"Indemnity" DVD

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The drop-dead perfect final lines from Billy Wilder's Double Indemnity (45), a remastered version of which Universal Home Video is releasing on 8.22. It looks improved -- richer, crisper tones and fewer speckles than on the old cruddy version that Uni issued in '98 -- but so many scenes are shot in shadowy darkness it can't possibly gleam like shiny silver. Great audio commentaries and retrospective doc, though.

Fred MacMurray, Edward G. Robinson in Double Indemnity

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on August 9, 2006 at 6:04 PM

comment #1

CCA says ...

Man, classic Film Noir is hitting DVD fast and furious. I like.

Posted by CCA at August 9, 2006 7:55 PM

comment #2

MarkVH says ...

Ack, Wells, you're KILLING me. This is my absolute Holy Grail of DVDs - I need more details. Schickel's commentaries are hit-or-miss for me; is this one of his better contributions? And how good is the Lem Dobbs one (he's fantastic on The Limey DVD with Soderbergh).

And re: the documentary - what's the length like? Who are the contributors? I heard a rumor that James Ellroy was interviewed for it - is this true?

And your comments re: the transfer are maddeningly vague. If it's not quite Lowry quality, what's a good comparison? How much cleaner is it than the original, abominable print?

Good God, just knowing that this disc actually exists is making me quiver. It's been held off and delayed so many times that I wasn't prepared to believe it was actually coming until the disc was in my player. Knowing that you've got a copy makes me REALLY wish that mine would hurry up and ship.

Posted by MarkVH at August 10, 2006 5:22 AM

comment #3

CHilton says ...

I agree with the above post. I get more pleasure out of "Double Indemnity" than any other American film. Now that it's finally on DVD, everything else I ever buy will be an afterthought.

Posted by CHilton at August 10, 2006 6:56 AM

comment #4

Chuck says ...

GREAT, GREAT, GREAT movie. I know that's not particularly constructive or illuminating but it felt good just to type it.

Posted by Chuck at August 10, 2006 7:11 AM

comment #5

richard crawford says ...

this is Billy's MASTERPIECE. and it was shot in Los Feliz, Hollywood and Western.....

Posted by richard crawford at August 10, 2006 7:29 AM

comment #6

Dixon Steele says ...

Double and Sunset Blvd. are both flawless masterpieces

Posted by Dixon Steele at August 10, 2006 7:40 AM

comment #7

krambell says ...

Given how shitty Universal's DVDs are generally, you'll excuse me for being pessimistic that the supplemental material and print are going to be good. I can't think of a more craptastic company when it comes to DVDs than Universal. They suck.

Posted by krambell at August 10, 2006 7:58 AM

comment #8

CCA says ...

The Apartment is a masterpiece too, IMO. Heck, Stalag 17, Sabrina, Some Like It Hot and Ace In The Hole are all great too. Billy Wilder is the creme de la creme of filmaker's.

I wonder if I can sell my original Double Indemnity DVD for a quick buck on ebay?

Posted by CCA at August 10, 2006 8:01 AM

comment #9

Mike Gebert says ...

Re the commentary: I haven't heard it, and I'm hot and cold on Schickel generally (a friend of mine who's a D.W. Griffith scholar would open his bio randomly and point out errors), but if there's one outstanding piece of writing he's done it was his monograph on Double Indemnity for the BFI Film Classics series. Very well researched (especially about the original ending and why it was changed to this one), very thoughtful, sharp as a tack on a movie that's sharp as a tack. So one assumes the commentary will be excellent as well.

Posted by Mike Gebert at August 10, 2006 8:45 AM

comment #10