On this day in movie history - Double Indemnity (1944 movie & books):

Double Indemnity

directed by Billy Wilder,

written by Billy Wilder and Raymond Chandler,

based on the novel by James M. Cain,

was released in the United States on July 3, 1944.
Music by Miklós Rózsa.

Cast:

Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson, Porter Hall, Jean Heather, Tom Powers, Byron Barr, Richard Gaines, Fortunio Bonanova, John Philliber, Raymond Chandler, Bess Flowers, Betty Farrington, Teala Loring, Sam McDaniel, Miriam Nelson, Douglas Spencer.

Recommended reading:

Double Indemnity

By James M. Cain.

Filmed as:

Double Indemnity (1944), directed by Billy Wilder.

Double Indemnity (1973), directed by Jack Smight.

Published by Vintage Crime/Black Lizard.

Published 1943.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 9780679723226

ISBN-13: 9780679723226

Description:

“An American masterpiece.” – Ross Macdonald.

“No one has ever stopped reading in the middle of one of Jim Cain’s books.” – Saturday Review of Literature.

Walter Huff was an insurance salesman with an unfailing instinct for clients who might be in trouble, and his instinct led him to Phyllis Nirdlinger. Phyllis wanted to buy an accident policy on her husband. Then she wanted her husband to have an accident. Walter wanted Phyllis. To get her, he would arrange the perfect murder and betray everything he had ever lived for.

Tautly narrated and excruciatingly suspenseful, Double Indemnity gives us an X-ray view of guilt, of duplicity, and of the kind of obsessive, loveless love that devastates everything it touches. First published in 1935, this novel reaffirmed James M. Cain as a virtuoso of the roman noir.

Double Indemnity: The Complete Screenplay

By Billy Wilder, Raymond Chandler, Jeffrey Meyers.

Published by University of California Press.

Published 2000.

ISBN-10: 0520218485

ISBN-13: 9780520218482

Description:

On every level -- writing, direction, acting -- Double Indemnity (1944) is a triumph and stands as one of the greatest achievements in Billy Wilder's career. Adapted from the James M. Cain novel by director Wilder and novelist Raymond Chandler, it tells the story of an insurance salesman, played by Fred MacMurray, who is lured into a murder-for-insurance plot by Barbara Stanwyck, in an archetypal femme fatale role. From its grim story to its dark, atmospheric lighting, Double Indemnity is a definitive example of World War II-era film noir. Wilder's approach is everywhere evident: in the brutal cynicism the film displays, the moral complexity, and in the empathy we feel for the killers. The film received almost unanimous critical success, garnering seven Academy Award nominations. More than fifty years later, most critics agree that this classic is one of the best films of all time. The collaboration between Wilder and Raymond Chandler produced a masterful script and some of the most memorable dialogue ever spoken in a movie.

This facsimile edition of Double Indemnity contains Wilder and Chandler's original -- and quite different -- ending, published here for the first time. Jeffrey Meyers's introduction contextualizes the screenplay, providing hilarious anecdotes about the turbulent collaboration, as well as background information about Wilder and the film's casting and production.

Born on this day – Amy Wallace:

Amy Wallace

Writer

July 3, 1955 – August 10, 2013

Credits:

Books:

Desire (1990); Significa (1983); Sorcerer's Apprentice: My Life with Carlos Castaneda (2003); The Book of Lists #2 (1980); The Book of Lists #3 (1983); The Book of Lists (1977); The Book of Lists: Horror (2008); The Book of Lists: The '90s Edition (1993); The Book of Predictions (1980); The Intimate Sex Lives of Famous People (1981); The New Book of Lists (2005); The Official Punk Rock Book of Lists (2007); The Prodigy: A Biography of William James Sidis, America's Greatest Child Prodigy (1986); The Psychic Healing Book (1978); The Two: The Story of the Original Siamese Twins (1978).

Movies and television:

A Woman Scorned: The Betty Broderick Story (1992); Late Night with David Letterman (1983); The Merv Griffin Show (1983–1986); True Crime with Aphrodite Jones (2011).

Born on this day – Laura Branigan:

Laura Branigan

Singer

Songwriter

Actress

July 3, 1952 – August 26, 2004

Credits:

Albums:

Branigan (1982); Branigan 2 (1983); Hold Me (1985); Laura Branigan (1990); Over My Heart (1993); Self Control (1984); Touch (1987).

Movies, television and music videos:

30 Favoriten (2020–2022); Alan Jones: Direct to the People (2021); All My Friends Are Dead (2020); American Bandstand (1982–1988); American Bandstand's 33 1/3 Celebration (1985); American Crime Story (2018); American Dad! (2006); An Uncommon Love (1983); Automan (1984); Backstage (1988); Baywatch (1996); Beat Shazam (2018); Body Rock (1984); Boundaries (2018); Bravo TV (1985); Calling Automan: The Auto Feature (2012); Cantantes y sonantes (1985); Cap d'any a TV3 (1985); Car Share (2015); Champs-Elysées (1984); Chewingum (1984); CHiPs (1982–1983); Cold Case (2007); Coming to America (1988); Daria (1997–2002); Delta Pi (1984); Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve 1984 (1983); Die verflixte 7 (1987); Dirty John (2020); Doctors (2015); Dynasty (2022); Everybody Hates Chris (2007); Femme Fatales (2011); Festival de Viña del Mar (1988–1996); Flashdance (1983); Ghostbusters (1984); Gloria Bell (2018); Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002); Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (2006); Guapas (2014); Hittimittari (1984–1985); Hollywood Wives (1985); I Love the '80s Strikes Back (2003); I, Tonya (2017); In Love with an Older Woman (1982); It's a Sin (2021); Jack Unplugged (2018); Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon (1997); Job Site (1984); Jones & Co (2020); Kapag wala nang batas (1990); Killer Party (1986); Knight Rider (1984); Laura Branigan & Cerrone: Heart of Me (1989); Laura Branigan in Concert Atlantic City, New Jersey 1990 (1990); Laura Branigan Live in Concert at Caesars Tahoe (1984); Laura Branigan: All Night with Me (1982); Laura Branigan: Cry Wolf (1987); Laura Branigan: Didn't We Almost Win It All (1993); Laura Branigan: Dim All the Lights (1995); Laura Branigan: Dim All the Lights (Remix) (1995); Laura Branigan: Don't Show Your Love (1983); Laura Branigan: Fool's Affair (1981); Laura Branigan: Gloria (1982); Laura Branigan: How Am I Supposed to Live Without You (1983); Laura Branigan: I Wish We Could Be Alone (1984); Laura Branigan: Maybe Tonight (1985); Laura Branigan: Moonlight on Water (1990); Laura Branigan: Self Control (1984); Laura Branigan: Shattered Glass (1987); Laura Branigan: Solitaire (1983); Laura Branigan: Spanish Eddie (1985); Laura Branigan: The Lucky One (1984); Laura Branigan: Ti amo (1984); Laura Branigan: Your Love (1988); Leo Sayer (1983); Lieder & Leute (1982); Live with Kelly and Mark (1990); Living Seas (1986); Love Is Forever (1983); MacGruber (2021); Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (1982); Mario (1984); Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015); Miami Vice (1984); Midnight Heat (2007); Monsoon (2019); Monsters (1991); Mr. Robot (2017); MTV 80s - 1982 Wrapped! (2023); MTV 80s - 1983 Wrapped! (2023); MTV 80s - 1984 Wrapped! (2023); MTV 80s - Happy New Year from MTV 80s! (2022); MTV 80s - I Want My MTV 80s Wonder Women! (2022); MTV 80s - It's an 80s New Year's Party! (2023); MTV 80s - Let's Hear It for the Girls! (2023); MTV 80s - Top 40 Modern Girls of the 80s! (2021); MTV 80s - Top 50 1984 Vs 1988! (2022); MTV 80s - Top 50 Best 80s Debuts! (2020); MTV 80s - Top 50 Boys vs Girls of the 80s! (2020); MTV 80s - Top 50 Global No. 1s of the 80s! (2021); MTV 80s - Top 50 Hits of 1982! (2022); MTV 80s - Top 50 Hits of 1984! (2022); MTV 80s - Top 50 Modern Girls of the 80s! (2022); MTV 80s - Top 50 Super 80s Pop Hits! (2021); MTV 80s - Top 50 Wonder Women of the 80s! (2024); Musikladen (1983); Night of 100 Stars II (1985); Nöjesmassakern (1985); On Becoming a God in Central Florida (2019); On Stage America (1984); Porte-bonheur (1985); Sábado noche (1987); Salsa (1988); Saturday Night Live (1982–2005); Scorpion (2017); Seeing Allred (2018); Show & Co. mit Carlo (1984); Solid Gold (1984–1985); South Park (2017); Super Bloopers and Practical Jokes (1985); Supermodels of the World (1987); Superstore (2020); The 11th Annual American Music Awards (1984); The 13th Annual American Music Awards (1986); The 15th Annual American Music Awards (1988); The 28th Annual American Music Awards (2001); The 47th Annual Grammy Awards (2005); The American Music Awards (1983); The Killing (2012); The Lather Effect (2006); The Magic of David Copperfield VII: Familiares (1985); The Mirage (2015); The Preppie Murder (1989); The RuPaul Show (1998); The Shrink Next Door (2021); The Tempestt Bledsoe Show (1996); The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1984–1990); Today (1984); Top of the Pops (1984); Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer (1983); Tu cara me suena - Argentina (2015); Turn It Up: Ascending to a higher level (2022); Una vez más (1988–1990); VH-1 Where Are They Now? (2002); Violets Are Blue... (1986); Welcome to the Basement (2014); Wetten, dass..? (1985); Wie wär's heut mit Revue? (1983); Young Rock (2021).

Born on this day – Emilio Echevarría:

Emilio Echevarría

Actor

July 3, 1944 – January 4, 2025

Credits:

4 November 1990 (2012); A Monster with a Thousand Heads (2015); Ámbar (1994); Loves Dogs (2000); Babel (2006); Bad Habits (2007); Bathroom Intimacy (1991); Colosio (2012); Corto Mx (2012); Cronos (1992); De Mesmer, con amor or Té para dos (2002); Desde el cristal con que se mire (1984); Die Another Day (2002); The charm of the Águila (2011); The Dead Sea (2010); In Self-Defense (2015); Philosophy Natural of Love (2014); Cries of Death and Freedom (2010); Intimacy (1989); Jacarandas (2017); Knock Out (2025); The singer who wanted to be like Janis Joplin (1987); The nao of China (2004); The Last Moon (1990); Life Kills (2002); Ana's footsteps (1991); Los perros from 'Amores perros' (2000); Those who make our cinema (1993); The Simulators (2009); Memories of My Melancholy Whores (2011); Dying in the gulf (1990); Mozart in the Jungle (2015–2016); Novia que te vea (1994); Prelude (1999); Quatremares (2025); Sex and Other Secrets (2007); Sin memoria (2010); Events distant (1996); T.A.P. Professional Actors Workshop (2013); The Alamo (2004); The Chosen (2016); The double and only woman (2018); The Dream of Lu (2011); The Night Buffalo (2007); Three Rabbits (2015); A crucial day for Ausencio Paredes (1987); An Ice Lava Volcano (1994); Words with Gods (2014); And Your Mom Too (2001).

Born on this day – Michael Cole:

Michael Cole

Actor

July 3, 1940 – December 10, 2024

Credits:

3rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (1997); 7th Heaven (1997); ABC's 50th Anniversary Celebration (2003); Acapulco Bay (1995); All-Star Party for Aaron Spelling (1998); Beg, Borrow ... or Steal (1973); Beyond Westworld (1980); Bicentennial Minutes (1976); Celebrity Bowling (1973); CHiPs (1979–1981); Chuka (1967); Diagnosis Murder (1996); Dukes Up (2004); E! True Hollywood Story (2000); ER (2006); Evening in Byzantium (1978); Fantasy Island (1981); Father's Day (2010); Flying High (1978); Forbid Them Not (1961); General Hospital (1991); Get Christie Love! (1974); Good Sports (1991); Grave Misconduct (2008); Gunsmoke (1966); Hollywood Signs (2021); Inside TV Land (2002); It (1990); It's Your Bet (1973); Mod Squad (1968–1973); Mr. Brooks (2007); Murder, She Wrote (1987–1990); Music Scene (1969); Mystery Woman (2003); Mystery Woman: At First Sight (2006); Nickel Mountain (1984); Officer Lenot in: Showtime (2010); Otto (2005); Pennywise: The Story of It (2021); Police Story (1974–1975); Run for Your Life (1967); Shades of LA (1991); Studio 10 (2021); Stu's Show (2010–2018); Stu's Show (2022); The 13th Annual TV Week Logie Awards (1971); The 15th Annual TV Week Logie Awards (1973); The 3rd Annual TV Land Awards (2005); The Apostate (2000); The Best of Bert Newton (2002); The Bubble (1966); The Dating Game (1969–1972); The Eddie Capra Mysteries (1979); The Hollywood Squares (Daytime) (1977); The Last Child (1971); The Littlest Hobo (1980); The Love Boat (1979); The No-Name Trivia Show (2020); The Norman Gunston Show (1975); The Return of Mod Squad (1979); TV Land's Top Ten (2006); Vega$ (1981); Wonder Woman (1978).

Born on this day – Béatrice Picard:

Béatrice Picard

Actress

July 3, 1929 – December 9, 2025

Credits:

28th Annual Genie Awards (2008); 3 x rien (2003–2006); À cause de mon oncle (1977); Alexandre et le Roi (1976–1978); Au chenal du moine (1957–1958); Avec un grand A (1990); Bonsoir bonsoir! (2019); Boogie-woogie 47 (1980–1982); Bye-Bye (2008); Cargo (1990); Catherine (2002); Claire et les vieux (2021); Coco (2017); Comme tout l'monde (1972–1973); Cré Basile (1965); Dans les eaux profondes (2014); Dans les villes (2006); Dans ton temps (2021); Deaf to the City (1987); Défense d'entrer! (2021); District 31 (2016–2019); Du tac au tac (1978–1979); Dubois et fils (1961); En direct de l'univers (2009); En mode Salvail (2013–2017); Filles d'Ève (1960–1964); Frédéric (1980); Frontiers (2023); Gabriel Le Berger (1956); Grand-Papa (1976–1979); Hier, Aujourd'hui et Demain (2017); Idole instantanée (2005); Il était une fois dans le trouble (2006–2013); Je me souviens - 40e anniversaire de l'adoption de la Charte de la langue française (2017); Je vous ai tant aimé (1958–1959); Juste pour rire (2014–2015); KM/H (1998); La balsamine (1962–1963); La Semaine des 4 Julie (2020–2023); La tour (2020); La vie promise (1983–1985); La Vocation (2015); Le bonheur des autres (1965–1967); Le golem de Montréal (2004); Le grand duc (1959–1963); Le match des étoiles (2005); Le paradis terrestre (1968–1972); Le petit monde du père Gédéon (1960); Le scaphandrier (2015); Le show de Rousseau (2018); Le survenant (1956); Le téléthéâtre de Radio-Canada (1962); Les 90 jours (1959); Les berger (1970); Les Boys (2012); Les Brillant (1979–1982); Les chats bottés (1971); Les enfants de la télé (2012–2019); Les forges de Saint-Maurice (1973); Les gars des vues (2014); Les grandes marées (1981); Les indrogables (1972); Les Jeunes Loups (2014); Les Mecs (2021); Les mutants (2021); L'initiation (1970); Manon (1985); Marguerite (2017); Marie-Didace (1958–1959); Miss Météo (2005); Monsieur Lecoq (1964–1965); Mulan II (2004); My Aunt Aline (2007); My Super Season 8 (2005); On va se le dire (2019); Once Upon a Time in the East (1974); Poivre et sel (1985); Pour emporter (2018); Prière de ne pas envoyer de fleurs (2019); Rosa (1975); Rue de l'anse (1963–1965); S.O.S. j'écoute (1982); Scénario (1978); Scoop III (1994); Sous un ciel variable (1994–1997); Surprise sur prise (1988); Suzanne et Chantal (2022); Symphorien (1970); Taureau (1973); The Simpsons (1989–2021); The Simpsons Movie (2007); Titanic (1997); Tout le monde en parle (2018); Toute la vérité (2012); Turlututu et chapeaux pointus (2002); Un gars, une fille (1997–2002); Vaut mieux en rire (1982); Viens-tu faire un tour? (2014); Virginie (1996); Y'a du monde à messe (2017); Y'a plein d'soleil (1998–2009).

Born on this day – Ken Russell:

Ken Russell

Director

July 3, 1927 – November 27, 2011