Cains double indemnity and the film adaptation by billy wilder and raymond chandler for the may noir book of the month club. Cain novel by director wilder and novelist raymond chandler, it tells the story of an insurance salesman, played by fred macmurray, who is lured into a murderforinsurance plot by barbara stanwyck, in an. Against a backdrop of distinctly californian settings, the partners in crime plan the perfect murder to collect the insurance, which pays double if the death is accidental. Fred macmurray and barbara stanwyck star in the gripping film noir classic double indemnity, directed by academy award winner billy wilder. Double indemnity by billy wilder billy wilder, fred. This film was nominated for seven academy awards, but it did not win any prize. The two main characters never seem to mean anything they ever say, especially to each other. Directed by billy wilder, starring billy wilder, barbara stanwyck, fortunio bonanova, jean. This book discusses double indemnity and its status as a key film. And before i get back to it, this observation, complete with spoiler warning for what i hope will be the very few of you who havent encountered book or movie.
Following that, double indemnity appeared as a one of three long short tales in the collection three of a kind. Buy double indemnity by billy wilder, raymond chandler, jeffrey meyers introduction by online at alibris. It was first published in serial form in liberty magazine in 1936 and then was one of three long short tales in the collection three of a kind. Always daring hollywood censors limits on content, billy wilder directed greats such as marilyn monroe, jack lemmon, ginger rogers, marlene dietrich, kirk douglas, audrey hepburn, and gary cooper.
Double indemnity is a 1944 american film noir directed by billy wilder, cowritten by wilder and raymond chandler, and produced by buddy desylva and joseph sistrom. Double indemnity by billy wilder, jack smight billy. He is regarded as one of the most brilliant and versatile filmmakers of the hollywood golden age of cinema. The films of billy wilder, from double indemnity to some like it hot, are american classics created by a brilliant austrian in love with his newfound country. Some of the changes made to the double indemnity screenplay were definite improvements on the book, probably due to the fact that raymond chandler was a cowriter on the movie. Double indemnity is a noir film which features a protagonist that both commits the primary crime of the film as well as aids the investigation of it. A calculating wife stanwyck encourages her wealthy husband to sign a double indemnity policy proposed by smitten insurance agent walter neff macmurray. Billy wilder, austrianborn american motionpicture director and producer known for films that humorously treat subjects of controversy and offer biting indictments of hypocrisy in american life. Double indemnity is a film noir directed by billy wilder in 1944, and it was based on the novel of the same name double indemnity which was published in 1943. The film was adapted by director billy wilder and writer raymond chandler from the 1935 novella by james. Among his most notable films are double indemnity, the lost weekend, sunset boulevard, the apartment, and some like it hot. Billy wilder and raymond chandler did not get along well while writing this films script, a process that was apparently filled with arguments. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Due to the peculiar nature of the project, we ask all our coworkers to.
Billy wilder 19062002 died at his home in beverly hills, california on march 27, 2002. According to imdb, cain liked the plot solutions that billy wilder and raymond chandler came up with for the movie and would have used them in the book if he had thought of them himself. Facts by film double indemnity by topic by person by film. Cains novel and talks about how screenwriters wilder and raymond chandler tried to. First published in 1936, this novel reaffirmed james m. He is responsible for two of the film noir eras most definitive films in double indemnity and sunset boulevard. The late film critic roger ebert had an interesting take on wilder s characterizations in double indemnity. Cains 1943 novella of the same name as the foundation of their story, wilder and extraordinary novelistturnedscreenwriter raymond chandler. The strength of film is rooted strongly in its narrative presentation, which begins with neff, played by fred macmurray, driving recklessly to his office with a bullet wound in his shoulder. Theyre both awful, awful people who kill a man and try to take a big insurance payoff. Double indemnity was directed by billy wilder raymond chandler.
Nirdlingers inconvenient husband has to be eliminated so that his wife. Wilder holds a significant place in the history of hollywood censorship for expanding the range of acceptable subject matter. Double indemnity scene analysis billy wilders double indemnity is one of the best representatives of the film noir era in hollywood as it contains all the main characteristics of the genre. Directed by the great billy wilder, double indemnity stars fred macmurray as an insurance salesman who falls for the wife barbara stanwyck of one of his clients and becomes entangled in a scheme to bump off her husband. Charles brackett on billy wilder and hollywoods golden age film and culture series. Walter huff became walter neff, and phyllis nirdlinger became phyllis dietrichson. Cain novel by director wilder and novelist raymond chandler, it tells the story of an insurance salesman, played by fred macmurray, who is lured into a murderfor. Cain novel by wilder and raymond chandler, double indemnity. Some view double indemnity 1944, the dark, suspenseful adaptation of the james m.
Sunset boulevard preliminary draft with original opening scenes and montgomery clift listed on cast sheet, 1948. It followed the timehonoured noir plotline of a man undone by an evil woman. Double indemnity 1944 film by billy wilder librarything. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Double indemnity is a 1943 crime novel, written by american journalistturned novelist james. Cain novel by director wilder and novelist raymond chandler, it tells the story of an insurance salesman, played by fred macmurray, who is lured into a murderforinsurance plot by barbara. Click to read more about double indemnity 1944 film by billy wilder. Double indemnity 1935 is one of the classic, toughtalking murder stories of the late 1930s. There are some interesting quotes from director billy wilder, who was still alive at time of. Directed by billy wilder and adapted from a james m. With the apartment, wilder became the first person to win academy awards as. Someone once said that there was less in billy wilder than meets the eye. Adamtroy castro blog archive double indemnity, book versus. Billy wilder books list of books by author billy wilder.
Macmurray may play an insurance salesman, but the dialogue is pure hardboiled detective, all innuendo and doubleentendre. Taking a necessary break from watching a movie i know practically by heart, billy wilder s double indemnity. In the intervening 95 years, an impressive life story unfolded, a life that was to have a lasting impact on hollywood and world cinema. Billy wilder and raymond chandler wrote the screenplay over. Double indemnity, james mallahan cain double indemnity is a 1943 crime novel, written by american journalistturnednovelist james m. Billy wilder has been nominated for twentyone academy awards and has won six oscars. Double indemnity lux radio theater broadcast a 60 minute. And before i get back to it, this observation, complete with spoiler warning for what i hope.
Double indemnity by billy wilder, raymond chandler paperback. This is a reexamination of the key american films of wilder, often challenging previous readings of his filmmaking style and personality, emphasizing the popcultural, filmhistorical, and sociohistorical content of well known films. Richard schickel is a great lover of billy wilder s double indemnity, one of the earliest and best examples of film noir. This is the legendary tag line for billy wilders most incisive film noir, double indemnity, even though in 1944, when it was first released in new york on september 11, critics called it a melodrama, a elongated dose of premeditated suspense, with a pragmatism evocative of earlier period french films poetic realism of the 1930s, with characters as. Wilder claimed that he flaunted his womanizing ability at the time to torment the sexuallyrepressed chandler. Billy wilder, norma desmond, and the dark hollywood dream. In the intervening 95 years, an impressive life story unfolded, a life that was to have a. Aug 24, 2018 billy wilder cowrote the script with raymond chandlerand they hated working together.
Cains 1943 novella of the same name as the foundation of their story, wilder and extraordinary novelistturnedscreenwriter raymond chandler wrote a mesmerizing script that introduced one of the. Interviews follows the filmmaking career of one of hollywoods most honored and successful writerdirectors and spans over fifty years. And before i get back to it, this observation, complete with spoiler warning for what i hope will be the very few of you who have. Double indemnity was directed by billy wilder raymond chandler collaborated on the screenplay and starred fred macmurray, barbara stanwyck, and edward g. Billy wilders double indemnity was made in 1944 and in the last seventy years it has stood on the pedestal as one of the best examples of what the film noir genre has to offer. One of the books highlights is a list of ten screenwriting tips by wilder. Fred macmurray and barbara stanwyck star in the gripping film noir classic, double indemnity, directed by academy award winner billy wilder. Jeffrey meyers has written many books and articles on modern. Film analysis of double indemnity film studies essay. Cains 1943 novella of the same name, which originally appeared as an eightpart serial in liberty magazine, beginning in february 1936. Cain novel by wilder and raymond chandler, double indemnity represents the highwater mark of 1940s film noir urban crime dramas in which a greedy, weak man is seduced and trapped by a cold, evil woman amidst the dark shadows and.
Adamtroy castro blog archive double indemnity, book. If the premise of a movie, no matter the genre, is fully supported by. Macmurray may play an insurance salesman, but the dialogue is pure hardboiled detective, all innuendo and double entendre. On every level writing, direction, acting double indemnity 1944 is a triumph and stands as one of the greatest achievements in billy wilder s career. Double indemnity, mildred pierce, and selected stories everymans library contemporary classics.
For billy wilder, one of the most influential filmmakers in hollywood history, the priorities were always story and character. In this lively book, schickel provides an engrossing account of how the movies screenplay was written. Sep 01, 2015 the films of billy wilder, from double indemnity to some like it hot, are american classics created by a brilliant austrian in love with his newfound country. No 6 best crime film of all time film the guardian. A fascinating early script draft for sunset boulevard, billy wilders classic 1950 film noir with gloria swanson and william holden. Analysis of the film double indemnity 2728 words bartleby. Jul 20, 2018 for billy wilder, one of the most influential filmmakers in hollywood history, the priorities were always story and character.
A calculating wife stanwyck encourages her wealthy husband to sign a double indemnity. More than this, though, it is a classic story, one that speaks to both its moment the book was. Double indemnity novel project gutenberg selfpublishing. An indepth look at a film noir classic barbara stanwyck and fred macmurray in double indemnity, billy wilder 1944 it has all the characteristics of the classic forties film as i respond to it. Cain 18921977, double indemnity is based upon a true story about a weakwilled insurance agent, walter huff, who falls for sultry blond, phyllis nirdlinger. Double indemnity by billy wilder, raymond chandler. A scene from double indemnity starring fred macmurray and. Taking a necessary break from watching a movie i know practically by heart, billy wilders double indemnity. He isnt interested in the same thing the characters are interested in.
Cains 1943 novella of the same name, which originally appeared as an eightpart serial in liberty magazine, beginning in february 1936 the film stars fred macmurray as an insurance salesman. A simply typed warning from wilder and screenwriter charles brackett graces the cover page. Directed by billy wilder, with a script by wilder and raymond. Charade double indemnity pillow talk my little chickadee universals 100th anniversary by universal studios by stanley. Richard schickel is a great lover of billy wilders double indemnity, one of the earliest and best examples of film noir. See all books authored by billy wilder, including the apartment faber classic screenplay, and billy wilders some like it hot, and more on. He wants to know what happens to them after they do what they think is so important. On every level writing, direction, acting double indemnity 1944 is a triumph and stands as one of the greatest achievements in billy. On every level writing, direction, acting double indemnity 1944 is a triumph and stands as one of the greatest achievements in billy wilders career. This shrewd, smoothly tawdry thriller, directed by billy wilder, is one of the high points of nineteenforties films.
Its in black and white, it has fast badinage, its very witty, a story from the classic age. In the adaptation, wilder and chandler changed the names of the main characters. Bfi what marks double indemnity out from other great film noirs is that sense, among all the crazy, twisted, duplicitous shenanigans, of real, human heartbreak. A rich woman and a calculating insurance agent plot to kill her unsuspecting husband after he signs a double indemnity policy. Double indemnity, book versus movie posted on november 6th, 2016 by adamtroy castro. Double indemnity is a 1943 crime novel, written by american journalistturnednovelist james. Director billy wilder originally filmed an ending where keyes watches walter neff go to the gas chamber. Mar 23, 2020 billy wilder, austrianborn american motionpicture director and producer known for films that humorously treat subjects of controversy and offer biting indictments of hypocrisy in american life. Wilder, born in 1906, fled from nazi germany and established himself in america. Cains double indemnity and the film adaptation by billy wilder and raymond chandler for. Double indemnity by billy wilder, raymond chandler, jeffrey. Double indemnity by billy wilder, jack smight billy wilder. And, you know, theres no better film school really than listening to what billy wilder says.
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