Double indemnity legal definition of double indemnity. A scheming wife lures an insurance investigator into helping murder her husband and then declare it an accident. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of double indemnity by james m. A dark, seductive tale of lust and murder in double indemnity. Kahleaustin foundation contributor internet archive language english. Cain was awarded the grand master award by the mystery writers of america. Double indemnity is a 1934 detective novella by james m cain. Both books are told in the first person by a perpetrator of the crimes nearing the end of his life. Cain, screenwriter raymond chandler, and director billy wilderthis 1944 film noir works as a quintessential california narrative at the same time it creates a universe all its own. A small number would refute that double indemnity is a perfect film noir and one of the most significant movies in hollywood history. Double indemnity is the perfect mix of talents that combined to create one of the best films of all time. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 115 pages and is available in paperback format. Pdf in this essay i examine the significance of walter and phyllis relationship in cains double indemnity 1936 as a reflection of male.
A woman and her lover murder the womans husband for insurance. A term of an insurance policy by which the insurance company promises to pay the insured or the beneficiary twice the amount of coverage if loss occurs due to a particular cause or set of circumstances. Cain 1892 1977 wrote double indemnity in 1936, just after his other short masterful noir novel the postman always rings twice 1934 both these novels became celebrated movies. 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 type of coverage often written in conjunction with group life insurance plans. January 17, 2016 tags billy wilder, double indemnity screenplay, double indemnity script, james m. Cain, virtuoso of the roman noir, gives us a tautly narrated and excruciatingly suspenseful story in double indemnity, an xray view of guilt, of duplicity. Jan 05, 2018 double indemnity does not cover natural death or one that results due to natural causes, such as aging, or a health condition, suicide, and gross negligence. Cain, of course, along with wilder and raymond chandler, who wrote the script. The photography by john seitz helped develop the noir style of sharpedged shadows and shots, strange angles and lonely edward hopper settings. I vaguely recall watching the movie of the same name. Fate is a condition of individual intelligence, knowledge of the odds, the mathematics of the perfect crime. Double indemnity, james mallahan cain double indemnity is a 1943 crime novel, written by american journalistturnednovelist james m. Free download or read online double indemnity pdf epub book.
It followed the timehonoured noir plotline of a man undone by an evil woman. Choose from 62 different sets of double indemnity cain flashcards on quizlet. But thats not whats happening yet in tonights film, billy wilders classic double indemnity of 1944, based on a novel by james m. Wilder and chandler humanize cain s coldblooded story. What are the 3 themes of the story double indemnity. This study guide consists of approximately 51 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of double indemnity. Humans are selfserving and greedy, ruled by their baser passions. 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. It will generally pay the full principal sum when death occurs or more than one member e.
The main characters of this fiction, mystery story are. An insurance representative lets himself be talked by a seductive housewife into a murderinsurance fraud scheme that arouses the suspicion of an insurance investigator. Double indemnity was directed by billy wilder who used. Cain, virtuoso of the roman noir, gives us a tautly narrated and excruciatingly suspenseful story in double indemnity, an xray view. The novel later served as the basis for the film of the same name in 1944, adapted for the screen by the novelist raymond chandler and directed by. Double indemnity does not cover natural death or one that results due to natural causes, such as aging, or a health condition, suicide, and gross negligence. Cain puts his foot on the gas right out of the hole and never lets up. Double indemnity definition of double indemnity by merriam. Double indemnity definition of double indemnity by. The result is a compulsively readable book, which at 115 pages took me only three or four hours to read. Many say that double indemnity was one of cain s masterpieces, and it was made into a movie, which was named after the novel. Cain, raymond chandler film noir scripts the film noir style that arose in the post ww2 era represented a great change in the mindset of the american people towards cinema. The film was adapted by director billy wilder and writer raymond chandler from the 1935 novella by james. Walter huff was an insurance salesman with an unfailing instinct for clients who might be in trouble, and his instinct led him to phyllis nirdlinger.
Cain this study guide consists of approximately 51 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of double indemnity. In hardboiled fiction always rings twice 1934 and double indemnity 1936. 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. A producerfriend brought me some chandler stories from the black mask. Buy a cheap copy of double indemnity book by james m. When smalltime insurance salesman walter huff meets seductive phyllis nirdlinger, the wife of one of his wealthy clients, it takes him only minutes to determine. Double indemnity 1944 movie cilp not fully covered. Cains novel wasnt a mystery but a steamy dra ma about a mans self deception. Walter huff was an insurance salesman with an unfailing instinct for clients who might be in trouble, and his instinct led. Cains novel wasnt a mystery but a steamy dra ma about a mans selfdeception.
Double indemnity definition is a provision in a lifeinsurance or accident policy whereby the company agrees to pay twice the face of the contract in case of accidental death. Cain s 1943 novella of the same name, which originally appeared as an eightpart serial in liberty magazine, beginning in february 1936. Directed by billy wilder and adapted from a james m. While in service in france, he worked as an editor for the. From the narration by bleeding insurance man and confessed killer walter fred macmurray, flashing back to his first meeting with phyllis barbara stanwyck, the maid betty farrington brushed aside, double entendre underway, early in billy wilders double indemnity, 1944. The product of a creative holy trinitynovelist james m. Cain and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Following that, double indemnity appeared as a one of three long short.
Like most hardboiled crime literature of the 1930s and 1940s, double indemnity paints a picture of humanity as corrupt and evil. Cain, virtuoso of the roman noir, gives us a tautly narrated and excruciatingly suspenseful story in double indemnity, an xray view of guilt, of duplicity, and of the kind of obsessive, loveless love that devastates everything it touches. Seitz art direction hal pereira, hans drier film editor doane harrison original music miklos rozsa written by raymond chandler and billy wilder from the book by. 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. It is quite short especially if you ignore the padding in the foreword which serves no real purpose. Cain published eighteen books in all and was working on his autobiography at the time of his death. Double indemnity novel project gutenberg selfpublishing. Cain novel by wilder and raymond chandler, double indemnity represents the highwater mark of 1940s film noir urban crime dramas in which a. Chandler, like cain, was a pioneering figure in the literature of southern california, a writer who used the conventions of popular storytelling threeact structure, the rise and fall of melodrama for more enduring.
Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. It was strange reading this book as it times it seemed like i was watching an old black and white movie. Double indemnity is insurance terminology but also refers to the peculiar jeopardy of murderers. Tautly narrated and excruciatingly suspenseful, double indemnity gives us an xray view of guilt, of duplicity, and of the kind of obsessive, loveless love that devastates everything it touches. The movie is based on a brilliant novella by james m.
The first edition of the novel was published in 1936, and was written by james m. The men in both books are seduced by a femme fatale who wishes to be rid of a husband. Two of cains other novels, mildred pierce 1941 and double indemnity 1943, were also made into film noir classics. Very similar to his the postman always rings twice, cains double indemnity is dialoguedriven and a combination of existential dread. 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. Thus, it covers murder of the insured committed by a person other than the beneficiary of the policy and accidents, e. Film analysis of double indemnity film studies essay. The film double indemnity is an american masterpiece also, the product of a creative holy trinity. Double indemnity is a 1943 crime novel, written by american journalistturnednovelist james m. Other articles where double indemnity is discussed. It essentially provides for 1 double indemnity when death is caused by an accident and 2 defined dismemberment benefits.
Learn double indemnity cain with free interactive flashcards. Cain might be most famous for his novels, such as double indemnity, but he actually got his start in journalism. Billy wilders double indemnity 1944 has long been recognized as one of the classics of film noir. Born in 1892 in maryland, cain graduated from washington college and worked as a reporter for the baltimore sun newspaper before he enlisted in the army. It is even said, by some, to have heavily influenced the roman noir genre, as the movie is said to have had a great impact on the film noir genre see skenazy, 344. It doesnt have the heat of the postman always rings twice, but, except for superevil phyllis, is largely more believable. 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. Wilders double indemnity was one of the earlier films noir. They must trust each other, but as each knows the other is capable of murder, trust is impossible. Double indemnity cain flashcards and study sets quizlet.
Paramount bought double indemnity, and i was eager to work with cain, but he was tied up working on a picture at fox called western union. Double indemnity, american film noir, released in 1944, that was considered the quintessential movie of its genre. Double indemnity is often identified as being among the first true films noirs the name given by french critics to a particular kind of american crime drama of this period which has by now lost approximately as much of its meaning as criminality itself has. The book was first published in serial form for liberty magazine in 1936. Double indemnitys tale of a femme fatale seducing a man to help her kill her husband, but this time its to inherit the diner. Its the right fit for the hard urban atmosphere and dialogue created by cain, chandler, and the other writers edmund wilson called the. Cain as adapted by wilder in collaboration with raymond chandler. On every level writing, direction, acting double indemnity 1944 is a triumph and stands as one of the greatest achievements in billy wilders career. Imperative here is cains standing, and the untimely 1980s revitalization of notice in cains work, nevertheless more important is double indemnitys advantaged place in the noir principle. But lets honor one of the earliest and best femme fatales in american cinema history. Theyre trapped on barton keyes figurative trolley car to the graveyard.
Double indemnity exists in a placenta of secular astrology, where fate and chance are subject to the mathematics of an insurance companys actuarial tables rather than to the divine fortune of a christian god. Robinson, porter hall, tom powers cinematography john f. Apr 10, 2016 double indemnity audiobooks james m cain. Although not published in book form until 1943, james m. Double indemnity clauses are found most often in life insurance policies.