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"Double Indemnity:" Fred McMurray, who would become famous years later

98.232.224.41

for his roles as a kindly father/uncle-type, here plays a heel who seems unable to face the truth about himself, with disastrous results.
As good as he is (and he should have gotten an Oscar nod for this role; he's dynamite in a role some would have said Bogart had all to himself), he's matched by a sizzling performance by Barbara Stanwyck. She also is mostly remembered by boomers for her TV and later Hollywood roles, a tough Mama or a kindly older woman. But, at one time, this true-life up-from-the-gutter woman was as sexy, intelligent, and explosive as her more famous rival, Bette Davis.
From her first scene, half naked behind a towel dangerously draped about her, she mesmerizes and tantalizes the poor McMurray. Like him, we're irresistibly drawn to the flames.
No review would be complete that didn't mention the effective performance of Edward G. Robinson: though he has limited screen time, he makes the most of it to create a memorable, multi-faceted chief investigator.

Edits: 02/01/14

Follow Ups:

One of my favorite films! - volunteer 17:38:06 02/01/14 (0)
Just about perfect.

-Wendell
The best film noir ever, but a victim of the Production Code. Warning - spoilers - Doug Flynn 13:39:58 02/01/14 (7)
.

Edits: 02/27/18
- RE: The best film noir ever, but a victim of the Production Code. Warning - spoilers - volunteer 17:39:29 02/01/14 (1)
  Is that alternate ending available?
  
  -Wendell
  - That's the big question - Doug Flynn 22:32:13 02/02/14 (0)
    .
    
    Edits: 02/27/18
- RE: The best film noir ever, but a victim of the Production Code. Warning - spoilers - dancingseamonkey 16:46:33 02/01/14 (3)
  "Double Indemnity" was written by James M. Cain.
  
  "To Do Is To Be" Socrates
  "To Be Is To Do" Plato
  "Do Be Do Do Be Do" Sinatra
  
  Edits: 02/01/14
  - the novel was written by James M. Cain... - tunenut 20:48:49 02/01/14 (2)
    and it is a classic. One can read it in a couple of hours. I read it every couple of years. Camus cited it as a major influence on The Stranger.
    
    The movie script however, was not written by James M. Cain. It was written by Raymond Chandler, and it is brilliant in its own way. It is one of the very best of the noirs.
    - Righto! Cain and Chandler, could it get any better? nt - tinear 10:32:20 02/02/14 (1)
      d
      - Yes - Cain, Chandler AND Billy Wilder ! (nt) - Doug Flynn 12:29:30 02/02/14 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Righto! Cain and Chandler, could it get any better? nt posted by tinear on February 02, 2014 at 10:32:20
        
        .
- I'd put it into the top 10, though Stanwyck's a good argument for a higher rating� nt - tinear 14:06:05 02/01/14 (0)
  d

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