The double indemnity novel community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list. Cinema scholars often refer to barbara stanwycks character of phyllis dietrichson in double indemnity 1944 as one of the top examples of the femme fatale, as her conniving spirit and good looks worked all the men in her story to her whims. All of that changes when he meets phyllis dietrichson, the callous wife of a man whom she plans to murder and cash out on his accidental death claim double indemnity. Double indemnity legal definition of double indemnity. I vaguely recall watching the movie of the same name. Walter neff is an insurance salesman whose life is largely devoid of any excitement and thrill. Double indemnity in the film noir movie 961 words bartleby. The book begins with him on a ship, also suffering from a gunshot wound, shortly before his suicide pact with phyllis. Double indemnity essays are academic essays for citation. Double indemnity, american film noir, released in 1944, that was considered the quintessential movie of its genre. Double indemnity is a film noir directed by billy wilder in 1944, and it was based on the novel of the same name double indemnity which was published in 1943. Double indemnity 1994 summary of the plot double indemnity is a film that narrates an exciting tale of seduction, greed, murder, and betrayal. Cains novel by raymond chandler and directed by billy wilder, double indemnity is a film noir representing one of the highest levels of urban crime dramas.
This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of double indemnity by james m. Double indemnity bfi film classics richard schickel on. The film was adapted by director billy wilder and writer raymond chandler from the 1935 novella by james. 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. First published in book form in the volume three of a kind 1943 double indemnity has been filmed at least twice. Double indemnity 1944 summary, analysis jotted lines. Scene analysis on double indemnity 1944 goodbye baby. It is quite short especially if you ignore the padding in the foreword which serves no real purpose. 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. It is indeed true that double indemnity represents one of the best examples of a film noir and has also been viewed to set some standards for the upcoming movies. Double indemnity clauses are found most often in life insurance policies. 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. Double indemnity is a 1943 crime novel, written by american journalistturnednovelist james m. This flimsiness comes thanks to two powerful women in the novel.
It is hardly surprising that double indemnity is filled with some of the best examples of hardboiled language as two legends of hardboiled fiction contributed to the script. 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. Characteristics of double indemnity 1035 words bartleby. 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. Cain 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. Prelude narration the meeting the lovers the murder finale. This is the legendary tag line for billy wilders most incisive film noir, double indemnity, even though in 1944, when it was first released in new york on september 11, critics called it a melodrama, a elongated dose of premeditated suspense, with a pragmatism evocative of earlier period french films poetic realism of the 1930s, with characters as. These characteristics of his can be seen in his corporal movements and the lack of control he has over them. Cain is accredited as the original novel and raymond.
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. This is the legendary tag line for billy wilders most incisive film noir, double indemnity, even though in 1944, when it was first released in new york on september 11, critics called it a melodrama, an elongated dose of premeditated suspense, with a pragmatism evocative of earlier period french films poetic. The film double indemnity directed by billy wilder is a wonderful work that focuses heavily on relationships between characters. Film analysis of double indemnity film studies essay. The two films i analyzed are double indemnity wilder, 1944 and reservoir dogs tarantino, 1992 they follow the film noir tradition, which, according to blaser 2008 is a style more directors moved to employing after the world war. Double indemnity is a 1934 detective novella by james m cain.
Why is phyllis in double indemnity hailed as one of. But despite objections and impositions from the production code administration, through compromise and strategy, billy wilder managed to create and release the film in 1944. First published in book form in the volume three of a kind 1943. In film noir, elements like violence, sexual harassments, adultery, crime and greed are representatives of similar evil types in the society with a moral conflict emerging at. Double indemnity and the politics of gender curnblog. 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. What marks double indemnity out from other great film noirs is that sense, among all the crazy, twisted, duplicitous shenanigans, of real, human heartbreak. Walter comes to the nirdlinger house and wraps up the paperwork with mr. It followed the timehonoured noir plotline of a man undone by an evil woman. Compare, for example, the very different endings, and let me know what. Double indemnity the finale summary and analysis gradesaver. When he is seduced by dietrichson into murdering her husband, the two plot a.
The function of the male gaze in vertigo and double. Film analysis of double indemnity film studies essay uk essays. An analysis of billy wilders double indemnity analysis. The point being that walter and phyllisdespite the obvious mental problems facing phyllisare. Scene analysis of the scene goodbye, baby the scene that will be analysed in double indemnity was directed by billy wilder. Watch walter and phyllis as they get together in a luminous white southern california superstore, sporting dark glasses, not shopping or still watching each other while plotting up plans for a homicide. In 1943, the story of double indemnity had earned the label of unfilmmable in hollywood due to its controversial and immoral subject matter biltereyst 148. Double indemnity first meeting between protagonist and femme fatale.
This is not an example of the work written by professional essay writers. Double indemnity definition and meaning collins english. Cain wrote the original novel, from which the film was adapted, and raymond chandler did the coadaptation. 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.
Double indemnity is the second book i read of james m. Double indemnity is the most excellent example of a noir film to date. Double indemnity and reservoir dog analysis 971 words 4 pages. 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.
Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. The plot of the film revolves around phyllis attempt to arrange her husbands murder and collect his insurance money, which pays double in the event of accidental death i. Double indemnity essaysdouble indemnity is a classic example of the film noir style and also set some standards for movies to come. Her looks, hair, clothing, jewelry air of innocence sexual attraction innuendos protagonists analysis of the meeting the femme fatale embodies the most direct. This film was nominated for seven academy awards, but it did not win any prize. In the film characters get caught up in relationships that they have to keep hidden. The highly freudian approach described by laura mulvey is not necessarily obvious or relevant in every film and genre, but it is very helpful in understanding billy wilders double indemnity, which vividly illustrates some of the points made by both laura mulvey and molly haskell. These relationships also have power dynamics that emphasize and help push the story forward. Double indemnity provides a picture of how the corporate system itself wears down morality and twists men into cynical parodies of the helpful agents that they publicly claim to be. What are the 3 themes of the story double indemnity. This film was directed by billy wilder, produced by buddy desylva and joseph sistrom and cowriten by wilder and raymond chandler.
I am aware of other great examples like rita hayworth in gilda, lana turner in the postman. This bastardization can be seen in how all three of the films major company men, norton, keys, and. Film analysis of double indemnity from the moment they met, it was murder. Its in black and white, it has fast badinage, its very witty, a story from the classic age. Double indemnity symbols, allegory and motifs gradesaver. Walter neff, a top insurance salesman macmurray, falls for the bored, sharptalking wife stanwyck of an oilman and goes in with her on a murder and insurance fraud scheme.
They read this motif as cains adaptation of an insight in h. Double indemnity the movie that i watched this week is a 1944 american film called, double indemnity. Cain s 1943 novella of the same name, which originally appeared as an eightpart serial in liberty magazine, beginning in february 1936. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of double indemnity by director billy wilder. Cain not only shows us walter huffs maliciousness and willingness but also his weaknesses and his. Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples log in dictionary. 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. The genre for this film is crime drama and filmnoir. Cinematography in double indemnity media design and.
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