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I'll bet my
bottom dollar that those of you under the
age of 30 have heard of, but never seen
"Double Indemnity" (unless of
course, you’re a film geek like I
was when I was under 30). This would be
a darn shame, because "Double Indemnity"
is easily one of the best of the old style
'film noir' titles. Fortunately, Universal
is giving you (yes you) an opportunity to
see the movie with a brand spankin' new
DVD release from their Legacy Series. It's
a 2-disc set (though it doesn’t need
to be, more on that later) and includes
some of the best extra features I've seen
for a movie this old.
First off though, I should probably fill
a few of you in about the premise of this
great 1944 thriller. It's a classic game
of deception, murder, lust and greed as
an insurance salesman (Fred MacMurray) is
conned into planning a perfect murder by
a beautiful dame (Barbara Stanwyck). The
dame coerces her husband into signing a
'double indemnity' insurance policy that
will award her a huge amount of money in
the event of his death.
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She convinces the salesman to join her in plotting
the murder with the promise that they will be
together. Hot on their trail however, is a crafty
insurance investigator (Edward G. Robinson) who
gets a hunch that something under-handed is in
the making.
All of the performances in "Double Indemnity"
are stellar as Barbara Stanwyck plays the perfect
bitc… uh bad lady. And Fred MacMurray, who
most of us are used to seeing as the lovable dad
in "My Three Sons", is superb in this
decidedly dramatic turn. And of course, has there
ever been a time where Edward G. Robinson has
turned in a bad performance… other than
perhaps in "The Greatest Story Ever Told?"
Universal's release offers up one of the best
transfers to date of this great film. There are
still some scratches here and there, but beyond
that it looks and sounds terrific. As for extra
features, it starts off with an introduction by
turner Classic Movies host Robert Osborne, and
then there are two full length commentaries, the
first by film historian Richard Schickel. The
follow-up commentary is by historian/screenwriter
Lem Dobbs and film historian Nick Redman. It's
evident on both commentaries that all three of
these guys know there stuff, and for the most
part the information they share with the audience
is pure film geek gold.
But the best part of this set, aside from the
film itself, is a 40 minute retrospective documentary
called "Shadows of Suspense." The documentary
goes into an incredible amount of detail relating
to the making of the film, and includes interviews
from people like James Ellroy, Caleb Deschanel
and William Friedkin who all discuss the film's
style and its place among the pantheon of America's
greatest films. On the other side of the coin,
the unnecessary 2nd disc (I told you I'd get back
to that) offers up a 1973 made for TV remake starring
Richard Crenna. It's not a bad remake, just an
unnecessary one… like the disc.
Slowly but surely, Universal is releasing some
of the older films that still deserve to have
our attention. And I applaud their efforts. The
new release for "Double Indemnity" is
a case of classics done right. Not adding it to
your collection would be a crime.
Directed by: Billy Wilder
Starring: Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward
G. Robinson, Porter Hall
Extras: "Shadows of Suspense" documentary,
Audio Commentary from Film Historian Richard Schickel,
Audio Commentary with Film Historian / Screenwriter
Lem Dobbs and Film Historian Nick Redman, Double
Indemnity TV Movie (1973, 75 mins.)
Specifications: Full Screen, Dolby Digital 2.0
Mono, B&W
Studio: Universal
Release Date: 8/22/2006
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website
We'll give Double Indemnity an A.
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