A terrific movie with a razor-sharp script that in many ways is actually better than the James M. Cain novel it's based upon. Released in 1944, its depiction of an adulterous couple conspiring to murder the woman's husband and make off with the insurance payout, tested the boundaries set by the Catholic Church's censors in the Production Code Office. For years the Church had successfully cowed the Hollywood studios into abiding by its censorious prudery, by threatening to proclaim cinema-going a sinful activity for all Catholics. During the writing period Raymond Chandler and Billy Wilder were forced by the censors to repeatedly redraft many aspects of the script, finding ever more ingenious ways of getting around the rules in the process. Happily the film's huge box office success helped embolden the studios to produce darker, more challenging movies, paving the way for film-noir classics like The Big Sleep. In short a brilliant and highly important film that I would recommend to anyone.esteban2 (10 out of 10 )
The script is a perfect balance between scene/action description and dialogue, with no annoying 'speed bumps'. The Wilder/Chandler pedigree shows, and the script could almost sell as a fast-paced novel. In fact, much as I like Chandler novels, I think I prefer this. Why are there no more comments on the script?Ale (10 out of 10 )
This script is an incredible testament to the everlasting power of words. With Wilder's dry wit, Cain's perverse humor, and Chandler's masterful cynicism, "Double Indemnity" is simply one of, if not the greatest and most triumphant screenplay of all time. To not award this script with a ten star rating is an crime punishable by death. Mr. Neff will see to it that your family has...accident insurance. Laurence (10 out of 10 )
This script is one of the most skillfully adapted films in the genre, superbly derived from the James M. Cain novel, with a few changes to improve story flow. The ending of the film is better than the novel, a rare occurrence. Students of film and literature would be wise to read both the script and the novel, to see how a good literary work can be made into an even better film. Stanwyck is superb as the evil Phyllis, and should have won an Oscar.
(10.00 out of 10)