History Film / DoubleIndemnity

* AdaptationNameChange: The novel's Walter Huff becomes Walter Neff in the film, for some reason. Mr. and Mrs. Dietrichson were Mr. and Mrs. Nordlinger in the novel; the latter choice was specifically because Chandler and Wilder thought that [[InherentlyFunnyWord Nordlinger]] was too silly a name for such a serious story.

* OhCrap: Clearly what's going through Walter's mind when [[spoiler: Mr.Jackson]] shows up outside Keyes' office.

* VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory: Based on the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Snyder 1927 Snyder-Gray murder]], which also inspired ''Film/BodyHeat'' and ''Film/ThePostmanAlwaysRingsTwice.''

* AdaptationDistillation: {{Downplayed|Trope}}. The film hews very close to the book for the most part (though it eliminates some revelations about Phyllis), but the ending is both spatially and temporally more compact. Its main differences are in the dialogue (Chandler believed Cain's dialogue [[PragmaticAdaptation wouldn't translate well]] to the screen) and the use of the FramingDevice of Neff recounting the story into the dictaphone.
* AdaptationalHeroism: Sort of. Basically, it was Chandler's idea to make Keyes the lovably passionate SympatheticInspectorAntagonist he is in the film. He doesn't have ''nearly'' as much characterization in the book.

* AffablyEvil: Walter is a smooth talking and charismatic insurance salesman and a very likable and sympathetic protagonist who acts like TheEveryman. This makes it easy to forget that he's a murderer who killed an innocent man for "money and a woman" and even attempts to [[spoiler: frame an innocent person for his crimes. Though he does call it off at the last minute and has a HeelRealization.]]
* AlasPoorVillain: [[spoiler: Neff may have been a greedy murderer but his pitiful and tragic demise makes you feel ''so'' sorry for him. Heck, you might even feel bad for Phyllis as her conscience/love for Neff catches up to her before she dies.]]

* AssholeVictim: Played with in regards to Mr. Dietrichson. While certainly loudmouthed and obnoxious, it's hinted that a great deal of what Phyllis tells Neff about him is exaggerated or made up in order to get him to go along with her plan.
** Also Phyllis herself.

* BetterToDieThanBeKilled: [[spoiler:Walter and Phyllis commit suicide at the end of the book, rather than face prison and execution for their crime.]]

* BlackWidow: Phyllis, a poster girl.

* {{Chiaroscuro}}

* FamousLastWords: " I'm not asking you to buy it, just hold me close!"--[[spoiler: Phyllis Dietrichson]]

* DownerEnding: Obviously given that is stars a VillainProtagonist during the height of the Hays Code.

Walter Neff (Fred [=Mac=]Murray) is a successful but bored insurance salesman who encounters Phyllis Dietrichson (Creator/BarbaraStanwyck) when he comes to her house to discuss automobile insurance. After the two have traded some innuendo-laden banter, Phyllis reveals that her marriage is not a particularly happy one and the pair end up conspiring to trick her husband into taking out an accident insurance policy -- and ensure that he then meets a tragic "accidental" end.

* AdaptationDistillation: Mildly. The film hews very close to the book for the most part (though it eliminates some revelations about Phyllis), but the ending is both spatially and temporally more compact. Its main differences are in the dialogue (Chandler believed Cain's dialogue [[PragmaticAdaptation wouldn't translate well]] to the screen) and the use of the FramingDevice of Neff recounting the story into the dictaphone.

* AssholeVictim:
** Played with Mr. Dietrichson. While certainly loudmouthed and obnoxious, it's hinted that a great deal of what Phyllis tells Neff about him is exaggerated or made up in order to get him to go along with her plan.

* BetterToDieThanBeKilled: [[spoiler:Walter]] and [[spoiler:Phyllis]] commit suicide at the end of the book, rather than face prison and execution for their crime.
* BlackAndGreyMorality: The one pure character (Dietrichson's daughter) seems to be the story's TheWoobie.

* VillainProtagonist: Neff may be a sap who falls prey to Phyllis' manipulation; but he's also a murderer.

* VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory: Based on the [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Snyder 1927 Snyder-Gray murder]], which also inspired ''Film/BodyHeat'' and ''Film/ThePostmanAlwaysRingsTwice.''

* AffablyEvil: Walter is a smooth talking and charismatic insurance salesman and a very likable and sympathetic protagonist who acts like TheEveryman. This makes it easy to forget that he's a murderer who killed an innocent man for "money and a woman" and even attempts to [[spoiler: frame an innocent teenager for his crimes. Though he does call it off at the last minute and has a HeelRealization.]]

* CigarChomper: Keyes has a his mouth by the end of nearly every scene he is in.

* InsuranceFraud: The plot of the film revolves around Phyllis' attempt to arrange her husband's murder and collect his insurance money, which pays double in the event of accidental death (i.e. [[TitleDrop double indemnity.]])

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Subverted. Neff is sure that Keyes is going to hit him with one of these, full of "twenty-dollar words," but Keyes just looks at him with his eyes full of sorrow and betrayal and says:

* TitleDrop: As Neff explains the clause in accident insurance policies that would result in even more money, if it's "the kind that almost never happens": "Little thing called 'double indemnity'..."

* ChekhovsGunman: Nino.

* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: Phyllis. Dear God, Phyllis.
* CigarChomper: Keyes.

* DownerEnding: Obviously.

* VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory: Based on the 1927 Snyder-Gray murder, which also inspired ''Film/BodyHeat'' and ''Film/ThePostmanAlwaysRingsTwice.''

* BlondesAreEvil: Phyllis.

* TrickedIntoSigning: Walter Neff sells Mr. Dietrichson car insurance, then tricks him into signing a life insurance contract under the pretence that he needs him to sign two copies of the car insurance contract.

* NeverTellMeTheOdds: Keyes is fond of quoting statistics. After all, it's his job.

Walter Neff (Fred [=MacMurray=]) is a successful but bored insurance salesman who encounters Phyllis Dietrichson (Creator/BarbaraStanwyck) when he comes to her house to discuss automobile insurance. After the two have traded some innuendo-laden banter, Phyllis reveals that her marriage is not a particularly happy one and the pair end up conspiring to trick her husband into taking out an accident insurance policy -- and ensure that he then meets a tragic "accidental" end.

Neff, who has eleven years' experience in the insurance business, believes that he has the brains to pull off ThePerfectCrime. The only obstacle is his colleague and friend Barton Keyes ([[Creator/EdwardGRobinson Edward G. Robinson]]), the brilliant claims manager who can spot a phony insurance claim a mile away.

The story is told in flashback and narrated by Neff, who is [[ForegoneConclusion making a confession into his office Dictaphone]].

!!Provides examples of:

* CigarChomper: Keyes

* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Keyes' introductory scene, in which he tears apart a guy trying to claim insurance on his truck by revealing that the man had set fire to it himself. The scene is irrelevant to the plot, but it serves to thoroughly introduce Keyes, his methods, his quirks, and his relationship to Neff

* InsuranceFraud: The plot of the film revolves around Phyllis' attempt to arrange her husband's murder and collect his insurance money, which pays double in the event of accidental death (i.e. [[TitleDrop double indemnity]]).

* OnlyAFleshWound: Averted. Neff receives a (visually-downplayed) gunshot wound in the shoulder, and [[spoiler:apparently dies from it at the end]].

* SchmuckBait: The titular Double Indemnity clauses are clearly described as this by Walter. [[WhatAnIdiot They go for it anyway]].

* ShutUpKiss

* TitleDrop: As Neff explains the clause in accident insurance policies that would result in even more money, if it's "the kind that almost never happens": "Little thing called 'double indemnity'...."

* VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory: Based on the 1927 Snyder-Gray murder, which also inspired ''Film/BodyHeat'' and ''Film/ThePostmanAlwaysRingsTwice''

* PrivateEyeMonologue

* AffablyEvil: Walter is a smooth talking and charismatic insurance salesman and a very likable and sympathetic protagonist who acts like TheEveryman. This makes it easy to forget that he's a murderer who killed an innocent man for "money and a woman" and even attempts to [[spoiler: frame an innocent teenager for his crimes.]]

* FamousLastWords: " I'm not asking you to buy it, just hold me close!"---[[spoiler: Phyllis Dietrichson]]
** "I love you too."---[[spoiler: Walter Neff]]

* VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory: Based on the 1927 Snyder-Gray murder, which also inspired ''BodyHeat'' and ''Literature/ThePostmanAlwaysRingsTwice''

-->"Walter, you're all washed up."