Double Indemnity

One of the early Noirs, this one by Billy Wilder, from whom one can always expect a quality product.  It’s hard to fathom the real motivation of the pair of murderers, played by Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray.  They kill her husband, ostensibly to collect a $100,000 “double indemnity”  life insurance payment and because they are “crazy about each other”, but their passion is never very convincing and soon completely fades after the killing.  Neither even seem particularly interested in the money.  Nonetheless, it’s an effective and suspenseful tale.  An interesting twist is the relationship between the Fred MacMurray character and the claims manager at the insurance company played by Edward G. Robinson.  Fascinating too are the manners and technology of the day (the 1930’s, although the movie was only made in 1944).  The voice-over is spoken into what must have been one of the first Dictaphones and the boss of the insurance company seems put out by one of his staff not wearing a jacket to come and see him.