tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post7262055681684519428..comments2024-01-11T05:02:32.321-05:00Comments on Goodfella's Movie Blog: 1944: Double Indemnity (Billy Wilder)Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07134196370913749544noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-69258351242125922812009-10-13T09:00:08.777-04:002009-10-13T09:00:08.777-04:00MovieMan - Thanks to the kindness of Sam, I now ha...MovieMan - Thanks to the kindness of Sam, I now have a copy of Olivier's Henry V waiting to be watched. I'm in love with Branagh's later version, so I am really looking forward to seeing Olivier's acclaimed film.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07134196370913749544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-88572570367211415022009-10-11T18:18:14.896-04:002009-10-11T18:18:14.896-04:00For me it's between Henry V, Double Indemnity,...For me it's between Henry V, Double Indemnity, Laura, and Meet Me in St. Louis. I've only seen the latter two once, and I think I used to like Henry V more than I do now, though a repeat viewing might boost it again. DI is probably the best pick, but I'll go with Henry simply because, in addition to the brilliance of the adaptation, I just love the metatextual approach.MovieMan0283http://thedancingimage.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-25046101710057419102009-06-30T19:52:13.130-04:002009-06-30T19:52:13.130-04:00I have to admit to not having seen Olivier's H...I have to admit to not having seen Olivier's Henry V... this is obviously a gaping hole in my viewing experience. I'll set out to remedy this one in the very near future.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07134196370913749544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-61988126226903168082009-06-30T14:45:39.836-04:002009-06-30T14:45:39.836-04:00Great review. This is one of my favourites as well...Great review. This is one of my favourites as well even though this isn't my favourite noir either. The likes of The Killers and Out of the Past would outrank this one for me, along with a few others as well. But you're absolutely right in stating that, Double Indemnity, along with Out of the Past, could easily be used as a prototype for this genre. <br /><br />Its template sure merits greater study by noir enthusiasts than those noirs which are probably better movies that this, like say In A Lonely Place. It sure has all the iconic types and/or attributes that one thinks of whenever one thinks 'film noir'. <br /><br />And to think of the fact that this wan't Billy Wilder's best work either - that would surely have to be Sunset Boulevard, with Ace in the Hole coming a close second (incidentally they're noirs as well!!!). In fact even in the acerbic jibes and cynicism departments, they would outweigh this one. The acting here isn't as great either. Yet whenever one thinks of Wilder, Double Indemnity sure follows!<br /><br />By the way, I really liked Laura as well.Shubhajithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02040495040897333606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-91360248238889488952009-06-30T12:13:21.502-04:002009-06-30T12:13:21.502-04:00I have to go with Sam Juliano and put the Olivier ...I have to go with Sam Juliano and put the Olivier Henry V on top, with Ivan Part I following. I've said before that I'm a sucker for period spectacle. On the other hand, Capra's Arsenic & Old Lace is pretty hilarious. As far as noirs go, objectivity tells me to prefer Double Indemnity to Murder My Sweet, but I find myself liking the latter better.Samuel Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00934870299522899944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-76767140079939526842009-06-30T11:19:47.553-04:002009-06-30T11:19:47.553-04:00A great review Dave! “Double Indemnity” is without...A great review Dave! “Double Indemnity” is without a doubt my favorite of 1944. When still in high school, I found a copy of a book called Twenty Best Films Plays edited by Gassner and Nichols and listed among the tiles was this dark tale of sex and murder (also included was Wilder’s The Lost Weekend). One of the best screenplay’s I ever read. What fantastic dialogue! <br />As you mention, and Sam reiterates, there is not a likeable character in the movie. The film is one of my all time favorites and Stanwyck in that white sweater so sexy despite the horrible wig. For me, an almost perfect film.<br /><br /> <br /> #1 Double Indemnity<br /><br />Runner-ups in no order are...<br /> Laura <br /> The Uninvited<br /> To Have and Have Not <br /> Lifeboat<br /> The Woman in the Window<br /> Arsenic and Old Lace <br /> <br /><br />I completely forgot about the S. Holmes film, “The Scarlet Claw” until I saw Sam had it listed and have to agree it is the best of the Rathbone/Holmes film and a worthy addition to the best list.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808503055317962289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-27183564671402701082009-06-30T10:22:14.952-04:002009-06-30T10:22:14.952-04:00My Own #1 Film of 1944:
Henry V (Olivier)
Runne...My Own #1 Film of 1944:<br /><br />Henry V (Olivier)<br /><br />Runners-Up:<br /><br />Double Indemnity (Wilder)<br />Meet Me in St. Louis (Minelli)<br />Ivan the Terrible Part 1 (Eisenstein)<br />A Canterbury Tale (Powell/Pressburger)<br />Laura (Preminger)<br />Arsenic and Old Lace (Capra)<br />The Scarlet Claw (O'Neil)<br />Woman in the Window (Lang)<br />Since You Went Away (Cromwell)<br />To Have or Have Not (Hawks)<br /><br />DOUBLE INDEMNITY, an American masterpiece as you rightly note (and indeed, there is not a single likeable character in the film) pushes precariously close to the top spot. It challenges as greatest film noir ever with perennial choices like OUT OF THE PAST and THE MALTESE FALCON, but for me it narrowly falls short of Olivier's film, which ranks with the actor/director's RICHARD III as the greatest Shakespeare adaptation. The opening, showcasing the overhead of the Glove Theatre is one of cinema's most breathtaking sequences. Minelli's seminal musical, MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS is also a very strong contender for the top spot. THE SCARLET CLAW is the greatest oof the Sherlock Holmes/Basil Rathbone films. The other unners-up all speak for themselves. I didn't add any other Sturges films, as I think I covered his best works in previous years, but the ones you broach here are fine enough, as are the other noirs you bring up.<br /><br />Another superlative review that gives DOUBLE INDEMNITY the regal treatment it so rightly deserves. It really is one of the most perfect of all films, and for me a very close second to SUNSET BOULEVARD in the Wilder pantheon.Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-16784203698410748292009-06-30T08:31:13.030-04:002009-06-30T08:31:13.030-04:00Dave,
Another excellent post. "Double Indem...Dave,<br /><br />Another excellent post. "Double Indemnity" is also my choice for '44. Close runners up for me would be the ones you mentioned, "To Have and Have Not" and "Laura." <br /><br />I enjoyed "Hail the Conquering Hero," but "Miracle at Morgan's Creek" was a movie I could not finish. The Sturges family of supporting actors is a joy to watch, but even they couldn't rescue MAMC for me. Betty Hutton was so over the top, and then add Eddie Bracken's overplaying to the mix, and well, I couldn't finish it. Maybe I'll retry on a day when I'm feeling extra generous.CagneyFanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12528836819712630455noreply@blogger.com