Double Indemnity on the Big Screen

Last Saturday night, My husband David and I saw Double Indemnity at the Loew's Landmark Jersey Theatre in Jersey City, NJ. I have to say once again that seeing a classic film on the big screen is an amazing experience. It is a special treat at Loew's because they now have a 50 foot screen!

I had seen Double Indemnity prior to this. However, viewing a film in a theater with an audience is like seeing it for the first time. Perhaps, it is the sheer size of the screen that helps me notice more detail. It could also be the shared experience. It is very cool to be in an audience where people clap as the opening credits come up on the screen. It sets a great mood for me. I realize that there are others, like David and I, who truly treasure these classic films. In addition, I can hear the reactions and responses of other moviegoers to the scenes in the film. Sometimes, they are the same as mine so I feel  a connection with my fellow viewers.

Double Indemnity has long been considered one of the great film noirs. Barbara Stanwyck's portrayal of Phyllis Dietrichson is stunning. Seeing the film at Loew's made me recognize how well Stanwyck acted without dialogue. The close up of her as Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray) strangles her husband is chilling. She seems unmoved yet, there is satisfaction in Phyllis' expression. A few scenes later, after dumping her husband's dead body on the railroad tracks, she masterfully expresses desperation nonverbally. Phyllis can not get the car to restart and Stanwyck makes it clear that Phyllis does not want a dead battery to be her undoing.

It was obvious to me after seeing Double Indemnity on the big screen how important it was for Fred MacMurray to draw the audience into the plot. As the narrator, even if we don't like the character of Walter Neff, we have to relate to him. That's the brilliance of MacMurray's performance. He makes Neff the typical guy out even the score against a big insurance company. However, the fact that Walter decides murder is the way to show how the "everyman" can outsmart the big corporation makes us pause. As odd as it seems, I could relate to Walter wanting to put one over on his bosses. I suspect others can too.

To me, Double Indemnity reaffirms Edward G. Robinson as one of the greatest characters of Hollywood's Golden Age.  As claims investigator Barton Keyes, Robinson was full of energy and commanded the screen in his scenes. Robinson's speeches were delivered impeccably and with zeal. Robinson gave Keyes drive and focus, but he also gave him humanity. In fact, the audience at Loew's responded most strongly to Robinson. He got several rounds of applause during the film.

Seeing Double Indemnity at Loew's reinforces my belief that there is an audience out there for classic film. I would say several hundred people came to see Double Indemnity. As we left, David and I could see the line for the second film, Psycho, was huge. Given the choice between modern movies and classic films, I think more people than theaters realize would choose the classics!

Update: My buddy Dorian at Tales of the Easily Distracted wrote an awesome blog about Double Indemnity. Here's the link to her CiMBA nominated article
 http://doriantb.blogspot.com/2011/07/double-indemnity-secret-life-of-walter.html