Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #993 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-08-22
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Special Edition, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 182 minutes

On the DVD
If there's anything you ever wanted to know about Double Indemnity or film noir, you're likely to find it in these special features: two feature commentaries; an in-depth documentary; and an introduction by Robert Osborne of Turner Classic Movies to put the movie into context. Osborne's introduction of Indemnity, "by far one of the best film noir dramas ever made," succinctly sets the background, noting how many pieces of this delicate film puzzle almost never came together, and some of the issues will seem almost quaint to modern viewers (the producers had difficulty casting actors in 1944 who were willing to be in a movie with a plot centered on adultery and murder), which is key to understanding the edge this movie had upon its release. If you've never seen the movie before, you may want to watch the 37-minute documentary Shadows of Suspense first to pique your interest. Shadows does an excellent job of showing why and how noir came to be, and how Indemnity is at the vortex of that movement, illustrating the dramatic history of the film itself and the numerous obstacles that had to be overcome to get it onto the screen. "If I had one movie to explain to people what noir is, it's Double Indemnity" states author Eddie Muller at the start of Shadows. Muller also states that noir is Hollywood's only organic artistic movement, making Indemnity a movie that is a symbol of a watershed era in American film. The two commentary tracks--the first by film historian Richard Schickel, the second by screenwriter Lem Dobbs and film historian Nick Redman together--go in-depth beyond the points raised in Osborne's introduction to flesh out the characters in the movie, as well as the characters behind the scenes like director Billy Wilder and co-writer Raymond Chandler. Taken together, the two commentary tracks could make a decent film-school lecture session. The second disc contains the forgettable 1973 television movie version of Double Indemnity starring Richard Crenna and Samantha Eggar. This 75-minute long version may only be interesting as a comparison to the original, proving the old adage that "they just don't make 'em like they used to." --Daniel Vancini

Customer Reviews

Good Movie
For the times, it's a wonderful production. Great direction and the acting is above par for most of the cast. Sorry-but I don't buy MacMurray as being anywhere near capable of the crimes committed in this film. There's just nothing hard or ruthless about him. Robinson and Stanwyck were wonderful and easily stole every scene they were in against MacMurray and there is still a high level of suspense even though you pretty much know how everything is gonna play out. Overall, for classic film lovers this is definitely a must see.

Riveting film noir.
"I killed him for money -- and for a woman. I didn't get the money. And I didn't get the woman."

So begins one of the most riveting films of the era, immediately drawing you into a tangled web of lies, crime, romance and even humor. Fred MacMurray begins the intrigue with his confession into a recorder. For baby boomers, it's hard to believe that this is the Dad from My Three Sons and Disney's inventor of Flubber! The plot moves along with the same tension that readers' found in Raymond Chandler's novels, and that's saying a lot!

Barbara Stanwick is sexy and manipulative, all the while seeming somehow clean and innocent. This is the gold-standard performance that set the standard for femme fatle characters for many years to come. The duplicity is frightening to behold.

Edward G. Robinson is a claims investagator, and his performance is top-notch.

If you have never seen Double Indemnity before, I highly recommend that you buy it sight-unseen. If you have seen it before, buy it and refresh your memory of the initial power that film had on its audience.

It's one of the top films of all time, and the actors are all brilliant.

Double Indemnity (Universal Legacy Series)
ESSENTIAL MOVIE!!! Double Indemnity is a classic movie, a giant in film noir. The rating here is for the original. A second disc is included which is the tv version that was made 30 years later. Just consider this to be a bonus feature though the customer is paying for its inclusion.

The two versions are nearly identical, so much so it's a wonder that a writing credit was given for the newer version.Fred MacMurray is Walter Neff, an insurance salesman. He pays the Dietrichson household a visit to update some automobile insurance. The only one home is the wife, Phylis Dietrichson, portrayed by Barbara Stanwyck. To use a term of the forties Neff is "fresh", it's more than flirtation, it's outright hitting on her. This was daring in 1944 for Hollywood & it's shocking seeing Fred MacMurray acting this way. Phylis, quite simply, is a black widow, she wants to do away with her husband. She wants to get accident insurance on him but Neff, not exactly the best of people, sees through her flimsy attempt at deceit. Neff goes along with it & knows a way to get a double payment, the double indemnity clause. It's well thought out but Neff, as is the viewer, has no idea that Phylis has a beau on the side; she has more than one murder on her mind. Edward G. Robinson portrays Keyes, the insurance claims manager, whose job it is to prove the veracity of any policy claimed upon. It's a very tense movie that deserves to be watched more than once.

As I stated before the tv version is nearly identical. Richard Crenna plays Walter Neff; he's not nearly a shocking as MacMurray. I've always liked Crenna's work but he's not equal to MacMurray. Samantha Eggar has the role of Phylis, she's not even in the same zip code as Stanwyck. Lee J. Cobb has the Keyes role & isn't nearly as effective as Robinson. The 1974 version feels much stiffer than the original, maybe it was just the different eras the movies were made in. Also the time & budget constraints of the tv version forced a different pacing inthe making of the movie. Honestly, having this remade version doesn't justify the price being charged for this set. If you can get the original without the tv version you'll probably be more satisfied.