Double indemnity, american film noir, released in 1944, that was considered the quintessential movie of its genre. Theres a clause in every accident policy, a little something called double indemnity. Schickel explains the wilder films significant place in cinematic history, as model of a new cinematic form film noir, as it came to be called and signalling the emergence of billy wilder as a director. 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.
Quick and accurate citation program save time when referencing. Still, as far as the book goes, hes a relatively minot character. There is no doubt in double indemnity, that phyllis dietrichson, the dissatisfied wife of a wealthy older man is being sexually objectified both by the imagery of the film and by her position in relation to the other characters. 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. Double indemnity filmcinema studies bibliographies. The maltese falcon by dashiell hammett, paperback barnes. 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. Hammett left school at the age of fourteen and held several kinds of jobs thereaftermessenger boy, newsboy, clerk, operator, and stevedore, finally becoming an operative for pinkertons detective agency. Double indemnity is a 1934 detective novella by james m cain. Cains hardboiled novel into this wildly thrilling story of insurance man walter neff fred macmurray, who schemes the perfect murder with the beautiful dame phyllis dietrichson barbara stanwyck. Robinson, and in 1973, a tv film directed by by jack smight and starring richard crenna and samantha eggar. Cain puts his foot on the gas right out of the hole and never lets up. Mar 24, 2005 buy double indemnity read a great movie by james m.
This bibliography was generated on cite this for me on tuesday, march 24, 2015. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Double indemnity director billy wilder sunset boulevard and writer raymond chandler the big sleep adapted james m. Double indemnity july 5, 2004 edition open library. Its in black and white, it has fast badinage, its very witty, a story from the classic age. These are the sources and citations used to research double indemnity. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. Berman 14655 book with two or three authors reference list. 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. Nirdlingers inconvenient husband has to be eliminated so that his wife. The film was developed at a time when film noir movies were gaining immense popularity, making it one of the best film noir to date. Cain novel by wilder and raymond chandler, double indemnity represents the highwater mark of 1940s film noir urban crime dramas in which a. Cain, virtuoso of the roman noir, gives us a tautly narrated and excruciatingly suspenseful story in double indemnity, an xray view of guilt, of duplicity, and of the kind of obsessive, loveless love that devastates everything it touches. An analysis of billy wilders double indemnity inquiries.
Still, he is savvy enough to get through the door and get the prospect talking, except that when he makes a call to a certain mr. Double indemnity quotes 43 total quotes barton keyes multiple characters phyllis dietrichson walter neff. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The best of film noir sizzles with crackling, sardonic dialogue, veiled lust, terrific blackandwhite photography, and overtones of impending doom. This includes murder by a person other than, and not in collusion with, the beneficiary of the insurance policy, and most accidental deaths. Walter huff was an insurance salesman with an unfailing instinct for clients who might be in trouble, and his instinct led. Cain, july 5, 2004, bbc audiobooks edition, unknown binding. Double indemnity has all the hallmarks of film noir its a moody, pessimistic crime story with strong overtones of spiritual bankruptcy and moral cynicism. My introduction is below, and available in mp3 format here.
It was strange reading this book as it times it seemed like i was watching an old black and white movie. The novel later served as the basis for the film of the same name in 1944, adapted for the screen by the novelist raymond chandler and directed by. Walter huff was an insurance salesman with an unfailing instinct for clients who might be in trouble, and his instinct led him to phyllis nirdlinger. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. They had that look in them they had before my mother died. Direct quotes included in your essay inside quotation marks should cite the p. Directed by billy wilder and adapted from a james m. Narrative sources for your essay vertigo analysis narrative elements of the term film noir was first used by nino frank to describe four crime films the maltese falcon 1941, murder my sweet 1944, double indemnity 1944, and laura 1944 that shared a common iconography, visual style, narrative strategy, subject matter and. Cain for iphone, ipad txt format version, file with page numbers double indemnity by james m. Double indemnity ebook epub electronic book double indemnity by james m. She is a beautiful and alluring woman, barely older than lola, her husbands daughter from a previous marriage. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of double indemnity by director billy wilder. Cain kindle edition with audio multimedia cd video hardcover new or used, cheap audiobook pric theres also other available format to download. 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.
Richard schickels book is an introduction to billy wilders classic 1944 film, based on james cains novella, double indemnity. Double indemnity, james mallahan cain double indemnity is a 1943 crime novel, written by american journalistturnednovelist james m. Jazz on the screen is a reference work of filmographic information and does not point to digitized versions of the items described. Walter huff is an insurance coverage investigator like some other till the day he meets the gorgeous and harmful phyllis nirdlinger and falls beneath her spell. Two of cains other novels, mildred pierce 1941 and double indemnity 1943, were also made into film noir classics. Before showing the film, i spoke for a few minutes about the movie.
Double indemnity is the dazzling, quintessential film noir whose enormous popular success and seven oscar nominations catapulted billy wilder some like it hot, sunset boulevard, the apartment into the very top tier of hollywoods writerdirectors. Double indemnity essays are academic essays for citation. The film was adapted by director billy wilder and writer raymond chandler from the 1935 novella by james. Barton keyes is the dogged, determined investigator for general fidelity of california who puts it all together in double indemnity, james m. Film analysis of double indemnity film studies essay.
Double indemnity is a clause or provision in a life insurance or accident policy whereby the company agrees to pay the stated multiple i. 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. It followed the timehonoured noir plotline of a man undone by an evil woman. Tautly narrated and excruciatingly suspenseful, double indemnity gives us an xray view of guilt, of duplicity, and of the kind of obsessive, loveless love that devastates everything it touches. The function of the male gaze in vertigo and double. On every level writing, direction, acting double indemnity 1944 is a triumph and stands as one of the greatest achievements in billy wilders career. Double indemnity was a boxoffice sensation, critical hit that was nominated for seven oscars, and solidified wilder as one of the most creative and daring voices in cinema. Very similar to his the postman always rings twice, cains double indemnity is dialoguedriven and a combination of existential dread. The result is a compulsively readable book, which at 115 pages took me only three or four hours to read. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of double indemnity by james m. In a city where insurance salesmen are close to the bottom of the social pecking order, walter huff rates as average. First published in 1936, this novel reaffirmed james m. 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. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search.
Cains 1943 novella of the same name, which originally appeared as an eightpart serial in liberty magazine, beginning in february 1936. Double indemnity 1935 is one of the classic, toughtalking murder stories of the late 1930s. If not include the url and the phrase retrieved from. The insurance companies put it in as a sort of comeon for the customers. A scheming wife lures an insurance investigator into helping murder her husband and then declare it an accident. Film analysis of double indemnity from the moment they met, it was murder. It is quite short especially if you ignore the padding in the foreword which serves no real purpose. Discuss 2 reasons why do you think the writer used this as the title for this film. Cain 18921977, double indemnity is based upon a true story about a weakwilled insurance agent, walter huff, who falls for sultry blond, phyllis nirdlinger. Double indemnity, published in 1934, is cains second novel and is set in the young, booming city of hollywood. Double indemnity is defined as the provision for payment of double the face amount of an insurance policy under certain conditions. Double indemnity is the basic story of an evil lady motivated by greed who corrupts a weak man motivated by lust. Double indemnity filmcinema studies bibliographies cite. Cain novel by director wilder and novelist raymond chandler, it tells the story of an insurance salesman, played by fred macmurray, who is lured into a murderfor.
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. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. Double indemnity author crossword clue answer crossword. The novel later served as the basis for the film of the same name in 1944, adapted for the.
The best of film noir sizzles with crackling, sardonic dialogue, veiled lust, terrific blackandwhite photography, and overtones of. Edition notes radio collection the physical object format unknown binding id numbers open library ol10636617m isbn 10 0563494298 isbn 9780563494294 not in library. I vaguely recall watching the movie of the same name. Double indemnity is a 1943 crime novel, written by american journalistturnednovelist james m.
Double indemnity is a 1944 american film noir directed by billy wilder, cowritten by wilder and raymond chandler, and produced by buddy desylva and joseph sistrom. Cain was awarded the grand master award by the mystery writers of america. Cain novel by wilder and raymond chandler, double indemnity represents the highwater mark of 1940s film noir urban crime dramas in which a greedy, weak man is seduced and trapped by a cold, evil woman amidst the dark shadows and expressionist lighting of modern cities. Cains classic 1936 tale of lust and murder and insurance. Apr 05, 2020 film analysis of double indemnity from the moment they met, it was murder. Mla citation style quick guide 7th edition 2 book with one author reference list. Cains 1943 novella of the same name, which originally appeared as an eightpart serial in liberty magazine, beginning in february 1936 the film stars fred macmurray as an insurance salesman.
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