanwyck and fred macmurray in double indemnity. Billy wilders classic is dark, steamy and thrilling from beginning to end. Neff fred macmurray and mrs dietrichson barbara stanwyck devise a plot to murder mr dietrichson tom powers and pocket the life accident insurance money using a double indemnity claim, ie, the type of accident will pay out double as it is so unlikely.
Barbara stanwyck and fred macmurray in double indemnity 1944 double indemnity fred macmurray. Directed by billy wilder and adapted from a james m. Double indemnity ranks with the classics of mainstream hollywood. He is best known for playing walter neff in the 1944 film double indemnity. Macmurray was nominated for a golden globe award for best actor motion picture musical or comedy for the absentminded professor 1961. Movie veterans stanwyck, macmurray, and robinson give some of their best. Watch double indemnity online stream full movie directv. Never has a line better summed up its genre than fred macmurray s classic film noir confession in double indemnity. Fred macmurray, who tended to play amiable chumps, was here recast as a devious murderer though still a bit of a chump. Although perhaps best remembered as the insufferable allamerican dad on the longrunning tv show my three sons and in several highly popular disney movies from 1959.
Analysis of the film double indemnity 2728 words bartleby. In the early 1970s paramount had plans to remake double indemnity with robert redford in the fred macmurray role. Fred macmurray was likely the most underrated actor of his generation. Fred macmurray and barbara stanwyck star in the gripping film noir classic, double indemnity, directed by academy award winner billy wilder. Double indemnity 1944, billy wilder by andrew wickliffe on feb 16, 2018 from the stop button.