Double indemnity filmcinema studies bibliographies. Double indemnity is a highly influential 1943 crime novel, written by american journalistturnednovelist james m. Double indemnity and the postman always rings twice. Cain 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.
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. Fred macmurray plays walter neff, an unsuspecting insurance salesman. 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. Its a race against time to get away with the perfect crime in this suspenseful masterpiece that was nominated for seven academy awards, including best picture. And before i get back to it, this observation, complete with spoiler warning for what i hope will be the very few of you who have. Free download or read online double indemnity pdf epub book.
The film was adapted by director billy wilder and writer raymond chandler from the 1935 novella by james. Double indemnity, american film noir, released in 1944, that was considered the quintessential movie of its genre. Cains classic 1936 tale of lust and murder and insurance. 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. 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. Double indemnity bfi film classics richard schickel on. Buy double indemnity read a great movie by james m. 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. 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. Billy wilder pulls this film together with an awesome cast, perfect lighting and an amusing script. 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. Double indemnity essays are academic essays for citation. The movie double indemnity attracts attention of the present day spectators. The question and answer section for double indemnity is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and.
Double indemnity is a 1943 crime novel, written by american journalistturned novelist james. Double indemnitys tale of a femme fatale seducing a man to help her kill her husband, but this time its to inherit the diner that they run together. Double indemnity is the basic story of an evil lady motivated by greed who corrupts a weak man motivated by lust. Double indemnity clauses are found most often in life insurance policies. Taking a necessary break from watching a movie i know practically by heart, billy wilders double indemnity. Following that, double indemnity appeared as a one of three long short tales in the collection three of a kind. It was originally published as part of a set with two other stories, called three of a kind, in liberty magazine. It is quite short especially if you ignore the padding in the foreword which serves no real purpose. A dark, seductive tale of lust and murder in double indemnity. It followed the timehonoured noir plotline of a man undone by an evil woman. Double indemnity begins with a car speeding on a dark, rainy night.
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. 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. First published in 1935, this novel reaffirmed james m. Three of a kind 1943 contained the short novels sinful woman, double indemnity, and the embezzler. Double indemnity definition of double indemnity by. The main characters of this fiction, mystery story are. In a city where insurance salesmen are close to the bottom of the social pecking order, walter huff rates as average. Cain, virtuoso of the roman noir, gives us a tautly narrated and excruciatingly suspenseful story in double indemnity, an xray view. Vertigo 1958 rio bravo 1959 the magnificent seven 1960 west side story 1961 dr strangelove 1964 zulu 1964 the jungle book 1967 cool hand luke 1967 butch cassidy and the sundance. I read the book, double indemnity written by james cain, and was surprised that the films snappy dialog was not in it. Still, as far as the book goes, hes a relatively minot character.
It was strange reading this book as it times it seemed like i. Double indemnity is the second book i read of james m. 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. Double indemnity, james mallahan cain double indemnity is a 1943 crime novel, written by american journalistturnednovelist james m.
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. 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 s 1943 novella of the same name, which originally appeared as an eightpart serial in liberty magazine, beginning in february 1936. On every level writing, direction, acting double indemnity 1944 is a triumph and stands as one of the greatest achievements in billy. Resonant of the footloose jazz age, it made persistent headlines, led to a sensational trial, spawned a 1920s broadway play, and two classic film noirs of the 1940s. Double indemnity by billy wilder, raymond chandler paperback. Double indemnity is a 1943 crime novel, written by american journalistturnednovelist james. Cain, screenwriter raymond chandler, and director billy wilderthis 1944 film noir works as a quintessential california narrative at the same time it creates a universe all its own. Double indemnity filmcinema studies bibliographies in harvard style. First published in book form in the volume three of a kind 1943 double indemnity has been filmed at least twice. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of double indemnity by director billy wilder.
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. Phyllis and walter begin to meet surreptitiously every morning in a local market. The function of the male gaze in vertigo and double. Double indemnity is a 1943 crime novel, written by american journalistturnednovelist james m. Digital rights management drm the publisher has supplied this book in encrypted form, which means that you need to install free software in order to unlock and read it. Also like double indemnity, this novel was adapted into a successful movie, so if you prefer to view rather than read, check out the film starring lana turner.
Barton keyes is the dogged, determined investigator for general fidelity of california who puts it all together in double indemnity, james m. Double indemnity is a 1934 detective novella by james m cain. The first edition of the novel was published in 1936, and was written by james m. It was strange reading this book as it times it seemed like i was watching an old black and white movie. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. 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.
This summary of double indemnity includes a complete plot overview spoilers included. The movie double indemnity directed by billy wilder is considered to be the classic masterpiece of the u. 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. Analysis paper on movie double indemnity 1944 essay. Double indemnity is the classic tale of an evil woman motivated by. Still, he is savvy enough to get through the door and get. The official universal studios entertainment facebook page. 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. Double indemnity legal definition of double indemnity. E book or pdf edited book email encyclopedia article govt. This book discusses double indemnity and its status as a key film in the definition of film noir. Richard schickels book is an introduction to billy wilders classic 1944 film, based on james cains novella, double indemnity. Double indemnity definition of double indemnity by the.
Cain is considered to be one of the founders of the hardboiled genre of detective fiction, which developed during the prohibition era in. Were considering expanding this synopsis into a fulllength study guide to deepen your comprehension of the book and why its important. Double indemnity definition is a provision in a lifeinsurance or accident policy whereby the company agrees to pay twice the face of the contract in case of accidental death. The product of a creative holy trinitynovelist james m. The double indemnity novel community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context. 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. I vaguely recall watching the movie of the same name. Double indemnity the finale summary and analysis gradesaver. Double indemnity, published in 1934, is cains second novel and is set in the young, booming city of hollywood. First published in book form in the volume three of a kind 1943. 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. This book assesses the entire case, from grisly slaying and shabby coverup to sharp police work and aftermath. Cains double indemnity and the film adaptation by billy wilder and raymond chandler for. Fred macmurray and barbara stanwyck star in the gripping film noir classic, directed by academy award winner billy wilder.