Double indemnity is the second book i read of james m. Billy wilders double indemnity 1944 and the phenomenon of. Double indemnity, american film noir, released in 1944, that was considered the quintessential movie of its genre. This includes murder by a person other than, and not in collusion with, the beneficiary of the insurance policy, and most accidental deaths. Billy wilders double indemnity one of my alltime favorite films. Dietrichson just unwitting signed carries a double indemnity clause which pays off double the face value in the event of death from a rare accident such as falling off a train. Insurance salesman walter huff is the narrator of double indemnity. Double indemnity is a 1944 american film noir directed by billy wilder, cowritten by wilder and. 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 insurance companies put it in as a sort of comeon for the customers. Walter huff was an insurance salesman with an unfailing instinct for clients who might be in. The novel begins with first person narrator walter huff reflecting back on the sequence of events that started when he remembered a. According to imdb, cain liked the plot solutions that billy wilder and raymond chandler came up with for the movie and would have used them in the book if he had thought of them himself.
These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of double indemnity by director billy wilder. From its opening sequence, the film identifies with the selfdestructive. Phyllis proposes to kill her husband to receive the proceeds of an accident insurance policy and walter devises a scheme to receive twice the amount based on a double indemnity clause. Double indemnity is a 1943 crime novel, written by american journalistturnednovelist james m. It was strange reading this book as it times it seemed like i was watching an old black and white movie.
But all of a sudden, she looked at me, and i felt a chill creep straight up my back and into the roots of my. Double indemnity 1944 frequently asked questions imdb. Double indemnity the movie and the book by red chair. Double indemnity 1944 is director billy wilders classic film noir masterpiece a. Double indemnity screenplay by billy wilder and raymond chandler based on the novel double indemnity in three of a kind by james m. The product of a creative holy trinitynovelist james m. Double indemnity the aftermath sequence summary and. A dark, seductive tale of lust and murder in double indemnity. Buy double indemnity read a great movie by james m.
The stanwyck characters counterpart in the novel, phyllis nirdlinger. More than 50 years after its release, the classic double indemnity is one of the best films of all time. Double indemnity, james mallahan cain double indemnity is a 1943 crime novel, written by american journalistturnednovelist james m. Theres a clause in every accident policy, a little something called double indemnity. However, i shall throughout this paper employ the generally accepted name. Double indemnity 1944 107 min crime drama filmnoir 24 april 1944 usa 8. This study guide consists of approximately 51 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of double indemnity. Double indemnity 1944 opening title sequence youtube. Double indemnity is een amerikaanse film noir uit 1944 onder regie van billy wilder. Eddie mullers intro to double indemnity 1944 on tcm noir alley. Richard schickels book is an introduction to billy wilders classic 1944 film, based on james cains novella, double indemnity. 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, published in 1934, is cains second novel and is set in the young, booming city of hollywood. Feb 19, 2012 opening sequence analysis double indemnity 1 1. I was initially worried going into double indemnity as found a few scenarios sounded almost identical to what i read the postman always rings twice where the wife of a rich business man teams up with her lover to plot her husbands murder. She is a beautiful and alluring woman, barely older than lola, her husbands daughter from a previous marriage. Cain was very pleased with the way his book turned out on the screen.
Universals doubledisc special edition of double indemnity explains why the popular film hasnt been included on earlier noir release lists the studio was saving it for the fancypackage treatment reserved for its top titles, like to kill a mockingbird and deer hunter. Ik wou dat ik ze zelf al had bedacht toen ik mijn boek schreef, zei hij. These relationships also have power dynamics that emphasize and help push the story forward. Dietrichson is found dead on a train track, the police accept the determination of accidental death. Cains first infamous novel was a 1934 bestseller that was also staged in 1936 and. Released as apology for murder, paramount was not fooled by the title. Apr 27, 2019 the movie title stills collection is the largest online archive dedicated to title sequence design and typography on the silver screen, with title sequences from over 5,000 movies, from 1902 to 2019. I vaguely recall watching the movie of the same name. Jeffrey meyerss introduction provides hilarious anecdotes about the turbulent collaboration as well as background. The novel later served as the basis for the film of the same name in 1944, adapted for the screen by the novelist raymond chandler and directed by billy wilder. Double indemnity clauses are found most often in life insurance policies.
The film was adapted by director billy wilder and writer raymond chandler from the 1935 novella by james. Double indemnity script at the internet movie script database. Barton keyes is the dogged, determined investigator for general fidelity of california who puts it all together in double indemnity, james m. Cains 1943 novella of the same name, which originally appeared as an eightpart serial in liberty magazine, beginning in february 1936. Some of the changes made to the double indemnity screenplay were definite improvements on the book, probably due to the fact that raymond chandler was a cowriter on the movie. This facsimile edition contains wilder and chandlers originaland quite differentending, published here for the first time. There is no doubt in double indemnity, that phyllis dietrichson, the dissatisfied wife of a wealthy older man is being sexually objectified both by the imagery of the film and by her position in relation to the other characters. Double indemnity study guide contains a biography of director billy wilder, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.
An indepth look at a film noir classic barbara stanwyck and fred macmurray in double indemnity, billy wilder 1944 it has all the characteristics of the classic forties film as i respond to it. Cain s 1943 novella of the same name, which originally appeared as an eightpart serial in liberty magazine, beginning in february 1936. Apr 11, 2015 animation initially produced in adobe after effects and then rendered and edited with audio on adobe premiere pro. The internet movie script database imsdb the webs largest. Double indemnity 1944 opening title sequence by movietitlescreens. The book double indemnity is a fast, slick morality piece wherein an amoral hero walter huff callously disregard notions of good and evil, only to find that evil does exist the things he discovers about phyllis dietrichsons past carry quite a shock and. Double indemnity the opening sequence summary and analysis. Double indemnity essays are academic essays for citation. Mar 24, 2005 buy double indemnity read a great movie by james m. Cain, screenwriter raymond chandler, and director billy wilderthis 1944 film noir works as a quintessential california narrative at the same time it creates a universe all its own. Double indemnity 99 movie clip i love you too 1944 hd. The film double indemnity directed by billy wilder is a wonderful work that focuses heavily on relationships between characters. It followed the timehonoured noir plotline of a man undone by an evil woman. Double indemnity 69 movie clip murders never perfect 1944.
Schickel confers wilder with apparent infallibility, excepting one moment where he oddly dismisses wilders. Double indemnity proceeds with great intensity from the opening credits. Cain, virtuoso of the roman noir, gives us a tautly narrated and excruciatingly suspenseful story in double indemnity, an xray view of guilt, of duplicity, and of the kind of obsessive, loveless love that devastates everything it touches. It was first published in serial form in liberty magazine in 1936 and then was one of three long short tales in the collection three of a kind. Double indemnity stars fred macmurray as an insurance salesman photo. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Animation initially produced in adobe after effects and then rendered and edited with audio on adobe premiere pro. Cains classic 1936 tale of lust and murder and insurance. The movie title stills collection is the largest online archive dedicated to title sequence design and typography on the silver screen, with title sequences from over 5,000 movies, from 1902 to 2019. It is quite short especially if you ignore the padding in the foreword which serves no real purpose. Links go to the internet movie database laserdisc database buy posters from buy posters from moviegoods buy this soundtrack from. Opening sequence analysis double indemnitymise en scene lighting is low key, in black and white,focus on certain key things such as characters throughuse of lighting. Schickel explains the wilder films significant place in cinematic history, as model of a new cinematic form film noir, as it came to be called and signalling the emergence of billy wilder as a director.
Generally the protagonist is either forced into crime, or in turn the victim of a corrupt legal system as well. A new kind of film emerged from hollywood in the early 1940s, thrillers which derived their plots from the hardboiled school of crime fiction. At the left and in the immediate foreground a semaphore traffic signal stands at go. 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. Still, as far as the book goes, hes a relatively minot character. Barbara stanwyck and fred macmurray in double indemnity 1944 double. According to imdb, cain liked the plot solutions that billy wilder and raymond chandler came up with for the movie and would have used them in the book if he had thought.
Analysing an opening sequence double indemnity analysing an opening sequence double indemnity wilder, 1944 double indemnity is most certainly a film noir thriller a perfect example of the genre, in fact. Oct 06, 2008 analysing an opening sequence double indemnity wilder, 1944 double indemnity is most certainly a film noir thriller a perfect example of the genre, in fact. I want to have a my title sequence in black in white to give it an old fashioned feel. Double indemnity 1944 directed by billy wilder starring. Cinematography in double indemnity media design and. Richard schickel a new kind of film emerged from hollywood in the early 1940s, thrillers which derived their plots from the hardboiled school of crime fiction. Phyllis and walter make arrangements for it to appear as if mr. The question and answer section for double indemnity is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. The book double indemnity is a fast, slick morality piece wherein an amoral hero walter huff callously disregard notions of good and evil, only to find that evil does exist the things he discovers about phyllis dietrichsons past carry quite a shock and were omitted from the film. Double indemnity by billy wilder, raymond chandler. Double indemnity is a clause or provision in a life insurance or accident policy whereby the company agrees to pay the stated multiple i. First published in book form in the volume three of a kind 1943 double indemnity has been filmed at least twice. Title sequence from double indemnity directed by billy wilder, starring fred macmurray, barbara stanwyck, edward g. Double indemnity finally made it to the screen in 1944, and the postman always rings twice followed with its own wellreceived film version in 1946.
Carol burnett parodied the film as double calamity on her tv show. Double indemnity book hennepin county library bibliocommons. Double indemnity 19 movie clip i killed him 1944 hd youtube. In the film characters get caught up in relationships that they have to keep hidden. Opening credits are shown over a silhouette of a man on crutches, walking. Appearing in 1944, double indemnity was a key film in. Double indemnity the aftermath sequence summary and analysis. Cain characters walter neff phyllis dietrichson barton keyes lola dietrichson mr.
Wilder presents phyllis dietrichson as a materialistic housewife, whose trinkets such as her anklet and lipstick signal both indulgent affluence and excessive eroticism. Double indemnity is one of the films parodied in the 1993 film fatal instinct. Title sequence from double indemnity 1944 double indemnity 1944 directed by billy wilder starring. Double indemnity is often identified as being among the first true films noirs the name given by french critics to a particular kind of american crime drama of this period which has by now lost approximately as much of its meaning as criminality itself has. Schickels approach here is largely to address double indemnity as the adaptation of a novel, and to compare and contrast film and book, which is an ok if not very original perspective to adopt, but loses any potential interest when the two works are not granted an evenhanded approach. Walter huff was an insurance salesman with an unfailing instinct for clients who might be in trouble. Robinson, and in 1973, a tv film directed by by jack smight and starring richard crenna and samantha eggar return to top of the page. Home study guides double indemnity the aftermath sequence summary and analysis double indemnity. Jul 28, 2015 billy wilders double indemnity 1944 and the phenomenon of american film noir by david walsh and joanne laurier 28 july 2015 as part of an eightfilm series, turner classic movies, the us. Its in black and white, it has fast badinage, its very witty, a story from the classic age. An analysis of billy wilders double indemnity inquiries. Double indemnity in life insurance policies 9 quite as reasonable and is economically decidedly more defen sible than one for death which resulted from bodily injury effected solely by violent, external and accidental means. Jul 14, 2015 some of the changes made to the double indemnity screenplay were definite improvements on the book, probably due to the fact that raymond chandler was a cowriter on the movie. Double indemnity is a story that revolves around a womans attempts not only to have her oil baron husband murdered, but to profit immensely from it.
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