# Double Indemnity (1944)

### reviewed by
James Sanford

    DOUBLE INDEMNITY (Paramount)
    Directed by Billy Wilder

In the dazzling "Double Indemnity," Fred MacMurray's Walter Neff is the kind of velvet-tongued cynic who used to be described as "hard-boiled": He's a top-flight insurance salesman who makes the mistake of calling on Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwyck), whose ice-colored hair hints at the cold blood in her veins. Pretending to be concerned about her oilman husband (Tom Powers), Phyllis enlists Walter's help in getting an accidental death policy on him, and a few meetings later, Walter is eagerly helping Phyllis come up with an air-tight plan to kill off her spouse and collect on the policy's double indemnity clause, the extra money to be paid if he dies under extraordinary circumstances, such as falling from a moving train.

What Walter doesn't count on is the brilliant mind of boss Barton Keyes (Edward G. Robinson), a claims manager who also happens to have world-class deductive powers. By the time Phyllis confesses to Walter she's "rotten to the heart," he's already in far over his head, both with her and with Phyllis' lovesick stepdaughter Lola (Jean Heather).

For the generation that grew up thinking of MacMurray as the kindly father-figure on "My Three Sons" and Stanwyck as the regal matriarch of "The Big Valley," it's a jolt to see them playing such devious, money-hungry types. But though Stanwyck and MacMurray (try counting how many times he calls Phyllis "babe") both shine under Billy Wilder's crackling direction, "Indemnity" is stolen by the fast-talking Robinson, who turns what could have been a colorless supporting role into a showcase. Though largely dark and foreboding in the classic film-noir style, "Indemnity" does provide a few giggles when seen today -- imagine a time when drive-ins served beer, secretaries didn't mind being called "sweetheart" by their bosses and people were free to smoke while perusing the aisles of the local Piggly Wiggly. James Sanford

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