Season 6: Episode 277 - M&M: Double Indemnity (1944)/Basic Instinct (1992)

Double Indemnity (1944)

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Double Indemnity is a 1944 American crime film noir directed by Billy Wilder, co-written by Wilder and Raymond Chandler, and produced by Buddy DeSylva and Joseph Sistrom. The screenplay was based on James M. Cain's 1943 novel of the same title, which appeared as an eight-part serial for the Liberty magazine in February 1936.  The film stars Fred MacMurray as an insurance salesman, Barbara Stanwyck as a provocative housewife who is accused of killing her husband, and Edward G. Robinson as a claims adjuster whose job is to find phony claims. The term "double indemnity" refers to a clause in certain life insurance policies that doubles the payout in cases when the death is accidental.  Praised by many critics when first released, the film was nominated for seven Academy Awards but did not win any. Widely regarded as a classic, it often is cited as having set the standard for film noir.

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Basic Instinct (1992)

 

Basic Instinct is a 1992 neo-noir erotic thriller film directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Joe Eszterhas. The film follows San Francisco police detective Nick Curran (Michael Douglas), who is investigating the brutal murder of a wealthy rock star. During the investigation, Curran becomes involved in a torrid and intense relationship with the prime suspect, Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone), an enigmatic writer.  Eszterhas developed the script in the 1980s. It became a subject of a bidding war until Carolco Pictures acquired the rights to the film. From there, Verhoeven signed on to direct and Douglas and Stone joined the project, after many actresses were considered for the role of Tramell. Before its release, Basic Instinct generated controversy due to its overt sexuality and violence, including a rape scene. Gay rights activists criticized the film's depiction of homosexual relationships and the portrayal of a bisexual woman as a murderous psychopath. In one scene, Stone's vulva was filmed as she crossed her legs, which she claimed was done without her knowledge, a claim denied by the director.  There are several cuts available. 

 

Opening Credits; Introduction (1.05); Amazing Design Advertisement (20.54); Background History (22.06); Double Indemnity (1944) Film Trailer (23.41); The Original (25.54); Let's Rate (1:19.08); Introducing the Double Feature (1:36.27); Basic Instinct (1992) Film Trailer (1:39.07); The Attraction (1:41.16); How Many Stars (2:37.14); End Credits (2:41.56); Closing Credits (2:43.10)

 

Opening Credits– Epidemic Sound – copyright 2021. All rights reserved

 

Closing Credits:  Man Smart, Women Smarter – by Harry Belafonte. Taken from the album Calypso.  Copyright 1955 RCA Victor

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Original Music copyrighted 2020 Dan Hughes Music and the Literary License Podcast. 

 

All rights reserved.  Used by Kind Permission.

 

All songs available through Amazon Music.