Double Indemnity Reviews

1944

80
from 6334 members

Director Billy Wilder and Raymond Chandler (Creator of the ultimate private investigator, Philp Marlowe - 'The Big Sleep', 'Farewell My Lovely'), adapted James M. Cain's hard-boiled novel into this dark film noir. Insurance investigator Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray) plans the perfect murder with the beautiful Phyllis Dietrichson .. Read more

Starring	Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson, Porter Hall
Director	Billy Wilder
Genres	Drama, Thriller

Buy from Amazon.co.uk

Critic's review of Double Indemnity
View all critics' reviews (5)
- Archetypal film noir of the forties, brilliantly filmed and incisively written, perfectly capturing the decayed Los Angeles atmosphere of a Chandler novel but using a simpler story and more substantial characters. The hero/villain was almost a new
- 34542
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:44
Write your own review »
Most helpful member's review of Double Indemnity
View all members' reviews (47)
- - 60
  - 8
  Black and White classic
  
  There are those that turn their noses up at films made in black and white. To those I say rent this DVD and you will be renting an intelligent and highly ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 110008
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - TheMovieman
  - 32 reviews
  - Ramsbottom
  - 02 Jun 2005 at 16:29
Most recent members' reviews of Double Indemnity
View all members' reviews (47)
- - 0
  - 0
  sign on bottom line
  
  Insurance salesman meets femme fatale and decides to go along with plan to murder her hubby for 100 thousand bucks. Crime is not quite perfect, they don't ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1113903
- - juradino
  - 701 reviews
  - London
  - 24 Apr 2012 at 15:27
- - 0
  - 0
  Edward G Robinson steals the show
  
  Insurance Salesman, tries to sell policy to man but meets his wife, chemistry, plan way to bump off husband and take insurance money, double indemnity.
  read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1094957
- - Bassman71
  - 459 reviews
  - Didsbury, England
  - 21 Feb 2012 at 08:52
- - 1
  - 0
  Sheer quality
  
  One of the stand alone films of the 40s, wonderfully written with twist and turns all stretching towards a climax, great use of lighting to heighten the mood ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1071811
- - a customer
  - 09 Dec 2011 at 13:32
- - 0
  - 0
  watch it...
  
  total style great plot great acting...worth every penny...don't not watch it...atmosphere,total absorption in this film and not top marks but very good
  
  Report this review
- 1054285
- - rendlesham
  - 14 reviews
  - 23 Oct 2011 at 12:39
- - 0
  - 0
  It's Chandler. It's Edward G. Robinson. It's Noir.
  
  Not a lot more to say really. Great dialogue, moody lighting, engaging characters, simple(ish) story. Cracking stuff - often wondered where Edward G's list ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1040975
- - Slurs
  - Scotland
  - 15 Sep 2011 at 10:30
- - 0
  - 0
  Timeless masterpiece
  
  Wilder and Chandler with James M. Cain source material: could it get any better? No.
  
  As Wilder's autobiography makes clear, working with Chandler... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1003426
- - Cyclops7
  - 50 reviews
  - North of Hollywood
  - 11 Jun 2011 at 12:36
- - 0
  - 0
  Insurance : See the Movie!
  
  Not a great title but true. Dark brooding atmospheric film - definite shades of Dostoyevsky's crime and punishment. Interesting study of guilt, innocence, ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 997834
- - 5ft7offootballheaven
  - 231 reviews
  - London
  - 28 May 2011 at 09:31
- - 0
  - 0
  Superb film noir.
  
  Perfect noir movie. Story great, screenplay scintillating, cast superb (especially the incomparable Edward G. Robinson), tautly directed by Wilder (who ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 994484
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - JCT
  - 5 reviews
  - 18 May 2011 at 22:30
- - 0
  - 0
  Double Indemnity
  
  A good story. MacMurray's portrayal of 'Neff' as fast-talking and unfeeling,
  
  was too much like Humphrey Bogart, whose acting I also don&#... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 956195
- - Miriam
  - Ealing, London
  - 22 Jan 2011 at 21:24
- - 0
  - 0
  Excellent Film Noir
  
  The screen play was adapted by Billy Wilder (Sunset Boulevard & Some Like It Hot) and Raymond Chandler (Philip Marlowe) from the novel by James M Cain (The ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 934988
- - a customer
  - Doncaster
  - 27 Oct 2010 at 17:25
View all members' reviews (47)

- - 60
  - 8
  Black and White classic
  
  There are those that turn their noses up at films made in black and white. To those I say rent this DVD and you will be renting an intelligent and highly ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 110008
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - TheMovieman
  - 32 reviews
  - Ramsbottom
  - 02 Jun 2005 at 16:29
- - 14
  - 3
  No Subtitles!!
  
  Its a disgrace that this Billy Wilder Classic has no subitles. One of the three 'perfect' films made by Wilder the other two are Sunset Boulevard and ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 171132
- - a customer
  - England
  - 07 Nov 2005 at 16:49
- - 7
  - 0
  One of the best film noirs I've seen
  
  I wasn't sure about the casting of the two leads in this film and they certainly couldn't match up to Bogart and Bacall but overall the script, ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 143610
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - McClennan
  - 424 reviews
  - St Helens
  - 24 Aug 2005 at 11:32
- - 5
  - 0
  An Amazing Picture
  
  People take 'old' films for granted - in an age of rom-coms, computer animation, and superhero blockbusters the old classics tend to be overlooked. 1944... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 286437
- - Shaun Kitchener
  - Baldock, Herts, England
  - 16 Sep 2006 at 19:18
- - 1
  - 0
  Do I laugh now or wait 'til it gets funny.
  
  Raymond Chandler described adapting James M. Cain's novel for Billy Wilder's film as 'an agonising experience which has probably shortened my life... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 281591
- - a customer
  - London, England
  - 01 Sep 2006 at 23:00
- - 1
  - 0
  Great!
  
  Acting was typical 1940's but snappy dialogue put's this film away ahead of it's time.
  
  Report this review
- 403946
- - a customer
  - Scottish Borders
  - 19 Jan 2007 at 16:26
- - 1
  - 0
  Classic Film Noir with hair!
  
  What a joy to see this film again. Wilder on top form, fabulous lighting, performances from Stanwyick, McMurray and Robinson over the top but in keeping with ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 456373
- - Ian Francis
  - London Bridge
  - 07 Jul 2007 at 00:33
- - 1
  - 0
  Sheer quality
  
  One of the stand alone films of the 40s, wonderfully written with twist and turns all stretching towards a climax, great use of lighting to heighten the mood ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1071811
- - a customer
  - 09 Dec 2011 at 13:32
- - 0
  - 0
  Dark Brilliance
  
  The ultimate in noir, scripted and directed by Billy Wilder with a little help from Chandler, this adaptation of James M Cain's book is noir perfection. All... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 137610
- - Hywel Evans
  - London
  - 08 Aug 2005 at 12:23
- - 0
  - 0
  Classic Noir
  
  Billy Wilder and Raymond Chandler teamed up to deliver this noir classic, credited with creating the mould from which all future femmes fatales were cast.read more »
  
  Report this review
- 149292
- - shoddy
  - 78 reviews
  - Jersey
  - 10 Sep 2005 at 10:59

< Prev
1
2
3
4
5
Next >

Critics' reviews
- Archetypal film noir of the forties, brilliantly filmed and incisively written, perfectly capturing the decayed Los Angeles atmosphere of a Chandler novel but using a simpler story and more substantial characters. The hero/villain was almost a new
- 34542
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:44
- One of the darkest thrillers of it's time... a labyrinth of sexual dominance, guilt, suspicion and sweaty duplicity.
- 23226
- - Time Out
  - 29 Jan 2006 at 16:11
- Before he settled down to being an ultra-cynical connoisseur of vulgarity, Wilder helped (as much as any of his... read more on Time Out
- 47830
- - Time Out
  - 04 Nov 2008 at 00:18
- Profoundly, intensely entertaining.
- 23224
- - Punch
  - 29 Jan 2006 at 16:11
- Quintessential film noir.
- 23225
- - The Guardian
  - 29 Jan 2006 at 16:11

Agree or disagree? Write your own review

Review title: Give it a rating:

Write your review:

Tips for writing helpful reviews

Only review titles you've actually seen!
Talk about what you liked and disliked
Compare this title with other similar titles
Provide plenty of detail - at least 20 words
Space things out - use blank lines between paragraphs.
Be appropriate - no adult content, libellous statements or naughty words
Don't SPAM! No promoting of other websites or services
Don't plaguerise! Your submission must be your own original work
Don't talk about LOVEFiLM by name

Give it a title:

Tips for an eye catching title

Don't just repeat the name of the title you're reviewing
Don't summarise your entire review in one word - a minimum of 2 words please.
Give people a reason to read your full review - create a sense of intrigue or curiosity!

Keep me anonymous Keep me anonymous Contains spoiler? This review contains spoilers (or might spoil it for someone who hasn't seen it yet)

New users register here

Email address:
Password:
Preferred user name:
I agree to LOVEFiLMs Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
I'd like to receive film news and reviews as well as info about all the other good stuff LOVEFiLM offers

Already a member? Sign in here

Email address:
Password:Forgotten password?

By clicking Preview review you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Buy from Amazon.co.uk

- - Buy
- Double Indemnity - Blu-ray
  
  Wilder's classic noir, a familiar brew of lust, larceny, and lethal intentions, stars Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck as a hot-blooded couple. Framed in flashback, the story is told by the dying Walter Neff (MacMurray), beginning with his first meeting with the seductive Phyllis Dietrichson (...

- - Buy
- Double Indemnity
  
  Director Billy Wilder and Raymond Chandler (Creator of the ultimate private investigator, Philp Marlowe - 'The Big Sleep', 'Farewell My Lovely'), adapted James M. Cain's hard-boiled novel into this dark film noir. Insurance investigator Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray) plans the perfect murder with the ...