"Double Indemnity" is hand down one of the greatest mysteries ever filmed, and a shining example of film noir. Billy Wilder is simply one of the best directors to ever come out of Hollywood, and definitely proves it with this immortal classic. The man could film anything and make it entertaining, and "Double Indemnity" is pure movie magic.
Fred MacMurray plays Walter Neff, an insurance agent. He meets Phyllis Dietrichson, the murderous femme fatale, deliciously and diabolically played with icy perfection by Barbara Stanwyck. Seems she's a gal who wants to off her husband and seductively pulls Walter into a dangerous web of murder and greed. Rounding out the cast is the always welcome Edward G. Robinson, who plays Neff's friend and co-worker, Keys. Keys investigates insurance claims, and the that's where the brilliance of "Double Indemnity" lies. Keys is an excellent claim investigator, but is Walter smart enough to outwit him? The plot thickens magnificently until the final, mesmerizing climax.
"Double Indemnity" is another perfect, rainy-day kind of movie. It never fails to entertain, no matter how many times you've seen it. This, along with "Mildred Pierce" or "Sunset Boulevard" (another Wilder classic, by the way...) are three of my all-time favorites. It's earned every bit of its reputation as a Hollywood classic, and looks even better than ever today. It's sly, it's cynical, and it's dark. It's everything film noir is supposed to be, and regarded by many as the ultimate of its genre.
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