review by Steve Grzesiak Patron
Double Indemnity 1944
Reviewed Apr 03, 2012
Steve Grzesiak’s review:
There are films that I love that I can totally understand people not liking. By a similar token, there are films I love that I absolutely cannot understand why anyone wouldn't like them.
Double Indemnity is, it's fair to say, well and truly in the latter category. So much so that I almost think it would be rational to genuinely dislike people who don't like it. That's how strongly I feel about it!
The funny thing about it is that I only saw it for the first time relatively recently and yet that one viewing was enough for for me to form such a strong opinion of it. No film is perfect, perhaps, yet there are films like this where you wonder what could possibly be improved about it.
I can't think of a single thing. Not only is this film noir at its very best, all the more remarkable considering that Billy Wilder was far from prolific in the genre of straight thrillers, but it's just film at its best. The acting, the photography, the story, the direction, the sound - what is there that could be improved about it?
Double Indemnity is one of those films that just reminds you of so many of the reasons why you love films.
I only caught up with this last year and loved it, a really nice blu-ray edition is out this month, can't wait to get it.
I also love the poster above, Edward G.Robinson's head floating ominously to the side.
I got it as part of this film noir boxset last year:-
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Film-Noir-Boxset-DVD/dp/B000UWXM1C/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1333393292&sr=1-1
Every film on it is a bona fide classic, surely one of the highest quality film boxsets out there.
That looks like a must buy, I haven't saw a few of them. Good price too.
Yes, it's tremendous value and every film is well worth seeing. Crossfire and Out Of The Past are especially great.
Wow, that really is a nice set. Not too fond of The Glass Key myself (still good), but there are some real crackers there. Love this review, reminded me just how great a film this is.
@Iain One of my favourite things about old Hollywood movie posters is how often they feature Edward G. Robinson's head ominously floating. Seriously, it's all he seems to do.
Okay, I had to look up this floating Edward G Robinson head theory - and you're right!
http://morenoirposters.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Confessions-of-a-Nazi-Spy-Poster-19391-e1331662681764.jpg
http://www.iranian.com/main/files/blogimages/poster_1.jpg
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51QE6WINGvL._AA300_.jpg
http://twentyfourframes.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/scarlet-poster.jpg?w=470
Great spot, Ronan!
That is hilarious.
I just watched this for the first time a few days ago and couldn’t belive I’d put it off for so long. Edward G. Robinson absolutely stole the film out from under MacMurray and Stanwyck ; a stunning performance.
I think I’ll have to pick up that box set at some point.
Hahaha, if you go to his page here on Letterboxd there are even more! I love this.
http://letterboxd.com/film/night-has-a-thousand-eyes/
letterboxd.com/film/the-red-house/
letterboxd.com/film/the-stranger/
letterboxd.com/film/destroyer-1943/
letterboxd.com/film/bullets-or-ballots/
letterboxd.com/film/tight-spot/
letterboxd.com/film/the-glass-web/
letterboxd.com/film/vice-squad-1953/
Okay, I am totally doing up a list now.
:-D Hilarious, this.
http://letterboxd.com/baronronan/list/the-fabulous-floating-head-of-edward-g-robinson/
That's absolutely awesome, Ronan!
@Coohaagen I agree about Robinson, you just wouldn't have taken him on.
Finally watched this film, loved it! Great review.