Rating of
4/4
Double Indemnity review
Daniel Corleone - wrote on 01/15/12
An insurance man Walter Neff utilizes a malicious act which entails a claim under a double indemnity clause with Mrs. Dietrichson’s aid amounting to $50,000. Keyes, a Claims Manager with 26 years insurance experience, and Walter is called by the Pres. Edward Norton Jr. The Pres. feels it was suicide instead of accidental death. Lola, daughter of Dietrichson, approaches Walter and explains about her step mother. One of the best lines: Walter – “The stakes were $50,000 dollars, but they were the life of a man too, a man who'd never done me any dirt except he was married to a woman he didn't care anything about. And I did.” “I killed him for money and for a woman. I didn't get the money and I didn't get the woman. Pretty, isn't it?” Keyes – “Murder is never perfect. It always comes apart sooner or later. When two people are involved, it's usually sooner.”
Edward G. Robinson playing Barton Keyes was sensational. Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck lacked onscreen chemistry which doesn’t affect the picture, but brings the mystery to their characters until the very end. Photography and screenplay were excellent since they were the pioneers of “venetian blind” lighting for film noirs. Pacing of the film was flawless, no wasted frame since each one speaks of the premise and the score pulsating which gives life to the movie. Double Indemnity is an innovative film-noir with an astounding script with themes of treachery, inquisitiveness, love and voracity.
