150 of 1001 Movies: Double Indemnity (1944)

With hits like Ace in the Hole and The Apartment, Billy Wilder definitely has a lot of staple movies early on. I've found each of them memorable so far with characters that it is hard to forget, and The Apartment seems like an early inspiration for Mad Men. I also can see some pretty recognizable characteristics in Double Indemnity from Sunset Boulevard. Double Indemnity though might be my favorite from Wilder so far though. The twists are great, and it seems to really try to explain things in a way that at least are plausible, though I'm sure that is debatable.

Summary: Walter is an insurance guy, but there is one visit he is going to make that is going to change his life.  Phyllis wants her husband gone, but first she wants to make sure she sets herself up good, so who better to consult and pull into the plan than the insurance guy who can help her plan is the insurance guy, who will know all about what will raise red flags, and how to best chart getting money over his death and getting away. Their plan though does catch an investigator's eye though and ends up pulling his friend into it as well.


Acting: The acting is really well done, and honestly more memorable than most 1940's movies I watch. Fred MacMurray has this very deep and memorable accent, and I just like how involved with his character, Walter, he gets. He has these moments where he draws out the frantic state very well. Also, Barbara Stanwyck as Phyllis fits the character very well. She does aim to seduce, and she balances the romances and seductive side of the character very well.

Filming: The filming seems so advance and beautiful for the movie. There are these scenes that capture the dramatic atmosphere, and I think for a time they still used screens for driving in that it was well captured. Also, the night scene with train was creative, and just added a memorable vibe to the movie. The movie is black and white, but the movie does really capture the lighting so well.

Plot: The plot really does draw you in, and it doesn't take long for this movie to do it either. I also think each scene appropriately advances the plot from romance to something a little more suspenseful. The one thing you might not get that would be a little more appreciate is something character development though. The characters aren't very complex. They are good or bad, but have no complexities that make you see both sides of the story.

Double Indemnity is a must watch from the 1940's. It has all the glamour and suspense that just make is an appealing representation of the time. The characters are also fun to follow, but they do have a very one dimensional vibe to them.  They miss that extra aspect that much of the characters would later have in movies like The Apartment.

Rating 8 of 10.