Film Noirchives: DOUBLE INDEMNITY

[@NathanCassidy721]

I saw this in film class and it’s a DAMN fine film. That scene with the head of the insurance salesman going over the statistics of death by train compared to everything else is one of the best scripted rants I’ve ever seen.

[@j.p.9522]

It was high noon, early December, and when the phone rattled, I knew it was my lucky day.

[@tomripsin730]

Even over the lousy connection I knew she was a blonde. With eyes that smouldered, and a pair of gams that drew me in like a carney barker at the top of his game.

[@DR_Neal_Rigger]

👍👍👍 The movies of the 30s - 50s are some of the most underrated, and underwatched out there.. this art is lost on modern filmmakers..

[@ricardocantoral7672]

The heads of the old studios actually knew about entertainment at the very least. They were enthusiastic about films.

[@andrewvanhalen1984]

It was called the "Golden Age of Filmmaking" for a reason 😉

[@roberthultz9023]

@@andrewvanhalen1984 Watch "Treasure of the Sherria Madres". Not Noir , but man , what a story !

[@bluecollarlit]

Badges? BADGES?! We don't need no stinking badges!

[@TheSaltydog07]

Nope. Go to Turner Classic Movies. Huge fan base. 💋

[@TheMustachioedJames]

Any critic accusing noir of including such efforts as Justice League needs to be given their walking papers. Maybe try woodworking.

[@michelleyoung731]

Double indemnity is my favorite film noir. Absolutely incredible acting, writing and direction. Fantastic dialog between Stanwyck and Mcmurray- sexy as hell. And Robinson is so very good.

[@strangelee4400]

Modern noir: Everyone Vapes. "Come up and *pshuuuuuuuchhhpp* see me sometime"

[@wickedlee664]

strange lee may west noir?

[@ruthiehenshallfan99]

Strangely something I would like to see. A Mae West noir, if just for the potential one liners.

[@philipibaugh2925]

Edward G Robinson is one of my favorite classic actors and the relationship between his character and McMurray adds to why I like this movie so much.

[@TheSaltydog07]

Wilder said, and I agree, that the love was between Walter and Keyes, not Phyliss and Walter.

[@blank557]

Interesting fact: Charleston Heston in Soylent Green repeated the same phrase "I love you" from the ending scene in Double Indemnity to his co-actor, Edward G. Robinson. Soyent Green was Robinson's' last film. He was suffering from cancer and passed away soon after the movie was completed. A fitting in-movie tribune to a great actor .

[@MaryAnneRosato]

Phyllis: "I think you're rotten." Walter: "I think you're swell. As long as I'm not your husband." Perfect!

[@Gameking40]

This video defines why I love your content Razorfist. I know very little of Film Noir but your detailed and enthusiastic narration shows just how well researched these videos are. You care about the content you discuss and it really shows. This is why I watch you Fist. Never stop being awesome.

[@raccoononymous]

Razor, which phrase can you not live without, "multifarious" or "gilded fuckbubble?"

[@LeeboProductions]

'Nomenclature'

[@TheRageaholic]

Spoon clan--HEY WAIT A MINUTE...

[@Superxpninja]

Space Jew "exemplified"

[@CGoody564]

What about a multifarious gilded fuckbubble?

[@BestWayKilla]

"festooned"

[@clonusmaximus4600]

A beer at a drive in? Amazing

[@Eszuran]

This movie blew me away. If you don't give it enough praise I'm gonna show up at your door. Now, lets watch...

[@drjohnsmith5282]

This is unique - Razor manages to get through an entire video without a single use of the word FUCK! Seriously, as a noir fan, this was a great video and I am looking forward to the rest of the series. God speed Razor and Rageaholics

[@2049571]

I'm a simple man, i see Razor, i watch

[@pluckyduck11y]

Billy "Badass" Wilder. I only discovered his work recently. I had passing recollection of some of the titles he's most noted for, of course those too iconic to be totally oblivious to, but never got around to watching the movies until I saw his lesser known "One, Two, Three" starring James Cagney. It became most evident to me after just that 1 film that Wilder must have been a great influence on the Coen bros. And that got me thinking, if this was minor Wilder, then he really must be a genius. Then I finally got around to Sunset Boulevard which is so bizarre and endearing. I can see why it's a classic as it still holds up pretty well. And lastly I just caught "Double Indemnity" today and I'd have to say it's even better than Sunset Blvd, although it has different aims. Sunset is more offbeat character study, which helps set it apart, though the story is simply not quite up to the watermark of DI. I'm eager to see what else the prolific Wilder has done.

[@MrSaywutnow]

Double Indemnity - the first and to date only Film Noir picture I've seen...and damn do I love it. I must admit that at first I didn't particularly like Barbara Stanwyck's performance, but by the end of the film I finally understood her character. "Sheet rock thick air of unbridled artifice" sums her up to a T.

[@constantin5509]

This! Was! Fucking! BADASS! I've actually started my journey into Film Noir with this very movie, as I listened to your recommendations on tumblr. It was a fantastic thriller. I've watched quite a few Film Noir since then, with The Third Man being my favorite thus far. Can't wait for the next episodes. This is gonna be great.

[@ricardocantoral7672]

If that list doesn't have Detour, it sucks ! 😉

[@ToriHiragana]

Watch Night and City, underrated and seemingly unknown. Watch it

[@bluecollarlit]

The Third Man - classic!

[@constantin5509]

@@bluecollarlit Loved that movie. Easily one of the best.

[@daniellack3559]

Quite simply the finest film noir ever made....and one of the all time best films ever..period..

[@captaincardigan6939]

that shot under the street light during the credits looks amazing.

[@ugaais]

I’m in insurance and I love Film Noir this is one of the all time greats..

[@paleczkiy]

What happened to in films, it seems to me, that we are being fed shit for 20 years or more.

[@cineclassics2277]

Still here rewatching these videos years later. When are we getting more Film Noirchives, Razor? We need it!

[@psychowordsmith]

Wow!! Last time I was this early, this movie was in theatres.

[@dravenmontageau7575]

Emmmmmmm... I doubt that.

[@SkywarpV]

He didn't get the money, he didn't get the woman..but he got My Three Sons...

[@jerickman]

Excellent review. Billy Wilder is a gem in film history and Double Indemnity is one of his finest.

[@jeenkzk5919]

I really appreciate you putting out videos about classic movies! Just because it's old doesn't mean it's for old people! If that's the mentality then you're missing out on a wonderful world! I remember watching Fred McMurray on My Three Son's for many years and was blown away seeing him as a bad guy!

[@MarkAndrewEdwards]

Good choice to start things out. I love Chandler's dialog and, yes, you're right on with the praise for the cinematography. Looking forward to this series.

[@Xaxp]

Damn I love these Film Noirchives. While This Gun for Hire will likely always remain my personal favorite, any of the films Razor covers here can be categorized as masterworks in my mind.

[@bandgeekforlife406]

I must admit that most of my previous conceptions of film noir were formed from Calvin and Hobbes comics, which is to say, from Calvin's film noir fantasies in said comics :P But I like learning new things, so I appreciate how information-packed Razor's videos are :D

[@Vaporvice84]

After finally seeing this film last year, i just finished watching "Body Heat" and holy shit, I could make a laundry list of things I noticed that it took from D.I. Probably the best way to remake a film without actually calling it one. I loved it.

[@greggmorgan2371]

Wow...I have not thought of this movie in over 30 years. That one of your tender years has done a review gives me hope. I'll have to watch it again.

[@peanutarbuckle2879]

You know Razor, I think you'd really dig the Max Payne games. While the gameplay and visuals haven't aged all that well, the first two games nailed the neo-noir mood. Third one completely threw that out of the window and did the COME TO BRASIIL!!! thing.

[@oni2538]

I wouldn't go that far. While visually it's a stark departure from the tried and true formula of it's predecessors, in terms of its theme and narrative it's a much more dark, cynical, and cerebral experience. Not noir in the purest sense, sure, but by comparison, certain subplots and at least one level of Max Payne 2 are absolutely goofy in comparison to it's successor, and people adore that game.

[@matman000000]

Uncle Wolf MP3 might be dark, but it isn't noir. Max is just a hired gun, he no longer has the vengeful drive of the first game and dark obsession with Mona of the second game. If anything, the serious grim-dark tone was a step-back. Remedy's tongue-in-cheek self-aware tone added to the surreal and unsettling atmosphere. It made you feel like New York after dark really was a different place, a filthy fairytale land that reflected Max's state of mind. Noir isn't just dark and cynical, it's seductive, it makes you fall in love with its dirty alleys and wretched human beings. MP3 didn't do that.

[@1986Hikaru]

In Brasil's defense, São Paulo is a pretty Noir city. But for some reason, the producer mixed it iwth fuck Rio de Janeiro and fucked every thing up.

[@peanutarbuckle2879]

More dark, cynical and cerebral? I disagree, I felt that Max Payne 3 was more in line with Frank Miller's description of a crime story: little and ugly to look at. Rather than the Noir themes that cemented the first two games in my foundational memory of how videogame plots could be, it reminded me more of the (not bad but) much shallower crime thrillers of the 2000s (look at the latest Man on Fire, ffs. It's basically the same plot as MP3).

[@naturallawman2965]

Mattchester I would give ur reply a hundred thumbs up if I could. Spot fucking on. Like MP3, but MP1 & MP2 were just... Otherworldly good and the Noir is what brought you in. MP3 is more akin to an 80s, Miami Vice (2006) kinda Noir. High style in setting, music, clubs, and jammed with over the top action. The nihilism was right and the Tropical backdrop, but the romance and atmosphere were lost. Everytime we'd get close to feeling for Max again, we'd just cut to another breathless action sequence ala the later seasons of Vice.

[@jamesedwardclard]

Very excited for this series. Love this movie. My favorite Noir film is Kiss Me Deadly

[@spatulasnout]

Indeed, that's a fun one. (I've long recalled a particular scene, without remember the name of the movie.)

[@jamesedwardclard]

is it the scene where he bitch slaps the clerk into giving information after the clerk rejects attempt to bribe him? Thats my favorite.

[@ricardocantoral7672]

It's the best deconstruction Noir.

[@ataru4]

Great movie. Barbara Stanwyck had an interesting life, I think it makes her an enigmatic screen presence.

[@LOTR22090able]

Hey Razor, thanks for making this video. I just watched the movie and it was awesome. It really illustrates just how important a good writer is to a movie. The plot points of Double Indemnity could easily be made into a Lifetime movie and the story would suffer from it. Luckily it was handled by a competent, if dysfunctional, team and we got this classic.

[@naturallawman2965]

Wow Razor, seeing Stanwyck's performance in this makes me recall Body Heat in a completely different light. Shit, Kathleen Turner literally stole and emulated her entire performance from DI. All the way down to Barbara's voice.

[@ThePlataf]

I had the great good fortune to study film noir in my third year of Media Studies. Double Indemnity is still a film I can watch day and night without getting bored.

[@GrayNeko]

I finally saw this yesterday, and all I can say is THANK YOU! This movie is awesome! Would've never given it a second thought until this series. Keep 'em coming! ^_^ Cheers, sir!

[@AndreaEssEmm]

Love your movie reviews. For your noir series, I would love to see you do videos on Out of the Past, The Maltese Falcon, Mildred Pierce, Pick-up On South Street, Sunset Blvd., and Gilda!

[@fakenews6133]

Corey in the House is my favorite film noir.

[@arootube]

It's a party every week, baby!

[@ugaais]

Detour is a great Noir

[@Red_Lanterns_Rage]

Double Indemnity is one of my fave films just for the dialog but it's a solid film, best in class at what it does and definitely Fred MacMurray made Neff more likable and not just a sleaze or anything...

[@yuothineyesasian]

*Crosses fingers and closes eyes...* "Please don't shit on L.A Confidential, Please don't shit on L.A Confidential..."

[@muddeer5383]

a huge plot hole, and a ridiculous hollywood-sweetened ending. all i can remember from that trash

[@sketchstevens5859]

​@@muddeer5383 wait what was the plot hole for LA confidential?

[@megmoore8681]

I saw this one in film class last year and it's stuck with me since.

[@humphreysmiggens3881]

Ive always considered key largo and double indemnity as Edward g Robinson's best performances. Stark contrasts too- Johnny Rocco one of cinema's best villains, and Keyes (the protagonist) seemed seasoned enough to even accidentally crack the case

[@risingofthethorn1197]

I can't help but think that film noir is a lightning in the bottle always imitated never duplicated.Not a good thing not a bad thing.

[@demamhutan5547]

Great content as usual. Your variety of uploaded topics and your comprehensive research for each is worthy of high praise. This is what YT is for. Thanks.

[@Metatarsus0]

I loved Robinson as Keyes. He's my favorite character in this film.

[@SpencerBelanger]

i am ganna give this a viewing just because its written by Raymond Chandler. easily my favorite writers of all time.

[@VideInfra99]

Good God, so stoked for this new series! This is gonna be fun.

[@chandarsundaram1394]

The "folk guitar" in "The Third Man" is a Zither, an eastern European instrument.

[@star_blazer]

Hey Raz0r, this is one of the best videos for helping to understand film. Please make many more!

[@kricetispies732]

One of my top 5 of all time! Classic! All performances were legendary. I love it! I really did too you old crab.

[@infamousT]

You obviously love the genre, as do I - and I wholeheartedly concur to boot: one of the very finest examples of it. Vrilliantly done, I may say. I thoroughly enjoyed that

[@AsylumEscapade]

I love noir. The Maltese Falcoln and Chinatown are my favorites.

[@Lieutenant_Dude]

Just watched this today, so great. I cannot believe how expertly stanwyk played that villain. Every psychopath alarm in my lizard brain was laughing lighting up as she spoke.

[@crusader176]

Love The Review of This Great Film more Film Noir please Like "Out of the Past", The Glass Key" or The Maltese Falcon

[@HabbeningNetNews]

Ooo, one of my favourite youtubers talking about one of my favourite films. Billy Wilder was a master filmmaker.

[@tremblingcolors]

"Margie, eh? I still say she drinks from the bottle."

[@BaronVonHaggis]

CLASSIC REUPLOAD!

[@Lieutenant_Dude]

Shazam...he’ll always be Captain Marvel to me. He’s Superman without the pretense. He’s more trustworthy, more just. He is without the desire to control the world. And Superman is always grappling with his own authoritarian desires, desires that Batman has to constantly keep in check.

[@constantin5509]

Never heard of Captain Marvel/Shazam until now. He sounds interesting.

[@doctorclaw8232]

Constantin - You'ree in for a ride, Billy Batson is a pure heart kid

[@michaelkeha]

FallaciousScotsman that's kinda screwy given that well Batman has been the authoritarian of the two through out their life times.

[@redcedarsky]

michaelkeha except for injustice and red son you mean.

[@michaelkeha]

Lvl99 WhiteMage Both of which are alternative realities and aren't cannon with the main timeline hell isn't Red Sun a Elseworld story

[@MrBeanr262]

I've watched your videos for years and I've got to say this is the best and most professional video you've made yet. Good job, man.

[@TheJordanHageman]

Also, bring back Metal Mythos.

[@Thelast1leftNOW]

Awesome review Razor! Definitely keep this series going. If you've never watched "Scarlet Street" with Edward G Robinson I highly recommend it. The ending is phenomenal.

[@matman000000]

Jeepers I love you, Johnny!

[@ricardocantoral7672]

Eddie G. Robinson was a terrific performer. He was never miscast.

[@Thelast1leftNOW]

Ricardo Cantoral one of my favorites, and it was such a different role for him.

[@wickedlee664]

Thelast1leftNOW scarlet street! One of my faves!!

[@ruthiehenshallfan99]

Lazy legs...

[@sampedro9316]

Thank you razorfist for guiding me through this genre. Planning on checking out all the westerns you recommend as well 👌

[@BadGuyRants]

Barbara Stanwyck was a goddess

[@bethrouser1686]

Intelligent dialogue has been missing from film for decades. Watching the exchanges between the hitman and the black widow shows har far American culture has devolved.

[@uroslazovic9632]

Thank you sir Razor for you are the one that showed me the way of good music and great movies. Please, continue with your work.

[@kevincoles5165]

Soooo.... must watch over and over!

[@Rednospunk]

Thank you very much for this vid. It was fucking enjoyable. Please do more.

[@questionitall3053]

Chandler was superb. Great film!

[@billolsen4360]

Fred MacMurray was always best when he was immoral, Double Indemnity, The Caine Mutiny & The Apartment.

[@kurtcobainsmicrophone6969]

Mr Fist, This has made my day. Thank you.

[@wildgentleman3921]

Recent subscriber. I'm super excited for this video series. Love me some noir but super new to it.

[@sngooms]

Finally someone gives some love to film noir

[@thekcsugethe_kc_suge7930]

I could watch this movie everyday

[@randomanimallover3196]

I'd be interested to hear your take on The Last Seduction. It was on one night, so I thought I'd watch it out of boredom and ended up riveted: absolutely love that film.

[@StylinandRaciallyProfilin]

Darn those copyright gods

[@anonco1907]

Would you tell me about your profile image? I see a rebel flag but whats the other stuff and what do they represent?

[@garjonalpha]

Disney?

[@StylinandRaciallyProfilin]

Anon CO Its a Knights Templar flag overlaid on the Battle Flag of the Confederacy, with my channel name written on it.

[@anonco1907]

So it was the Knights Templar I understand that, anyways small correction is that the confederacy flag you're showing is actually the battle flags of the army of Tennessee, The flag of the Confederacy was later made similar but the rebel/battle flag is still distinctly different than that of the Confederacy flag.

[@Vaporvice84]

There's a theater here in NYC that's playing this on 35mm next Tuesday. think I'll check it out.

[@jbinminot]

Fred MacMurray and Edward G. Robinson were way underrated actors.

[@karltrent]

Outstanding work! You can bet your bottom dollar I'll be looking forward to the next Film Noirchives.

[@jeffengland2791]

Great movie.

[@zombiecupcakes01]

Unequivocally my favorite video series by the rageaholic.

[@juliancarlson1992]

Great video. I did a research paper on film noir for my history of film class last fall and this film was pivotal in exploring the common themes across the genre.

[@theentangledwiggler-man2344]

This feels oddly familiar...

[@juanhenry0]

That was rad. Keep this up.

[@juanhenry0]

That comment was made with Venetian blind lighting.

[@carlabroderick5508]

If the channel maker wrote this, wow, I hope you’re a scriptwriter yourself, and you must certainly prevent boredom in your friends.

[@StatelessPerson]

Definitely, a great place to begin. The only suggestion I might have dared make would have been to include one section of the film, the cheap LA grocery store meetup, the Farina Scene, grafted into Steve Martin's "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid," wherein Martin wearing Stanwick's blond wig rears back from tongue hockey with MacMurray. I would have been unable to resist the temptation. Cheers!

[@youngthinker1]

In many ways, I view the Haze code as being the impetus of creativity within Hollywood. How can a production team convey a message without directly stating the message? provides such rich fodder for creative solutions. Unlike today, where modern shows tend to vary between soft core and hard core pornography, during that era, writers expected the audience to be clued in to the hints provided, thus the double standard of communication. A child can watch a Haze code film and come away with a positive experience while an adult grasps the underlying tone and message thus a different experience. This bleed over into cartoons which did the same, up till the 00s, where most subtle writing fell out of vogue in favor of the "message".

[@adman1381]

Classic movies are always great to talk about.

[@asumjessen2013]

This was fucking amazing. If there's anything the genre needs right now it's a clear up of what makes noir and what doesn't. Well done, Razor. I can't wait for a touch of evil! Brown Heston = Best Heston

[@kerravon9137]

Superb review. I'd love to see a Film Noirchive of The Big Sleep.

[@shaakgi7206]

I love this series Razor. Keep these coming!

[@godlyobject6509]

Fantastically presented, Raz0r. Excellent.

[@Sammy_316]

I fucking love this! real film noir fans are few and far between. This is a noble effort, Razor. Thank You. Edited to add: There is a treasure trove of public domain film noir movies on archive dot org.

[@dangerdolls]

This cut both ways, Razor. It was both interesting and entertaining. Give us more.

[@Awesomepedia]

Great start of this series!

[@thewayfarer8849]

I've waited a long time for you to cover noir like this, all hail the Razor expansion!

[@demondik]

Excellent presentation Razor! I'm taking your advice on the bourbon as I single-handedly type this comment out as a matter of fact....