Double  Indemnity
2022

FilmScene Iowa City, IA

with

Vingie Ng

Graduate Student, Human Toxicology, University of Iowa

Double Indemnity— Hardboiled hooligans: From cigarettes to vaping

University of Iowa Graduate Student Vingie Ng discusses the history and science of cigarettes and vaping after this iconic noir film of the classic era.

FilmScene Iowa City, IA

Film Synopsis

An insurance representative lets himself be talked into a murder/insurance fraud scheme that arouses an insurance investigator's suspicions.

Insurance salesman Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray) gets drawn into a deadly scheme when he falls for the seductive Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwyck), who is intent on murdering her husband (Tom Powers) and living off the fraudulent accidental death claim. Walter then devises a plan to receive twice the amount, based on the double indemnity clause. Prompted by the late Mr. Dietrichson's daughter, Lola (Jean Heather), insurance investigator Barton Keyes (Edward G. Robinson) looks into the case, and gradually begins to uncover the sinister truth. Directed by Billy Wilder, this classic film noir received seven Academy Award nominations.