It's Love and Murder at First Sight!

Starring: Fred McMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson, Porter Hall, Jean Heather, Tom Powers, Byron Barr, Richard Gaines, Fortunio Bonanova, John Philliber

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"It's just like the first time I came here, isn't it? We were talking about automobile insurance, only you were thinking about murder. And I was thinking about that anklet." - Walter Neff, to Phyllis

Why watch this? This noir uber-classic gave an almost B-level genre some real, quality gravitas.

Plot Summary: An insurance salesman, Walter Neff, becomes entangled in a dangerous plot with a married woman, Phyllis Dietrichson, seeking to murder her husband and claim a large insurance payout. Their meticulously planned crime arouses the suspicion of a seasoned claims investigator, leading to a tense investigation into the supposed accident. As the deception unravels, the participants navigate a web of secrets and betrayals with severe consequences for everyone involved.

Dad's Preview: There are many wise choices regarding this film's production. First, it is narrated, start to finish, by a man that we immediately sense is resigned to his fate. Second, the lighting - there may not to be a single frame without shadows from Venetian blinds or wafting smoke - it's mesmerizing. Third, Barbara Stanwyck - few could portray a femme fatale like this fine actress. Finally, Ed G. Robinson is superb as the insurance adjuster with a gut for sniffing out fraud. It was nominated for 7 Academy Awards, but came away empty-handed, and director Wilder was not happy about it. Regardless, this film is on countless AFI and film magazine Best-of lists. This treasure really was a trail-blazer in the noir genre.

Paramount Pictures