Double Indemnity

Double Indemnity is without doubt one of the best well written, directed and acted movies to date. Billy Wilder's direction of these fine actors was impressive. Initially when I saw that Fred MacMurray was the lead actor in this film, I was surprised, considering that most of his roles have been the "good guy". MacMurray's character was one of the most memorable characters.  MacMurray's character (Walter Neff) was one of the most complex characters. Neff fell in love with Barbara Stanwyck's character (Phyllis Dietrichson) immediately after meeting her and within a matter of days agreed to kill her husband for the insurance money. what Walter Neff did not know was that from the very beginning of their meeting, Phyllis was and did use him to do her bidding when it came to killing her husband. My favorite character in the film is Edward G. Robinson (Barton Keyes) who was the middle man for the insurance company that Walter Neff and Barton Keyes worked for. Barton Keyes always had a "gut feeling" about people attempting to collect insurance money.  If Barton had that feeling that something was not "kosher" about the death of Phyllis's husband Mr. Dietrichson portrayed by (Tom Powers).  Barton Keyes would not let the case go until he was completely satisfied that he has exhausted all possibilities that the case was complete. There is no doubt why this wonderful film received all the academy award nominations it received in 1944.