Cinema Dissection: Double Indemnity

Upon the publication of James M. Cain’s sensational crime novel “Double Indemnity,” Joseph Breen (Hollywood’s chief censor) declared, “The general low tone and sordid flavor of this story makes it, in our judgment, thoroughly unacceptable for screen presentation….” Director Billy Wilder respectfully disagreed. Working with crime novelist Raymond Chandler, Wilder fashioned a script that kept the dark, seediness of the novel while meeting Breen’s stringent “moralistic guidelines.” Add Fred MacMurray and sultry Barbara Stanwyck as the scheming adulterous lovers along with Edward G. Robinson as the shrewd, tenacious insurance investigator Barton Keys, and you have everything you need for an archetypal film noir.

Join facilitator and SIFF Programmer Dan Doody for a shot-by-shot investigation of the film’s ingenious narrative, its whip-smart dialogue, and how (not) to commit the perfect murder.

ABOUT CINEMA DISSECTION
Cinema Dissection affords film lovers an exciting opportunity to dig deeper into the films that they love. Inspired by Roger Ebert's annual Cinema Interruptus in Boulder, CO, attendees will participate with a facilitator in a six-hour scene-by-scene, and sometimes shot-by-shot, deconstruction of the featured film. While the facilitator will certainly share their thoughts, anyone in the audience may call out "Stop" and either ask a question of the group or make an observation around a certain shot or moment in the film.

You may also like the following events from SIFF:

• Next Tuesday, 9th September, 07:00 pm, The Popcorn List: If That Mockingbird Don’t Sing in Seattle
• This month, 18th September, 06:30 pm, SIFF Marquee Gala 2025 in Seattle
• This month, 23rd September, 07:00 pm, The Popcorn List: New Wave in Seattle

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