Barbour, Polly. The sexy blonde in question is Phyllis, the second Mrs. Dietrichson. Walter Neff manages to combine an engaging personality with a talent for the hard sell as a successful insurance salesman in 1940s Los Angeles. The novel was made into a film in 1944. Phyllis Nirdlinger. Fred MacMurray. The Question and Answer section for Double Indemnity is a great These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Double Indemnity by director Billy Wilder. During the period of time between the murder, and its aftermath, he finds himself falling in love with Nirdlinger's daughter Lola, who has come to him for help, and who is hugely suspicious of her step mother. Some of her decisions seem downright depraved, for example, asking Lola to be a witness at the signing of the insurance policy that is … "DOUBLE INDEMNITY" Screenplay by Billy Wilder and Raymond Chandler Based on the novel "Double Indemnity In Three Of A Kind" by James M. Cain CHARACTERS WALTER NEFF PHYLLIS DIETRICHSON BARTON KEYES LOLA DIETRICHSON MR. Mr. Norton is the boss and chief officer of Pacific All Risk Insurance Company, a superior to both Walter Neff and Barton Keyes. The dynamic of these two men is completely reversed in the final scene of the film. She is alluring and beautiful, and she is slightly older than Lola, her stepdaughter. Barton Keyes : Now that's enough out of you, Walter. The circumstances of Mr. Dietrichson’s falling off a train—just after taking out an insurance policy that pays double in the case of that particular accident—sets off Keyes' alarms immediately. She is a beautiful and alluring woman, barely older than Lola, her husband’s daughter from a previous marriage. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Double Indemnity (Novel) by James M. Cain. Not affiliated with Harvard College. Because he likes Walter he gives him the opportunity to be the one who "rolls" on the other, and is instrumental in offering him a deal. Double indemnity may also refer to: . His self-preservation streak is demonstrated further when he makes a deal to turn on Phyllis in return for a new life in Mexico. Keyes is the senior claims manager at the insurance company where Walter works. She is younger than her husband—not much older than his daughter—with a provocatively sexual streak and a decidedly sociopathic conscience. When he senses danger coming, he chooses to stay and talk rather than leaving, and this is when his life changes from propriety to crime. It is the story of how he meets the sultry Phyllis Dietrichson (Stanwyck) during a routine house call to renew an automobile insurance policy for her husband. will review the submission and either publish your submission or provide feedback. You can help us out by revising, improving and updating She’s seductive, manipulative, and morally ambiguous. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. Phyllis’ character traits in Double Indemnity are classified as seductive and manipulative because she takes advantage of her attractive looks to pursue self-interests and ambitions that the society perceives to be immoral. Double Indemnity Character Analysis. Lola in fact is in a committed relationship and marries her boyfriend shortly after her father is murdered. Phyllis has most likely already killed at least once before; she used to be Lola's mother's nurse, when she was suffering from pneumonia, and although her death was said to be from the disease, Lola believes that her mother was murdered by Phyllis with the sole objective of becoming the second Mrs Nirdlinger. Two of the biggest noir elements in Double Indemnity are the femme fatale and anti-hero. Phyllis is a femme fatale character at best, and a black widow at worst; she seems sociopathic and no conscience to speak of. However, Barton dismantles his entire theory straightaway. The janitor is also the one who notifies Barton Keyes of Walter's presence in the building after noticing that Walter was dripping blood. Walter Huff, an insurance agent, falls for the married Phyllis Nirdlinger, who consults him about accident insurance for her unsuspecting husband. Before coming to see her, Walter instructs Phyllis to leave the lights on, but Phyllis deliberately turns all the lights off. In “Double Indemnity”, the type realism is taken not so much from a specific character but from the character’s activities (for living I mean) and another character’s speech. This causes him to commit suicide by jumping from the ship to Mexico. Walter has a strong streak of self-preservation which he demonstrates by creating an airtight alibi for himself and making sure that there is nothing to connect him to either Phyllis or the murder. "Double Indemnity (Novel) Characters". When he is shot, Walter is seen to … ... Walter Neff. In fact, from what can be gathered from the film, he may well be Walter’s only friend. ... [Recurring line, spoken several times by both the principal characters Walter Neff and by Phyllis Dietrichson] "Right down the line" or "straight down the line". Nettie is the Dietrichson's maid, who originally tries to turn Walter away, thinking he is merely a meddlesome salesman. Read the Study Guide for Double Indemnity (Novel)…, View Wikipedia Entries for Double Indemnity (Novel)…. He erroneously believes the Dietrichson case was a suicide, laying out a grand theory, seemingly in order to prove to his employees that he has a first-rate intellect. It has venetian blinds, hats and coats, pouring rain, and, of course, crime. Neff, clearly in pain, sits down at his desk and tells the whole story into a Dictaphone for his colleague Barton Keyes (Robinson), a claims adjuster. Charlie is the parking attendant in Walter Neff's building, who is instrumental to Walter's alibi. A passionate affair quickly turns into a plot to collect a big insurance payout by killing the woman’s husband and making it look like an accident. generic codes and conventions of film noir with more recent neo-noirs; the films I’m going to use to do this are Double Indemnity and Pulp Fiction. At the end of the novella Walter realizes that he has ruined his life; he has no home, no work, no insurance business, no loved ones and no future. Walter, the stereotypical man, is seen to be the upright and strong character, carefully planning the murder of Phyllis. Barbara Stanwyck. Keyes is the cagey claims adjuster who is both Walter’s immediate boss and his best friend. At the beginning of Double Indemnity Walter Huff is portrayed as a very ordinary huckster, well-known to almost every hard-working citizen--the insurance salesman. Generally the protagonist is either forced into crime, or in turn the victim of a corrupt legal system as well. But despite objections and impositions from the Production Code Administration, through compromise and strategy, Billy Wilder managed to create and release the film in 1944. She is certain that Phyllis murdered her mom, and she never for a minute accepts that her father’s death was an accident. These techniques create an unforgettable impression of tragic end of the main character Walter Neff who fell in love with a young woman but did not understand her ugly nature, the nature of the murderer. The murderers quickly were identified, arrested and convicted. 1. resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. GradeSaver, 13 December 2018 Web. Throughout Double Indemnity Walter Neff is consistently in the position of power in his relationship with Barton Keyes which also directly corresponds to each man’s masculinity. And Keyes is notorious for always being right when he follows his gut feeling. this section. Copyright © 1999 - 2021 GradeSaver LLC. Not affiliated with Harvard College. Walter Neff manages to combine an engaging personality with a talent for the hard sell as a successful... Phyllis Dietrichson. The affection he feels toward Walter is obvious, which makes their relation tragic as he gets closer and closer to fitting together the last pieces of the mystery of what happened on the train. The gesture symbolizes Phyllis's desire throughout to conceal her true intentions from not only Walter, but also Nino, Lola, Mr. Dietrichson, and … The unfortunate Mr. Dietrichson could have avoided a whole mess of trouble simply by being a little more circumspect when hiring a nurse to care for his ailing wife. Like all the characters in Double Indemnity, Huff is motivated by self-aggrandizement, trying to outsmart everyone else. She does not seem to have any idea that Walter is involved and in fact uses him as a confidante of sorts, which Walter mis-reads as a romantic connection. The major conflict in the film is the slowly-emerging one between Walter Neff and Phyllis Dietrichson, who begin as lovers, then become rivals, then finally each other's murderers. Double Indemnity (1944) Edward G. Robinson as Barton Keyes. Storyline. An editor Anchored in the film noirs aestheticism, its low-key lighting, oppressive music, sharp dialogues and breathtaking performances achieve to make this film an unavoidable classic. Although she is present in their first meeting, she is absent at their second meeting, the implication being that Phyllis intentionally sent Nettie away so that she could be alone with Walter. In Barton Keyes’ speech (Edward G. Robinson), he conceives the insurance company as a sort of symbol for this modern hypocrisy in society and in man to man relations. Phyllis is very attractive and knows how to use her alluring looks to manipulate men into doing whatever it is that she wants them to do. Phyllis may have the power to enchant men into not looking very far past her provocative sexuality, but Lola was never fooled for a minute. Lola does not like her stepmother and is suspicious of her, determining to see her in court and punished for her father's murder. Phyllis believes she has come up with a perfect murder, but when she realizes that she has not, and that she is likely going to be arrested once the ship docks in Mexico, decides that suicide is the only answer for her. The events of the novel unfold largely because he is a hard worker, and wants to generate more business; he visits the Nirdlinger home because he wants to persuade Mr Nirdlinger to renew his automobile insurance. Nino is Lola's boyfriend, and he is poised to become yet another fly that gets trapped in Phyllis Dietrichson’s sticky web of evil. In 1938, Walter Neff, an experienced salesman of the Pacific All Risk Insurance Co., meets the seductive wife of one of his clients, Phyllis Dietrichson, and they have an affair. Menu. The front page photo of Snyder's execution in the electric chair at Sing Sing, captured by reporter Tom Ho… He finds himself instantly captivated by Mr Nirdingler's wife, Phyllis, even though he almost immediately realizes that there is something forbidden and dangerous about her. ” Double Indemnity: A Brief Background. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. I’m also going to investigate the relationship between original film noirs and the Hollywood studio system and contemporary production contexts in the North American Film Industry. After killing Phyllis and dying of a gunshot wound himself, Walter strives for some small redemption by telling Nino to go back to the woman who truly loves him. Double Indemnity (1944) Fred MacMurray as Walter Neff. Cinema scholars often refer to Barbara Stanwyck’s character of Phyllis Dietrichson in Double Indemnity (1944) as one of the top examples of the femme fatale, as her conniving spirit and good looks worked all the men in her story to her whims. The wife died under mysterious circumstances, and Phyllis quickly made the transition from nurse to bride. Lola has been the victim of Phyllis Nirdlinger twice, first when Phyllis murdered her mother and then when she murders her father for the insurance money. Cast (in credits order) verified as complete. What begins as a routine house call with the intent to update a client's auto policy spins wildly out of the control the moment he sets his eye on the pretty blonde wife of the policyholder. In 1943, the story of Double Indemnity had earned the label of “unfilmmable” in Hollywood due to its controversial and ‘immoral’ subject matter (Biltereyst 148). Double Indemnity study guide contains a biography of director Billy Wilder, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Double Indemnity (Novel) essays are academic essays for citation. Mr. Dietrichson first met Phyllis when she was hired as a nurse to care for his first wife. According to the film, women are presented as having two distinctive personality traits: power hungry and dangerous. Immediately download the Double Indemnity summary, chapter-by-chapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more - everything you need for studying or teaching Double Indemnity. Some of her decisions seem downright depraved, for example, asking Lola to be a witness at the signing of the insurance policy that is the catalyst for her father's murder. Walter ( Fred MacMurray) is Walter Neff ("two f's--like in Philadelphia”). ... Dietrichson first met... Barton Keyes. The Question and Answer section for Double Indemnity (Novel) is a great Double Indemnity (Novel) study guide contains a biography of James M. Cain, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. The sexy blonde in question is Phyllis, the second Mrs. Dietrichson. Phyllis is a femme fatale character at best, and a black widow at worst; she seems sociopathic and no conscience to speak of. It is his movie adaptation of the famous 1935 James Cain’s novella, which presents a … Double indemnity is a clause or provision in a life insurance or accident policy.. Double indemnity , James Mallahan Cain Double Indemnity is a 1943 crime novel, written by American journalist-turned-novelist James M. Cain. He has previously liked Walter but he is immediately suspicious of the insurance claim filed by Phyllis Nirdlinger, and his suspicions mount more when he realizes there is a prior relationship between Phyllis and Walter. Now get outta here before I throw my desk at you. In the movie double indemnity, Phyllis Dietrichson the unhappy wife of an older and wealthy man is sexually objectified both by the imagery of the movie and her character position as related to other characters. In many ways, Woody Allens quote encompasses all the main elements that make Billy Wilders Double Indemnity (Paramount Pictures, USA, 1944) a masterpiece. Double Indemnity was directed by Billy Wilder (Raymond Chandler collaborated on the screenplay) and starred Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, and Edward G. Robinson. He's an insurance salesman, successful but bored. This turns out to be one-sided; Lola has a boyfriend whom she soon marries. Walter makes sure to converse with him twice on the night of the murder to make it seem like he never left his apartment until the early morning. Phyllis embodies the classic femme fatale. He is well respected at work and has not put a foot wrong his entire career. Walter Huff is a conscientious insurance agent who works hard and sees success because of his hard work. While you are watching Double Indemnity, make a mental note The 1944 film Double Indemnity is everything that classic film noir could possibly be. In that crime, Ruth Snyder persuaded her boyfriend, Judd Gray, to kill her husband Albert after having him take out a big insurance policy – with a double-indemnity clause. In film noir, many of the male leads are weak, frustrated men. He appears a little self-important, eager to display his knowledge of the insurance game and ready to prove how smart he is to get past the maid who answers the door at a client's home. She easily lures Walter into her trap even while planning to betray him right from the beginning. Phyllis is reckless and impulsive, where Walter is passive and pliable. Keyes is a smart man who can smell a rat very quickly and who is not going to let any insurance schemes succeed on his watch at the company. Double Indemnity overflows with a remarkably diverse and creative series of shots composed to keep two major characters within the frame in order to further underline the significance of their relationship. The woman is Phyllis Dietrichson ( Barbara Stanwyck ), a lazy blond who met her current husband by nursing his wife--to death, according to her stepdaughter. GradeSaver, Walter and Phyllis's Courtship and Conspiracy Scenes, Read the Study Guide for Double Indemnity…, Scarface and Double Indemnity: The Corporate Loss of American Morality, The Function of the Male Gaze in Vertigo and Double Indemnity, View Wikipedia Entries for Double Indemnity…. Although you may not have a clear definition of a femme fatale in mind, in a few sentences, write down what you know about this kind of character. There is no doubt in Double Indemnity, that Phyllis Dietrichson, the dissatisfied wife of a wealthy older man is being sexually objectified both by the imagery of the film and by her position in relation to the other characters. Double Indemnity Character List Walter Neff. resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. Insurance salesman Walter Huff is the narrator of Double Indemnity. Ultimately, she manages to break the spell Phyllis holds on him. The movie Double Indemnity attracts attention of the present day spectators by its well-developed camerawork, mise-en-scene, sound and editing. Perhaps the most famous character in film noir movies is the femme fatale. She is upstairs wearing a towel, and the camera is looking up at her to show that she is more superior than the … GradeSaver "Double Indemnity Characters". The janitor at the Pacific All-Risk Insurance office is one of the first characters we meet, letting an injured Walter into the Pacific All Risk Insurance building so that Walter can leave his dying confession into the Dictaphone. The title, Double Indemnity, is taken from a type of insurance claim which pays out double the original premium should the policy-holder die in … Unaware of Walter’s role in that death, she tries to convince him that Phyllis is essentially evil personified. After you claim a section you’ll have 24 hours to send in a draft. Double Indemnity is a 1944 film-noir, which is directed by Billy Wilder, a multitalented American artist, producer, screenwriter and filmmaker. In the adaptation, Wilder and Chandler changed the names of the main characters: Walter Huff became Walter Neff, and Phyllis Nirdlinger became Phyllis Dietrichson. Movies. 2. James M. Cain based his novella on a 1927 murder perpetrated by a married Queens, New York, woman and her lover whose trial he attended while working as a journalist in New York. Double Indemnity, a 1944 American film noir; Double Indemnity, a 1973 film directed by Jack Smight; Double Indemnity, a 1943 crime novel "Double Indemnity", a short story by science fiction writer Robert Sheckley DOUBLE INDEMNITY ANALYSIS Describe Phyllis Dietrichson's look: In the opening, at the very start o the film, there is a close up shot of the main character, called Phyllis. Copyright © 1999 - 2021 GradeSaver LLC. Double Indemnity essays are academic essays for citation. The present day spectators by its well-developed camerawork, mise-en-scene, sound and editing double indemnity characters questions. Everything that classic film noir, many of the male leads are weak, frustrated men a 1943 crime,... And strong character, carefully planning the murder of Phyllis male leads are weak, frustrated.. 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