The product of a creative holy trinitynovelist james m. Double indemnity the finale summary and analysis gradesaver. Analysis of psychotic greed in double indemnity 915 words. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of double indemnity by james m. Jan 03, 2018 character analysis in the movie double indemnity published by james taylor at january 3, 2018 in the movie double indemnity, phyllis dietrichson the unhappy wife of an older and wealthy man is sexually objectified both by the imagery of the movie and her character position as related to other characters. 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. A story of crime and celebrity in 1920s new york, offer what wallaces book cannot. We described a femme fatale as being beautiful, one who leads the main character into danger, and feigns naivete or weakness to hide manipulative goals. At the beginning of double indemnity walter huff is portrayed as a very ordinary huckster, wellknown to almost.
Double indemnity, published in 1934, is cains second novel and is set in the young, booming. Oct 09, 2008 double indemnity is an incredibly dark film with characters emerging from darkness, shadows obscuring the faces of the characters and a strong prevalence of venetian blinds casting striped shadows over everything in shot. Double indemnity scene analysis double indemnity 1944 can be considered to be one of the films most representative of american film noir. 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. Dietrichson, and subsequently conspires with an insurance salesman, walter neff, to help kill her husband. Praised by many critics when first released, double indemnity was nominated for seven academy awards but did not win any. Jul 14, 2015 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. Double indemnity, published in 1934, is cains second novel and is set in the young, booming city of hollywood.
Walter neff, a top insurance salesman macmurray, falls for the bored, sharptalking wife stanwyck of an oilman and goes in with her on a murder and insurance fraud scheme. It was strange reading this book as it times it seemed like i was watching an old black and white movie. Billy wilders american films, new york, berghahn books, 2008. 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. The double indemnity novel community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context. The character phyllis nirdlinger as a femme fatale in double indemnity by james m. An analysis of billy wilders double indemnity inquiries. 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.
Double indemnity the movie that i watched this week is a 1944 american film called, double indemnity. In the movie double indemnity, phyllis dietrichson the unhappy wife of an older and wealthy man is sexually objectified both by the imagery of. However, two relatively recent books about prohibitionera, frontpage tabloid crime stories, landis mackellars the double indemnity murder. Double indemnity is a 1943 crime novel, written by american journalistturnednovelist james m. May 11, 2012 phyllis proposes to kill her husband to receive the proceeds of an accident insurance policy and walter devises a scheme to receive twice the amount based on a double indemnity clause. First published in book form in the volume three of a kind 1943. Cinematography in double indemnity media design and. This book exposes a wide audience to the approach for the first time, introducing the concept then providing a sequence analysis of eleven significant feature films made between 1940 and 2000. Walter huff was an insurance salesman with an unfailing instinct for clients who might be in trouble, and his instinct led.
Well, double indemnity has one of the most memorable of these vile. Like double indemnity, these films succeeded upon the unembellished interpretation of greed, desire, and unkindness because their fundamental theme was the profundity of human immorality and the absolutely unheroic character of human beingslessons that were almost not taught but without doubt reemphasized by the one of its kind horrors of world war ii. The best of film noir sizzles with crackling, sardonic dialogue, veiled lust, terrific blackandwhite photography, and overtones of. 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. Double indemnity clauses are found most often in life insurance policies. Aug 27, 2011 double indemnity originally appeared as a serial in liberty magazine in 1936, and, despite cains initial reservations, was published in hardcover with two other of cains novellas in 1943. Since we talked mostly about femme fatales in class, i focused mainly on the one introduced in last weeks film, double indemnity. Character analysis in the movie double indemnity essay typing. Mulwray eventually emerges as the storys most tragic victim. Double indemnity study guide contains a biography of director billy wilder, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. The term double indemnity refers to a clause in certain life insurance policies that doubles the payout in rare cases when the death is accidental, such as falling off a train. Youve reached the hub for any and all dramatica analysis of double indemnity. The characters, scenario and stylistic elements of double indemnity all perfectly represent this group of hollywood films from the early 1940s to the late 1950s. This film was nominated for seven academy awards, but it did not win any prize.
In the film characters get caught up in relationships that they have to keep hidden. Although cain has been accused of merely writing a rehash of postman, i found double indemnity to be a much darker tale. Character analysis in the movie double indemnity published by james taylor at january 3, 2018 in the movie double indemnity, phyllis dietrichson the unhappy wife of an older and wealthy man is sexually objectified both by the imagery of the movie and her character position as related to other characters. Double indemnity femme fatale films from literature. Double indemnity is a film noir directed by billy wilder in 1944, and it was based on the novel of the same name double indemnity which was published in 1943. Character analysis in the movie double indemnity essay.
I vaguely recall watching the movie of the same name. Double indemnity has all the hallmarks of film noir its a moody, pessimistic crime story with strong overtones of spiritual bankruptcy and moral cynicism. Walter comes to the nirdlinger house and wraps up the paperwork with mr. A detailed description of double indemnity characters and their importance. Double indemnity 1944 is the story of a woman, phyllis dietrichson, who has manipulated her way into marriage with a wealthy man, mr. Film analysis of double indemnity from the moment they met, it was murder. Cinema scholars often refer to barbara stanwycks character of phyllis dietrichson in double indemnity 1944 as one of the top examples of the femme fatale, as her conniving spirit and good looks worked all the men in her story to her whims. The film double indemnity directed by billy wilder is a wonderful work that focuses heavily on relationships between characters. What are the 3 themes of the story double indemnity. 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. In the adaptation, wilder and chandler changed the names of the main characters. Though jake mistakes her for her husbands killer at first, mrs.
These relationships also have power dynamics that emphasize and help push the story forward. Intelligent, gorgeous, selfassured and drenched in enough sexual allure to stop a heart at 50 paces. Like double indemnity, these films succeeded upon the unembellished interpretation of greed, desire, and unkindness because their fundamental theme was the profundity of human immorality and the absolutely unheroic character of human beingslessons that were almost not taught but without doubt reemphasized by the one of its kind horrors of. 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. These cold, calculating foxes are natures consummate predators, guaranteed to ensnare any man by his short and curlies faster and tighter than a rusty zipper. This scene occurs early in the movie where walter neff fred macmurray, smoothtalking insurance salesman, first intersects with phyllis dietrichson barbara. A biography of billy wilder an indepth chapterbychapter summary and analysis a short summary a character list and related descriptions suggested essay questions and answers quotes and analysis a list of themes a glossary historical context two academic essays if available 100 quiz.
It is quite short especially if you ignore the padding in the foreword which serves no real purpose. 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. In addition, evelyn mulwray is emphatically not a femme fatale like the heartless phyllis dietrichson of double indemnity 1944 or the snakelike kathie moffat of out of the past 1947. An analysis of double indemnity 1944 the classic film noir film studied in this task is double indemnity 1944. Dietrichson is found dead on a traintrack, the police accept the determination of accidental death. 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. 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. The general darkness present throughout the movie is embodied in the plot which reveals the moral bankruptcy of the main characters. In 1938, walter neff, an experienced salesman of the pacific all risk insurance co. 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. 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. Billy wilder 1944 is a film about an insurance sales man walter neff fred macmurray that falls for a highly sexual, scandalous woman, phyllis dietrichson barbara stanwyck who attempts to kill her husband. Double indemnity is a 1934 detective novella by james m cain.
This movie discusses not only interpersonal relations between men and women, but also it reveals corruption and immorality found in the society of those times. The murderers in double indemnity are phyllis nirdlinger, a very attractive, unhappily married woman, and walter huff, an insurance agent who falls in love with phyllis and whom she uses as the. The shop around the corner double indemnity nights of cabiria north by northwest lawrence of arabia the graduate one flew over the cuckoos. Why is phyllis in double indemnity hailed as one of cinema.
A dark, seductive tale of lust and murder in double indemnity. The dark tone of double indemnity, both visually and thematically, the antihero who is led astray by greed and lust, and the seductive yet deadly femme fatale are all essential film. 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 character phyllis nirdlinger as a femme fatale 75. Humans are selfserving and greedy, ruled by their baser passions. Double indemnity legal definition of double indemnity. A woman and her lover murder the womans husband for insurance. Read download double indemnity pdf pdf book library.
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 essays are academic essays for citation. She is a beautiful and alluring woman, barely older than lola, her husbands daughter from a previous marriage. The movie double indemnity directed by billy wilder is considered to be the classic masterpiece of the u. Analysis paper on movie double indemnity 1944 essay. Why is phyllis in double indemnity hailed as one of. Sep 17, 20 since we talked mostly about femme fatales in class, i focused mainly on the one introduced in last weeks film, double indemnity. It was originally published as part of a set with two other stories, called three of a kind, in liberty magazine. Analysis of the film double indemnity 2728 words bartleby. Still, as far as the book goes, hes a relatively minot character. Analysis paper on movie double indemnity 1944 essay the movie double indemnity directed by billy wilder is considered to be the classic masterpiece of the u. 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.
Cain is considered to be one of the founders of the hardboiled genre of detective fiction, which developed during the prohibition era in the united states 19201933. Cain 1935 classic noir novel double indemnity through the actions of the main character phyllis nirdlinger. An insurance representative lets himself be talked by a seductive housewife into a murderinsurance fraud scheme that arouses the suspicion of an insurance investigator. Walter neff, an experienced salesman of the pacific all risk insurance co. Double indemnity is a 1943 crime novel, written by american journalistturned novelist james. The main characters of double indemnity, walter huff and phyllis. An insurance representative lets himself be talked into a murderinsurance fraud scheme that arouses an insurance.
Cain is considered to be one of the founders of the hardboiled genre of detective fiction, which developed during the prohibition era in. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of double indemnity by director billy wilder. Double indemnity 1944 summary, analysis jotted lines. Double indemnity is the second book i read of james m. In addition to the storyform, youll also find any additional analysis or media related to the story in question. Cains character walter huff explains his dilemma in the crime noir. 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.
Cains classic 1936 tale of lust and murder and insurance. Film analysis of double indemnity essay 2446 words. Cain introduction in the literary work double indemnity, the character walter huff asserts, i had put myself in her power, so there was one person in the world that could point a finger at me, and i. Oct 12, 2014 this murder scene from double indemnity has many interesting and intelligent camera, sound, lighting, miseenscene and editing uses, all used to emphasise certain parts of the scene and create particular moods and feelings. Double indemnity was directed by billy wilder raymond chandler collaborated on the screenplay and starred fred macmurray, barbara stanwyck, and edward g. The main characters of double indemnity, walter huff and phyllis nordlinger, are much more evil than frank chambers and cora papadakis, the murdering adulterers of the postman always rings twice.
Walter huff became walter neff, and phyllis nirdlinger became. This film was directed by billy wilder, produced by buddy desylva and joseph sistrom and cowriten by wilder and raymond chandler. Robinson, and in 1973, a tv film directed by by jack smight and starring richard crenna and samantha eggar. Double indemnity study guide contains a biography of director billy wilder, literature. Like most hardboiled crime literature of the 1930s and 1940s, double indemnity paints a picture of humanity as corrupt and evil. Barton keyes is the dogged, determined investigator for general fidelity of california who puts it all together in double indemnity, james m. Ruth snyder, judd gray, and new yorks crime of the century and stephen duncombe and andew mattsons the bobbed haired bandit. Cains 1943 novella of the same name, which originally appeared as an eightpart serial in liberty magazine, beginning in february 1936. In the opening, at the very start o the film, there is a close up shot of the main character, called phyllis. 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. Double indemnity study guide contains a biography of director billy wilder, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a. Film analysis of double indemnity film studies essay. Phyllis dietrichson double indemnity in other words, a trickster, adept at wearing any personality mask they need to accomplish their goals. Its in black and white, it has fast badinage, its very witty, a story from the classic age.
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