SPECIAL CHRISTMAS BONUS EPISODE – Hannah Long Movie Review – Double Indemnity

To what extent is film noir about redemption?

Brent talks with Hannah Long about the 1944 movie ‘Double Indemnity’ starring Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck and Edward G. Robinson.

Hannah is a passionate cinephile.  She writes cultural commentary and film criticism for a number of publications including ‘The Despatch’,‘Angelus News’, ‘The Bulwark’ and ‘First Things’. 

• (0:58) What is film noir?
• (4:15) ‘Double Indemnity’ – THE best film noir?
• (5:50) The book;
• (9:45) Billy Wilder and Raymond Chandler;
• (12:05) The cast;
• (14:05) What is double indemnity?
• (17:40) The scene outside Neff’s apartment;
• (20:00) The use of flashback and narrative;
• (22:50) Walter Neff;
• (28:40) Walter and Phyllis’s motivation;
• (32:45) Phyllis and the femme fatale;
• (34:45) Keyes – the perfect antagonist?
• (37:20) Walter’s confession;
• (38:15) Conscience;
• (37:30) Free will?
• (41:40) A movie about redemption?
• (43:30) The Production Code;
• (48:35) The movie’s view of America and of capitalism.

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