Double Indemnity is a 1944 film noir directed by Billy Wilder. In fact, for many people it constitutes the first “real” film noir made. For a decade prior, both American and European films had shaped many of the aspects of film noir that we recognize today. Double Indemnity was the first film to really put them all together. The low key lighting, the femme fatale, the murder, the deranged psychology; it’s all there. Today the film is regarded as a classic, and model example of the film noir movement.
Stylistically, this is a classic film noir. The dark subject matter is matched by the low key lighting. This creates long dark shadows, that lend to the ominous atmosphere. The film is drenched in heavy grays and blacks, which creates the famous “chiaroscuro” effect. It also relies heavily on flashback. In fact, the first moments of the film come at the very end of the story, and the narrative is driven by Neff’s retelling of all the events.
The film also features a rather unique emphasis on corporate culture. The idea of “white collar crime” was a rather new one at this point in time, and Wilder was eager to tap into the psyche of the discontented office worker. For Neff, his action is a rebellion against the system he had so long been a part of. And when the screws start tightening on the investigation of the murder, it is not the police that Neff fears. It’s not even the police that are doing the majority of the investigation. Instead, it is the insurance company that serves as the ultimate authority over Neff. It is the realm of big business that serves as the final arbiter, not the government.