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One of the pioneers of film noir

Double Indemnity (1944)
Nominated for 7 Oscars in 1945 but a winner of none, this pioneer film noir, directed by Bill Wilder won many praises from many revered directors like Alfred Hitchcock. It also raised many eyebrows for its conniving topic.

Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray, one of the highest grossing actor then), an insurance agent stops at a customer's house (Mr Dietrichson) to remind him about his lapsed policy. The client's drop-dead gorgeous wife, Phyllis, (Barbara Stanwyck, the highest earning lady in America at that time) shows up, and our hero falls foolishly all over her. One thing leads to other, and our femme fatale tells him all about her sob story and miserable life as a second wife to her husband and his daughter from his first wife. The couple duped the husband to sign a life assurance policy without his knowledge with plans to kill off the husband and claim the money. The clause in the contract stated that the claim is doubled if the death is accidental - hence the title!

A train trip was planned, and the murder was done, and the body was left by the track. They thought they had committed the perfect crime, but Walter's boss (Barton Keys, Edward Robinson) from the Claims Department smells a rat.
Along the way, we discover that Phyllis may have a hand in the death of the first Mrs Dietrichman and may have an illicit affair with her daughter's boyfriend. Walter now realises that he has been taken for a royal ride. Walter kills Phyllis and confesses to murder on Keys' Dictaphone (pre-tape recorder device). The film actually starts here, through a series of flashbacks and voice-overs in a sombre tone, which film noir is famous for.

Dictaphonic confession
The review was mixed at its release. Some viewed the whole idea of manipulation and killing for money distasteful whilst other hailed it as an excellent thriller. Some even said that if only the main actors were more appealing, it would have done much better (apparently referring Phyllis' lousy wig!). The seven Oscar nominations including for Best Picture, Best Actress and Best Director.
A darn good movie, worth the watch.
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