(pb; 1936: loosely linked prequel to Jealous Woman)
From the back cover
“Walter Huff is an insurance
investigator like any other—until the day he meets the beautiful and dangerous
Phyllis Nirdlinger and falls under her spell. Together they plot the perfect
murder. . . Double Indemnity is the classic tale of an evil woman motivated
by greed, who corrupts a weak man motivated by lust.”
Review
Double Indemnity is one of my all-time favorite pulp novels, with its quotable (often edgy and ripe-with-innuendo) dialogue, action and lead characters, barebones writing and sharp editing, fast pace, effective Master Class twists and haunting, hair-raising/eerie finish. Excellent, timeless novel for those readers willing to walk on the oh-so-dark and unsettling side. Only a few writers I’ve read match the stripped-down (yet effective and disturbing) tone, delivery and editing of Double.
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Double Indemnity has been filmed twice.
The first theatrical version (there’s the inevitable theatrical remake) with the same title was released stateside on July 6, 1944. Billy Wilder directed and co-scripted it. Raymond Chandler Jr. is listed as a co-screenwriter.
Fred MacMurray played Walter Neff. Barbara Stanwyck played Phyllis Dietrichson (cinematic counterpart to Phyllis Nirdlinger). Edward G. Robinson played Barton Keyes.
Tom Powers played Mr. Dietrichson (cinematic counterpart to Mr. Nirdlinger). Jean Heather played Lola Dietrichson (counterpart to Lola Nirdlinger). Byron Barr played Nino Zarchetti (Beniamino “Nino” Sachetti in the book). Richard Gaines played Mr. Norton.
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The second adaptation, a telepic, aired as an ABC Movie of the Week on October 13, 1973. Directed by Jack Smight from Steven Bochco’s based-on-the-1944-screenplay teleplay, it starred Richard Crenna as Walter Neff. Samantha Eggar played Phyllis Dietrichson. Arch Johnson played Mr. Dietrichson. Lee J. Cobb played Barton Keyes.
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