You can even glean this from the fact that its not based on any book or novella. Wilders double indemnity was one of the earlier films noir. Double indemnity, book versus movie adamtroy castro. 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. Double indemnity 1973 a classic movie, played for a sucker. C ameron crowe called double indemnity flawless filmmaking. It was a remake of double indemnity 1944 based on the film rather than the. Double indemnity 1944 is the perfect film noir, filled with deception, crime, forbidden love, and suspense.
In celebration of its greatness, here are 10 facts about how double indemnity got. Lets break down all that insanity 100 essential movies any serious film fan should see by collider staff september 18, 2019. Double indemnity is the seasons nattiest, nastiest, most satisfying melodrama. All that said, its proper film noir, and among the best film noir movies of all time. Woody allen declared it the greatest movie ever made. Film analysis of double indemnity film studies essay. Barbara stanwyck and fred macmurray star in this gripping film noir from academy awardwinning director billy wilder. Double indemnity 1944 is director billy wilders classic film noir masterpiece a cynical, witty, and sleazy thriller about adultery, corruption and murder.
The 5 worst and 5 best american remakes of french comedies by. Watch double indemnity full movie video dailymotion. Kathleen turner body heat 1981 double indemnity remake uk. Double indemnity, book versus movie posted on november 6th, 2016 by adamtroy castro. The film is a masterpiece in the filmographies of wilder and stars barbara. 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. Robinson, tom powers, porter hall, jean heather, byron barr, fortunio bonanova. He was known as a comedic writer but he wanted to do more. These instances of double indemnity s repute and standing in film history help make clear why critics such as leitch openly match up body heat to wilders version, but do not take heed to double indemnity had previously been more honestly remade as a lesserknown movie. Double indemnity is a 1973 american made for television crime film directed by jack smight and starring richard crenna, lee j.
The photography by john seitz helped develop the noir style of sharpedged shadows and shots, strange angles and lonely edward hopper settings. Cains novel penned by billy wilder and raymond chandler double indemnity continues to set the standard for the best in hollywood film. The following is my contribution to the they remade what blogathon, being hosted oct. If you like double indemnity you are looking for serious, realistic and suspenseful movies about with investigation, murder, killer, insurance fraud, crimes, love triangle and crime themes of crime, drama and romance genre shot in usa. What marks double indemnity out from other great film noirs is that sense, among all the crazy, twisted, duplicitous shenanigans, of real, human heartbreak. Wilder recycles many of the techniques used in double indemnity, like the high contrast lighting and murky interiors, stylistically juxtaposing the glamor and grit of hollywood. Its as if someone decided to remake double indemnity and cross it with a raisin in the sun.
New waves 2006 docu shadows of suspense is a longform 38 minutes study of the movie from all angles. 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. Muller also states that noir is hollywoods only organic artistic movement, making indemnity a movie that is a symbol of a watershed era in american film. The urgentlytold, highlystylized story was wilders third film after the major and the minor 1942 and five graves to cairo 1943. Cain novel by wilder and raymond chandler, double indemnity represents the highwater mark of 1940s film noir urban crime dramas in which a. The new package includes a good behindthescenes documentary shadows of suspense and the 1973 tv remake of double indemnity starstar, directed by jack smight, with richard crenna. Double indemnity 1944 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. Double indemnity legal definition of double indemnity. 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. Taking a necessary break from watching a movie i know practically by heart, billy wilders double indemnity.
Amazingly enough, as you can see above, the house has remained virtually unchanged since 1944 when double indemnity was filmed. Double indemnity 70th anniversary limited edition blu. The classic film gets a modern treatment in this stunning update. Double indemnity 1944 is director billy wilders classic film noir masterpiece a. 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 stalks. The top 100 essential movies any serious film fan should. Double indemnity tv movie 1973 double indemnity tv. This remake of the 1946 movie of the same name accounts an affair. Movies dont get much better than double indemnity 1944. Billy wilder the cowriter and director of the original version, double indemnity 1944 and barbara stanwyck who played phyllis in the original version both saw the film in their respective homes when it broadcast. When it was over, wilder immediately phoned stanwyck, said, missy, they just didnt get it right, and hung up. It isnt in the violent showdown that concludes the neffphyllis passion play. In the early 1970s, paramount had plans to remake double indemnity 1944 with robert redford in the fred macmurray role. A remake of white christmas with donald oconnor as phil davis instead of danny kaye, as the director intended.
Double indemnity as a television movie in 1973 starring richard crenna who also starred in body heat, lee j. 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. 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 1944 in this classic film noir, fred macmurray plays a bachelor insurance salesman who falls for a seductive housewife barbara stanwyck and joins her in a plot to kill her.
The double indemnity knockoff faceoff double indemnity 1944 is perhaps the bestknown and most loved picture in the classic hollywood a film noir cycle. Dietrichson becomes increasingly accident prone after his icily calculating wife encourages him to sign a double indemnity policy proposed by a smoothtalking insurance agent. Double indemnity was directed by billy wilder who used his movie making instincts to create a classic film noir all others would be measured by. And in the choice of shot, lost all of phyllis mystique. Its the right fit for the hard urban atmosphere and dialogue created by cain, chandler. A woman seduces an insurance man to help her murder her husband and. 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. 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 remake original clip by david roberts. In the classic black and white aesthetic, it goes further and turns up the darkness. Directed by billy wilder and adapted from a james m. The filmmakers of the remake gave her a towel because thats what wilder did. Like caligari, double indemnity utilizes a flashback structure. The film is about a woman wrongfully imprisoned for murder who, while eluding her parole officer, tracks down her husband who had framed her. The same year we got a remake of postman, we also got this directorial debut from lawrence kasdan that is heavily inspired by cains double indemnity. This gradeb tv fodder also illustrates the folly of remakes in general. Wilders first few films as a director in hollywood showed no signs of the shadowy world of film noir he would help create. Even if you cant go along with that, there can be no disputing that it is. As a bonus item we get an entire 1973 tv movie remake of double indemnity starring richard crenna, lee j. Double indemnity trailer directed by billy wilder and starring fred macmurray, edward g. The manicured lawns and donna reed coffee klatches are all too familiar.
Disc 2 contains the 1973 tv movie remake of double indemnity di2, which is worth watching at least once, if only to appreciate how much better the original is. Its loaded with spoilers, so dont watch it before the feature. 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 treatment. Those dirty double crossers are stealing our schtick. Movie remakes that improve upon the original classics. The two commentary tracks the first by film historian. A calculating wife encourages her wealthy husband to sign a double indemnity policy proposed by smitten insurance agent walter neff. It was remade in 1981 with jack nicholson and jessica lange, from a script by. The perfect material for wilder to remake himself as hollywoods dark jester for decades. Double indemnity clauses are found most often in life insurance policies. 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. If i had one movie to explain to people what noir is, its double indemnity states author eddie muller at the start of shadows. Danny kaye, one gets the distinct impression, would have faked his own death before.
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