Other articles where double indemnity is discussed. As a novelist, cain preferred the firstperson point of view in the telling of his stories. Double indemnity is a 1943 crime novel, written by american journalistturnednovelist james m. I read the books together to try to get some understanding of cains art and of the noir genre. Film star sylvia shoreham is wowing the dusty gambling town and is hellbent on divorcing her conniving use. Mar 24, 2005 double indemnity by james m cain is a novella. Cain published eighteen books in all and was working on his autobiography at the time of his death. It was first published in serial form in liberty magazine in 1936 and then was one of three long short tales in the collection three of a kind. It was followed by double indemnity 1944, one of the most searing of the early films noir and, in the eyes of many historians, the apotheosis of the genre. It is an integral and necessary element of the story.
Walter huff is an insurance investigator like any other until the day he meets the beautiful and dangerous phyllis nirdlinger and falls under her spell. Tautly narrated and excruciatingly suspenseful, double indemnit. I vaguely recall watching the movie of the same name. Walters life is quiet, until he falls for an unhappily married woman and offers to help her commit murder.
James mallahan cain july 1, 1892october 27, 1977 was an american journalist and novelist. Cain is considered to be one of the founders of the hardboiled. Double indemnity, published in 1934, is cains second novel and is set in the young, booming city of hollywood. Double indemnity is a 1943 crime novel, written by american journalistturned novelist james m. A woman and her lover murder the womans husband for insurance. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read double indemnity.
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. James mallahan cain july 1, 1892 october 27, 1977 was an american author and journalist. Buy a cheap copy of double indemnity book by james m. The classic 1944 movie double indemnity based on this book is one of my alltime favorites. The influence of james m cains novels on film noir film. Cain and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. I m really getting to like these late 1930s early 1940s crime novels, and double indemnity by james m.
The main characters of this fiction, mystery story are. Several of his crime novels inspired successful movies. It was first published in serial form in liberty magazine in. In his final years of life, cain experienced a bit of a resurgence of interest in his work. But, says william preston robertson, the writers relationship with hollywoods cavemen was never easy. Hard case crime is publishing his lost final novel. When smalltime insurance salesman walter huff meets seductive phyllis nirdlinger, the wife of one of his wealthy clients, it takes him only minutes to determine.
Double indemnity is the classic tale of an evil woman motivated by greed who corrupts a weak man motivated by lust. Cain vehemently opposed labeling, but he is usually associated with the hardboiled school of american crime fiction and is seen as one of the creators of the roman noir. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of double indemnity by james m. Cains crime novels, postman resembles double indemnitys tale of a femme fatale seducing a man to help her kill her husband, but this time its to inherit the diner that they run together. It is quite short especially if you ignore the padding in the foreword which serves no real purpose.
Im really getting to like these late 1930s early 1940s crime novels, and double indemnity by james m. It was originally published as part of a set with two other stories, called three of a kind, in liberty magazine. Two of cains other novels, mildred pierce 1941 and double indemnity 1943, were also made into film noir classics. Cain, virtuoso of the roman noir, gives us a tautly narrated and excruciatingly suspenseful story in double indemnity, an xray view of guilt, of duplicity. James cains double indemnity is a hardboiled, rapidly paced crimedetective story reminiscent of the 1930s and 1940s, that frames murder and sex with little sentiment or passion. Cain, virtuoso of the roman noir, gives us a tautly narrated and excruciatingly suspenseful story in double indemnity, an xray view of guilt, of duplicity, and of the kind of obsessive, loveless love that devastates everything it touches. Double indemnity, james mallahan cain double indemnity is a 1943 crime novel, written by american journalistturnednovelist james m. Apr 10, 2016 double indemnity audiobooks james m cain. Apr 12, 2001 james m cain s hardboiled novels of greed, lust and murder made for perfect film noir. Cain, novelist whose violent, sexually obsessed, and relentlessly paced melodramas epitomized the hardboiled school of writing that flourished in the united states in the 1930s and 40s.
She had used me for a cats paw so she could have another man, and she had enough on me to hang me higher than a kite. Cain found a kernel of truth and his voice, which would eventually distill through his novels, the postman always rings twice, mildred pierce and double indemnity and subsequent film adaptations. In a lonely place, and the definitive double indemnity, based on cains second novel. Cain this study guide consists of approximately 51 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of double indemnity.
I got to laughing, a hysterical cackle, there in the dark. Mar 21, 2017 when you dont pump in a ton of description and digression, books can be short. The first edition of the novel was published in 1936, and was written by james m. Although cain himself vehemently opposed labeling, he is usually associated with the hardboiled school of american crime fiction and seen as one of the creators of the roman noir. Cain was awarded the grand master award by the mystery writers of america.
Double indemnity double indemnity audiobook, by james cain. Cain 1892 1977 wrote double indemnity in 1936, just after his other short masterful noir novel the postman always rings twice 1934 both these novels became celebrated movies. Originally banned in boston for its use of sex and violence, the postman always rings twice was a huge bestseller and was made into what is now a classic film noir movie. Cain, including the postman always rings twice, and double indemnity, and more on thriftbooks. James m cains hardboiled novels of greed, lust and murder made for perfect film noir. Its a good plan, and cain nicely describes how its done, from getting the insurance policy very nicely handled to the alibis to the act itself. When smalltime insurance salesman walter huff meets seductive phyllis nirdlinger, the wife of. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 115 pages and is available in paperback format. First published in 1935, this novel reaffirmed james m.
Cain originally a journalist, james mallahan cain 18921977 was the author of a number of classic and influential noir mystery novels including, the postman always rings twice, double indemnity, and mildred pierce. James cains double indemnity is a hardboiled, rapidly paced crimedetective story reminiscent of the 1930s and 1940s, that frames murder. Cains first novel, the postman always rings twice, published in 1934, fills 116 pages. Cains little gem of a hardboiled novel, set in the postwar 1940s of reno, nevada. Although not published in book form until 1943, james m. Tautly narrated and excruciatingly suspenseful, double indemnity gives us an xray view of guilt, of duplicity, and of the kind of obsessive, loveless love that devastates everything it touches. The influence of james m cains novels on film noir film the. James cain also wrote several other excellent bookstwo of which.
James m cain, the prolific and talented author of such landmark hardboiled novels as the postman always rings twice, double indemnity. Cain, virtuoso of the roman noir, gives us a tautly narrated and excruciatingly suspenseful story in double indemnity, an xray view. It was strange reading this book as it times it seemed like i was watching an old black and white movie. Free download or read online double indemnity pdf epub book. And thats part of the audacity, because the insurance company knows that railway accidents arent a very common way of getting oneself killed. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. This study guide consists of approximately 51 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of double indemnity. First published in 1936, this novel reaffirmed james m.
Double indemnity is a 1943 crime novel, written by american journalist turned novelist james m. Double indemnity is a 1934 detective novella by james m cain. The use of firstperson point of view in double indemnity, however, is not merely a matter of an authors individual preference. Cains 1936 novella, on which the film is based, had been deemed too controversial for hollywoods production code. Mar 24, 2005 double indemnity is the classic tale of an evil woman motivated by greed who corrupts a weak man motivated by lust. Cain, paperback format, from the dymocks online bookstore. He was ranked with dashiell hammett and raymond chandler as one of the masters of the genre. Together they plot to kill her husband and split the insurance. What he referred to as his reincarnation was kicked off by the publication in 1969 of cain x 3 1969, which placed his old hits, the postman always rings twice, mildred pierce, and double indemnity, between hardcovers again.
727 986 164 1399 783 1029 1643 933 62 1288 1542 1462 1267 512 57 1172 478 15 255 314 32 1453 634 1287 479 1477 958 615 814 882 247 805 280 1556 530 239 1232 369 517 730 528 1165 756 1146 1427 141