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Classic Movie Recall

71 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 4 years ago - ★★★★★ - 81 ratings

Bite-sized podcasts about classic movies we all need to know about -- from radio personality Lara Scott and Oscar-winning filmmaker James Moll.

TV & Film
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Episodes

Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)

December 16, 2019 18:28 - 25 minutes - 23.2 MB

Lara and James welcome classic film commentator and author Jeremy Arnold to chat about one of the most popular MGM musicals of the 1940s, starring the one and only Judy Garland. Based on a series of short stories from New Yorker Magazine, MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS depicts chapters in the lives of a St. Louis family amid the opening of the 1904 world’s fair. Directed by Vincente Minnelli, it was filmed in spectacular Technicolor and received four Oscar nominations and a Academy Juvenile Award for a...

The Man Who Came To Dinner (1942)

November 14, 2019 03:31 - 26 minutes - 24.3 MB

TCM's Dave Karger joins for this chat about a comedy based on a 1939 play of the same name. Sheridan Whiteside (Monty Woolley) is invited to dine at the home of a wealthy factory owner, but he slips on some ice outside their house and is confined to the house while he recovers. He turns out to be a TERRIBLE houseguest, meddling in everyone’s life and inviting some interesting folks over, like paroled convicts, all while sitting in a wheelchair. But will he go too far? Or will they just kick h...

Citizen Kane (1941)

October 21, 2019 15:52 - 26 minutes - 24.3 MB

Orson Welles produced, co-wrote, directed and stars in his 1941 masterpiece about a rich newspaper tycoon who utters the word “rosebud” on his deathbed. A newspaper reporter is then assigned to investigate the meaning of “rosebud,” uncovering details about a tragically complex, wealthy, powerful yet ultimately lonely life.

The War of the Worlds (1953)

September 30, 2019 02:57 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MB

Based on the 1890s novel by HG Wells, this 1953 Technicolor sci-fi classic depicts a devastating Martian attack on Los Angeles. The film received the Academy Award for Special Effects and went on to influence generations of filmmakers. Lara and James welcome two guests: Craig Barron, an Oscar-winning visual effects artist; and Andrea Kalas, the head of the Paramount Studios Archive who oversaw the restoration and preservation of the film.

Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941)

August 24, 2019 21:00 - 18 minutes - 16.8 MB

Before there was Warren Beatty in HEAVEN CAN WAIT… before there was Chris Rock in DOWN TO EARTH, there was Robert Montgomery in HERE COMES MR. JORDAN! Join as as we travel to the great beyond — to heaven! And who is “Mr. Jordan”, anyway? Find out - in this episode of Classic Movie Recall.

Sunrise (1927)

July 25, 2019 04:37 - 21 minutes - 20 MB

Winner of Academy Awards® for Best Picture, Best Cinematography, and Best Actress for Janet Gaynor, Sunrise is a spectacular cinematic experience. Director F. W. Murnau’s crowning achievement is often considered the greatest silent film ever made. It retains its power even today.

Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

June 20, 2019 15:35 - 30 minutes - 27.9 MB

This beloved historical drama is on just about everyone’s top-ten list of favorite films. Based on the 1926 autobiography The Seven Pillars of Wisdom by British officer TE Lawrence, many people call it “the greatest film ever made”! In this episode, James and Lara are joined by author & classic movie expert Jeremy Arnold, who shares fascinating insights on this nearly-four-hour epic.

Captain Blood (1935)

May 27, 2019 23:31 - 15 minutes - 14.6 MB

In this episode of the Classic Movie Recall podcast, James Moll and Lara Scott review one of the greatest swashbuckling adventures of the 1930s, CAPTAIN BLOOD stars Errol Flynn in the role that made him a star. The film was directed by Michael Curtiz (of Casablanca fame) and co-stars Olivia De Havilland. Now you'll know why all these sword fighting, swashbuckling pirate films caught on as a staple of classic Hollywood movies.

Bonnie and Clyde (1967)

April 21, 2019 21:19 - 23 minutes - 21.7 MB

Bonnie and Clyde is a groundbreaking film that pushed the limits on sex and violence in cinema. Warren Beatty produced the film and also stars as Clyde Barrow, an ex-con during the Great Depression who falls in love with a bored waitress played by Faye Dunaway. Together they launch a violent crime spree and become America's most notorious criminals.

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

March 11, 2019 04:55 - 18 minutes - 17 MB

Two showgirls (Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe) cross the Atlantic on a first-class ocean liner and all the eligible men on board do their best to vie for their attention. Jane Russell’s character (Dorothy) picks the handsome ones; while Marilyn Monroe’s character (Lorelei) is out for the rich ones. She’s already engaged to a mega-wealthy guy named Gus, but Gus’s father forbids the marriage and sends a detective to follow them. And of course, being a 1950s technicolor musical, hijinks and mu...

Rebecca (1940)

February 13, 2019 05:24 - 25 minutes - 23 MB

From the “master of suspense” himself, Alfred Hitchcock, this 1940 film is the story of a young woman who marries a grieving widower only to find out that she must live in the shadow of his former wife who recently died mysterious death. It’s creepy yet enthralling, gothic yet romantic, filmed in stunning black & white. With incredible performances from Laurence Olivier, Joan Fontaine and Judith Anderson, this is just about everything you want in a classic movie.

It Happened One Night (1934)

January 22, 2019 01:49 - 22 minutes - 20.5 MB

Claudette Colbert jumps ship (literally) to escape her father’s disapproval and she ends up meeting Clark Gable on a bus. What could possibly go right? Join Lara Scott and James Moll as they welcome Randy Haberkamp from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences to talk about one of the greatest and earliest romantic comedies of all time: Frank Capra’s IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT.

The Kid (1921)

January 08, 2019 23:23 - 21 minutes - 20.1 MB

Charlie Chaplin’s THE KID (1921) is often overlooked in favor of his later films like CITY LIGHTS or MODERN TIMES. However, this is one you definitely should see, whether you’re new to classic film or have been a Chaplin fan for years. Lara and James discuss why this is such an important film in Chaplin’s career, as well as this silent classic’s connection to The Addams Family. We’re joined by our audience-of-one Melanie Hooks to discuss what Chaplin himself calls “A picture with a smile—and...

Remember the Night (1940)

December 13, 2018 05:18 - 22 minutes - 20.4 MB

Pour yourself a glass of eggnog and get ready for an episode that gives you a gift: an opportunity to discover a great classic film with two brilliant performances, destined to become one of your lifelong Christmas traditions!

A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

October 14, 2018 04:47 - 18 minutes - 17.2 MB

Elia Kazan's Oscar-winning 1951 film, A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, is based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Tennessee Williams. Kazan directed the Broadway play, and brought all of the leads -- except one -- for the movie. James and Lara discuss that decision, along with the different acting styles of Vivien Leigh and Marlon Brando. Was there an actual streetcar named “Desire” in New Orleans? And what does sweat have to do with all of this? Join us for an episode that explores themes that st...

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

September 23, 2018 00:20 - 22 minutes - 20.8 MB

THE WIZARD OF OZ is a 1939 classic film beloved by children everywhere, but how does it hold up when you watch it as a grownup? For starters, the Wicked Witch of the West seems even MORE terrifying! James and Lara get into it with our “Audience of TWO”, Natalie Lipka and Wayne Frazier of the Hollywood Close-Up podcast. They also discuss the child star that MGM head Louis B. Mayer originally wanted to play Dorothy, who was set to play the Tin Man before the character's makeup made him sick, wh...

Giant (1956)

September 02, 2018 14:28 - 21 minutes - 20.1 MB

Film production designer Scott Chambliss (TOMORROWLAND, STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS) joins James and Lara to discuss this GIANT of a film. Director George Stevens took on some serious themes in this 1956 Classic that are still relevant today, and the performances from Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, and James Dean are powerful. Scott talks about some of the famous shots from the film, and shares how one mightapproach a production of GIANT today.

Splendor In The Grass (1961)

July 28, 2018 21:53 - 18 minutes - 17.1 MB

Splendor In The Grass (1961) by James Moll & Lara Scott

Witness for the Prosecution (1957)

June 21, 2018 14:43 - 18 minutes - 16.5 MB

A monocle, an eggbeater...and ONE of Marlene Dietrich’s famous legs! James and Lara settle into the jury box to discuss Billy Wilder’s WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION (1957), which was based on an Agatha Christie play. In this episode, James admits to overusing the word iconic, Lara talks about the real-life husband and wife stars of the film, and everyone swoons over Charles Laughton’s brilliant performance. Then, stick around after the Recall Rating as we come back for a quick spoilerific discu...

The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)

May 28, 2018 04:25 - 14 minutes - 13.2 MB

When it came out in 1946, THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES became the most successful film since GONE WITH THE WIND. The movie connected deeply with a country that was recovering from World War II as it told the story of three combat veterans, each wounded in their own way, returning to their small town after the end of the war and transitions back into everyday life. All three lead actors (Dana Andrews, Frederic March, and acting newcomer Harold Russell) and director William Wyler served the Unit...

The Philadelphia Story(1940)

April 10, 2018 06:01 - 16 minutes - 15.1 MB

The Philadelphia Story(1940) by James Moll & Lara Scott

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

December 09, 2017 16:35 - 14 minutes - 13.3 MB

What did the film CHICKEN EVERY SUNDAY have to do with the making of MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET? Did Santa actually play himself? And why was Maureen O’Hara so mad when she got the call to head to New York to make this movie? Put on your favorite ugly Christmas sweater, grab some hot cocoa, and join James and Lara as they discuss this beloved 1947 holiday classic, which got its start in a crowded Los Angeles department store on Christmas Eve…

Dinner At Eight (1933)

December 08, 2017 05:34 - 11 minutes - 10.2 MB

James and Lara recorded this episode (there is an audio and a video version) at the historic King Vidor/John Barrymore/Tony Scott estate in Beverly Hills. John was actually living there while he made DINNER AT EIGHT (1933), which was filmed just down the hill at the MGM studios in Culver City. In our discussion, we cover the scene-stealing Marie Dressler, who was in her sixties when she made this film and is a name you need to know; what famous director—known as “the women’s director”—and oth...

Laura (1944)

August 18, 2017 04:35 - 15 minutes - 14.4 MB

"I shall never forget the weekend Laura died." Clifton Webb's infamous dialogue opens LAURA (1944) with the revelation that the main character is dead, and it is the perfect beginning to a perfect film noir. James and Lara dive into director Otto Preminger replacing director Rouben Mamoulian AFTER filming had already begun, Gene Tierney's romance with a U.S. President, and the awesomeness of Dana Andrews' chin. Was the famous portrait of Laura REALLY a portrait? Is young Vincent Price a kille...

The Cheat (1915)

May 30, 2017 06:21 - 24 minutes - 22.6 MB

Our podcast about THE CHEAT (1915) is actually a welcome excuse to talk about the art of silent film. Find out why film historian and motion picture preservationist Randy Haberkamp’s choice of THE CHEAT turned out to be a perfect springboard for a discussion about the great silents. This episode was recorded at the Hollywood Heritage Museum on Highland Avenue, just across the street from the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Visit them in person or at: www.hollywoodheritage.org

The Heiress (1949)

April 05, 2017 06:06 - 15 minutes - 14.6 MB

THE HEIRESS (1949) brought Olivia de Havilland her second Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of Catherine Sloper, a single, dowdy young woman who just happens to be loaded. In this episode, James and Lara are joined by vintage fashion expert Annamarie von Firley (www.RevampVintage.com) to talk about costumes for black and white film vs. color, why Montgomery Clift's clothing looked 1940s-ish in the film (which was set in the 19th century), and how the fashions in films move the story along....

The Apartment (1960)

March 10, 2017 07:29 - 18 minutes - 16.9 MB

No one writes and directs a film quite like the immortal Billy Wilder. In this episode we discuss THE APARTMENT (1960) with our guest Bob Bookman, a film fanatic and longtime Hollywood agent. Bob tells us about his unique encounter with Wilder, and then shares a surprising theory about the film. Also: what did Wilder really think of Jack Lemmon? Did Shirley MacLaine act in a past life? How did this film impact Cameron Crowe’s life and work?

Funny Girl (1968)

February 20, 2017 01:39 - 16 minutes - 15.1 MB

Say "Hello, gorgeous!" to Barbra Streisand in FUNNY GIRL. This podcast episode was recorded at the famed Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. Theater historian Margot Gerber joins us to talk about how the theatre not only hosted the FUNNY GIRL premiere, but also hosted the FIRST Hollywood movie premiere in 1922. Then, singer, actress, and filmmaker Tamela D'Amico hops on the mic to reveal which famous crooner almost played Nicky Arnstein (Omar Sharif got the part) and how the real-life Fanny Brice ...

His Girl Friday (1940)

February 08, 2017 07:48 - 14 minutes - 13.6 MB

In this episode, James and Lara discuss the famous, rapid-fire, overlapping dialogue in HIS GIRL FRIDAY, which was clocked at 240 words per MINUTE! We also get into how director Howard Hawks allowed the actors to ad-lib, the fact that Rosalind Russell's character used to be a guy, and our friend Larry Morgan of the Snarkmonkey podcast joins us to to talk about the new HIS GIRL FRIDAY release from the Criterion Collection that features a restoration of the film's source material, 1931's THE FR...

All About Eve (1950)

January 25, 2017 06:32 - 14 minutes - 13.3 MB

Could it actually be true that leading up to ALL ABOUT EVE, Bette Davis was considered box office poison? And why was her voice so raspy in this film, anyway? James and Lara break it all down, including how Bette was friends with an onscreen nemesis, the Oscar race of Bette vs. Anne vs. Gloria Swanson for SUNSET BOULEVARD, which two co-stars got married, Marilyn Monroe’s role in all of this, and the true story the film is based on. Fasten your seatbelt…it’s going to be a BUMPY episode.

The Champ (1931)

January 15, 2017 07:46 - 11 minutes - 10.7 MB

This is the audio track from our very first VIDEO podcast. If you’d like to see the video version of this episode, you can find it on YouTube or on our website at www.ClassicMovieRecall.com. In this episode, James and Lara discuss THE CHAMP (1931) while on location at the legendary Beverly Hills estate built in the 1920s by the film’s director, King Vidor. We get a glimpse inside this ultra-exclusive home (later owned by actor John Barrymore and director Tony Scott), and also a drone’s-eye vi...

The Sheik (1921)

January 09, 2017 17:43 - 16 minutes - 15.5 MB

Rudolph Valentino stars in THE SHEIK, the silent epic from 1921 that made him a superstar. In this episode of CMR, James and Lara are joined by film historian Karie Bible, who leads tours at Hollywood Forever Cemetery (www.CemeteryTour.com), to talk about THE SHEIK in the mausoleum where Valentino’s crypt is located. We discuss the enduring appeal of Valentino, how his chest size changed the course of his future, and the surprisingly touching story behind “The Woman in Black,” who leaves a si...

It's A Wonderful Life (1946)

December 21, 2016 06:24 - 21 minutes - 19.8 MB

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946) is a film about a good man, George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart), living in a modern world of greed and corruption. George has big dreams for his life, but one thing after another prevents him from leaving his quaint hometown of Bedford Falls, where he lives an honest life with his wife (Donna Reed) and children and often puts the needs of others above his own. Things go from bad to worse for George, and when the town’s ruthless tycoon (Lionel Barrymore) sets out to dest...

North by Northwest (1959)

December 06, 2016 03:37 - 15 minutes - 13.7 MB

NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959) is a classic Alfred Hitchcock suspense thriller about a case of mistaken identity. Cary Grant stars as tanned and tailored NYC ad exec Roger Thornhill, who is mistaken for a government agent by bad guy James Mason. Mason's men pursue Cary across the country as they attempt to stop him from stopping their plan to smuggle out microfilm containing government secrets. Along the way, Cary meets a cool Hitchcock blonde in the form of Eva Marie Saint, who may be dangerous a...

Born Yesterday (1950)

November 12, 2016 15:40 - 14 minutes - 13.5 MB

In BORN YESTERDAY (1950), Harry Brock (Broderick Crawford) is a wealthy, corrupt junk dealer with a "dumb blonde" girlfriend, Billie Dawn (Judy Holliday). Harry is embarrassed by her crassness and lack of social skills, so he hires journalist Paul (William Holden, serious in glasses) to give her a crash course in culture. As Paul and Billie spend time together and get closer, Billie begins to understand how Harry has been using her in his corrupt deals, and refuses to cooperate any longer. ...

Frankenstein (1931)

October 26, 2016 19:28 - 14 minutes - 13.7 MB

FRANKENSTEIN is nothing less than a horror masterpiece. Dr. Frankenstein (Colin Clive) digs up corpses and uses their body parts to construct a human being, using electricity to inject life into his “monster” creation. After spouting lines like, "Now I know what it feels like to be God," he realizes that the brain he implanted into his creation...was the brain of a murderer! Even though he was originally credited as "?" for playing the monster, Boris Karloff became a horror icon after playi...

The Maltese Falcon (1941)

September 18, 2016 16:37 - 14 minutes - 13.2 MB

In THE MALTESE FALCON, Humphrey Bogart plays Sam Spade, a San Francisco detective who is visited by Brigid O’Shaunessy (Mary Astor), who says she needs help finding her missing sister. Sam soon learns that all is not as it appears in Brigid’s life, and things get even more complicated when a dangerous rich man (Sydney Greenstreet, nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for this role) and his accomplice (Peter Lorre) show up. As a few murders stir things up, Brigid seeks Sam’s protection ...

High Noon (1952)

September 10, 2016 23:05 - 15 minutes - 14.6 MB

HIGH NOON stars Oscar-winner Gary Cooper as Will Kane, a small town marshal who is getting married to Grace Kelly and planning to retire and leave town. However, just as he is saying his vows, Will receives word that Frank Miller, a bad guy who Will sent away to jail, has been released and is returning on the train at noon to get his revenge on Will and take over the town. Everyone urges Will to flee, but to the horror of his new bride he decides to stay and fight, hoping that many men from t...

Rear Window (1954)

August 07, 2016 06:47 - 15 minutes - 13.7 MB

In REAR WINDOW, Jimmy Stewart plays a photographer who is in a wheelchair in his New York City apartment with a broken leg. To pass the time, he spends his days looking out the window at his neighbors with a telephoto lens on his camera. His imagination starts to run wild, and he suspects murder when he notices that a man’s bedridden wife has disappeared. Grace Kelly plays Jimmy’s neglected girlfriend who wishes he would focus on HER instead of all his neighbors. REAR WINDOW is one of the mo...

Gilda (1946)

July 25, 2016 16:00 - 16 minutes - 14.7 MB

GILDA takes place in a glamorous nightclub/casino in South America, where everyone appears to be running away from something and on their way somewhere else. George Macready plays the sinister boss Ballin Mundson, who rescues a down-and-out Johnny Farrell, played by Glenn Ford, from gambling on the docks. Johnny becomes his right-hand man at the casino, and everything is going great for Johnny until Ballin shows up with a wife, the hair-tossing, guitar-strumming Gilda, played by love goddess ...

Our Dancing Daughters (1928)

July 19, 2016 05:51 - 15 minutes - 14.4 MB

OUR DANCING DAUGHTERS is a silent MGM classic from 1928 that stars Joan Crawford as Diana, a party girl with a heart of gold. Diana’s in love with Ben (Johnny Mack Brown), who also loves her until her frenemy Ann (Anita Paige) drops hints that Diana is not “pure” and steals him away. Which is only the first half of the film… OUR DANCING DAUGHTERS has been called “the screen expression of The Jazz Age, and is a snapshot of what the youth and flapper culture was like between the end of World W...

Singin' in the Rain (1952)

July 11, 2016 04:20 - 14 minutes - 13.4 MB

SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN (1952) is the epitome of classic Hollywood MGM movie magic, and is a musical about the birth of the Hollywood musical. The film is set in the 1920s, when silent films were being pushed aside by “talkies.” Gene Kelly plays Don Lockwood, a popular silent film star who is famous for his on-screen romances with Lina Lamont, played by Jean Hagen. Behind the scenes, Lina is a total diva who happens to have a high-pitched, whiny voice that will never work for a film with sound. E...

Sweet Smell of Success (1957)

July 04, 2016 02:07 - 18 minutes - 16.5 MB

SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS is film noir at its finest, weaving together some very dark themes, stunning black-and-white photography, and a sultry score featuring a 1950s jazz quintet. Tony Curtis gives an astonishing performance as power-hungry press agent Sidney Falco, who is doing whatever he can to get back into the good graces of columnist and television host JJ Hunsecker, played by Burt Lancaster. JJ has asked Sidney to break up the relationship between JJ’s sister Susie and a young musician...

The General (1926)

June 26, 2016 14:56 - 12 minutes - 11.9 MB

THE GENERAL (1926) is a silent film that is based on The Great Locomotive Chase, an actual event that happened in 1862 in Georgia during the Civil War. Buster Keaton plays train engineer Johnnie, who loves his fiancée, Annabelle, and his engine, The General. When the war breaks out, he goes to enlist, but is turned down because they need him to stay in his current job. They don't tell him this; they toss him out, and his fiancée is like, “I don't wanna see your face unless you're in uniform.”...

The Thin Man (1934)

June 19, 2016 07:41 - 12 minutes - 11.8 MB

THE THIN MAN (1934) has been called the original comedy detective film, and is based on the book by Dashiell Hammett. William Powell and Myrna Loy star as husband and wife detective team Nick and Nora Charles. Nick has married Nora, an heiress from a wealthy Sam Francisco family, and retired from his days as a detective to enjoy the good life. When the two visit New York City, Nick is drawn back into service after an old friend of his, Clyde, disappears. After Clyde’s secretary/girlfriend Is ...

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

June 12, 2016 17:56 - 14 minutes - 13.5 MB

THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE (1962) is directed by John Ford, and stars John Wayne as a gunslingin’ cowboy good guy, who instead of being at odds with a typical Western outlaw, finds himself going up against do gooder Jimmy Stewart, not just in how to deal with evil thief Liberty Valance, but for the affections of the lovely Vera Miles. Since the title gives away that Valance DOES get shot, the mystery is who does it, and there is a cool twist surrounding that that you will have to watch ...

A Face in the Crowd (1957)

June 06, 2016 04:12 - 14 minutes - 13 MB

EPISODE # 25 • 06-05-16: Lonesome Rhodes, played by Andy Griffith as you have most likely NEVER seen him before, is a drifter and a raconteur. When we—and Patricia Neal—meet him, he’s in jail, but his storytelling and singing land him on her radio show, which is called A Face in the Crowd. The local housewives go crazy over this guy, and we follow his meteoric rise to fame and fortune on the radio and television, and his equally quick descent into troubles with booze, women, and even politic...

Now, Voyager (1942)

May 29, 2016 18:09 - 14 minutes - 13.4 MB

NOW, VOYAGER (1942) is the movie that might dehydrate you and end the drought in California with your tears. Bette Davis is Charlotte, everyone's favorite spinster aunt in the Vale family. She was an unwanted child, and the cruel treatment her domineering mother has inflicted on her has left Charlotte on the edge of a nervous breakdown. Her sister-in-law introduces her to the kindly Dr. Jaquith, played by Claude Rains, who runs a "sanitorium"; Charlotte comes to stay, and away from her mother...

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)

May 23, 2016 04:58 - 14 minutes - 13.6 MB

The film opens with a middle-aged couple drunkenly stumbling home from a neighbor’s party. We soon learn that they’re living at a New England university where the man (played by Richard Burton) is a history professor and his wife (played by Elizabeth Taylor) is the daughter of the university’s president. We also learn that these two really like to drink while they bicker. It’s 2am, but they help themselves to another splash or two of bourbon, when the wife suddenly remembers that she invited...

Double Indemnity (1944)

May 15, 2016 22:55 - 18 minutes - 16.9 MB

This is a classic film noir that begins with a murder confession. Fred MacMurray plays Walter Neff, and he’s come to his office to record what he’s done and how he’s done it. Even though we know up front what’s happened, we don’t know everything, and there are a lot of twists along the way. We learn in flashback and voiceover that Walter is an insurance salesman who helped Phyllis Dietrichson, brilliantly played by Barbara Stanwyck, knock off her wealthy husband, who had taken out—unbeknownst...