Classic Movie Double Indemnity

Here is a youtube parody of the classic film noir Double Indemnity. I wanted to make you hopeless “glued to the tube” movie buffs laugh this Friday!  “I think you’re swell… so long as I’m not your husband.” Remember this line? How can you not? Out of all the classic film noirs I love, I have to say that Double Indemnity is my absolute favorite.

Anytime someone mentions Film Noir, I immediately think of this movie. The story line is basically like this: nice insurance guy Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray ) trying to make a sale on a nice afternoon, knocks on the door of a sultry Phyllis Dietrichson—superbly played by Barbara Stynwyck. Walter’s fate was sealed.

The performances of the three main characters, Neff the sales guy, Phyllis the “desperate housewife,” and Barton Keyes as the fastidious investigator played by Edward G. Robinson are mesmerizing. Although Edward G’s role was supposedly a minor role, he stood out. How could Edward G. be in the background? He couldn’t even if he tried.

Fred MacMurray plays this role to his level best. Although you may be used to seeing him in nicer roles, he managed to play a shady dude to the max. When Walter Neff meets Phyllis he loses himself. She flirts, he flirts even more. Phyllis was a woman ahead of her day. She is openly flirtatious and lets Walter in to her world. But there is more to Phyllis than meets the eye. She may look sweet on the outside, but she is rotten to the core.

Phyllis tells Walter how miserable her life is with her old, grouchy, husband. And beats around the bush about having her husband die preferably by murder! Walter wants to run, but sultry Phyllis is on his mind, and he can’t let go of her spell. He meets her husband and realizes what a cheap, grumpy man he is. He justifies the man’s death in his mind. He wants Phyllis, and her husband is mean, what to do? The lovers plot to kill him and collect on a double indemnity life insurance. If you love film noir you got to see this one! Enjoy the video.