Double Indemnity (1944) – SOLD OUT!

Wednesday, June 22, 8 p.m.
The Theatre at Ace Hotel
Black and white; digital projection
107 minutes

Evening host: film critic, historian, and author Leonard Maltin

On display in the lobby: a costume worn by Barbara Stanwyck in the film, and Billy Wilder’s original script, courtesy of The Writers Guild Foundation

Concessions: specialty beverages, including Old Fashioneds(make it a Double!)

Free Q&A about the theatre after the screening

About the Film

This dark, steamy thriller was directed by Billy Wilder and written by Wilder and Raymond Chandler. Barbara Stanwyck stars as Phyllis Dietrichson, an alluring housewife who plots to murder her husband and collect on his life insurance policy.

Insurance salesman Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray) initially refuses to assist the femme fatale in her plot, but he eventually gives in to her feminine charms. The two plan to make the death appear accidental, which would trigger the “double indemnity” clause and result in a payout of twice the policy’s value. There’s no going back once they put the plan into action, but can they trust each other to the end?

Double Indemnity is an icon of the film noir genre. It was a hit with both audiences and critics at the time of its release, and it continues to appear on “best of” lists.

This year marks the thirtieth season of Last Remaining Seats! To celebrate, we’re showing some of the best films screened over the past three decades. We screened Double Indemnity at the Los Angeles Theatre in 1990.