Travis Simpkins

Saturday, March 12, 2016

Double Indemnity (1944): Barbara Stanwyck, Femme Fatale and Film Noir

Directed by Billy Wilder, and co-written by Raymond Chandler, Double Indemnity (1944) was an adaptation of James M. Cain's novel of the same name… which was inspired by the real-life 1927 murder perpetrated by Ruth Snyder and her lover, Judd Gray. The story concerns a provocative housewife who convinces her lover, an insurance salesman, to murder her husband to collect on an expensive life insurance policy with a double indemnity clause. The production is quintessential Film Noir, and ranks on many lists of the greatest films ever made. Fred MacMurray is great as Walter Neff, the insurance salesman and co-conspirator. Barbara Stanwyck is alluring in her role as the Femme Fatale, Phyllis Dietrichson. Edward G. Robinson is shrewd as the insurance claims adjustor. The supporting cast is good as well, including Porter Hall, Jean Heather, Byron Barr, Richard Gaines and John Philliber.

Double Indemnity: Fred MacMurray

Double Indemnity: Barbara Stanwyck

Double Indemnity: Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray

Double Indemnity: Barbara Stanwyck

Double Indemnity: Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray

Double Indemnity: Barbara Stanwyck

Double Indemnity: Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray

Double Indemnity: Barbara Stanwyck

Double Indemnity: Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray

Double Indemnity: Edward G. Robinson and Fred MacMurray

Double Indemnity: Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray

Double Indemnity: Barbara Stanwyck

Double Indemnity: Edward G. Robinson and Fred MacMurray

Double Indemnity: Barbara Stanwyck, Fred MacMurray and Edward G. Robinson

Double Indemnity: Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray

Double Indemnity: Barbara Stanwyck

Double Indemnity: Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray

Stonehearst Asylum (2014): Kate Beckinsale, Ben Kingsley and Michael Caine

Directed by Brad Anderson, and written by Joseph Gangemi, Stonehearst Asylum (2014) was loosely based on the 1845 short story "The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether" by Edgar Allan Poe. The original title of the film was Eliza Graves, after the lead female character. The story concerns a young doctor who travels to a remote lunatic asylum in 1899 to learn from it's superintendent… and he quickly discovers that the mentally ill patients may actually be running the institution. Full of dark Victorian atmosphere, the film is stylish, sophisticated and exudes a foreboding sense of gothic thrills. The 19th Century sets and medical instruments are well-researched and designed. The cast does a great job all around, including Ben Kingsley, Michael Caine, Kate Beckinsale, Jim Sturgess, David Thewlis and Brendan Gleeson.