Double Indemnity
by James M. Cain
Boy, is James M. Cain a versatile author! On one hand, he writes a dutiful, noble mother in Mildred Pierce, and with his other, he writes cunning femme fatales in Double Indemnity and The Postman Always Rings Twice. The 1944 film adaptation of the former is an icon of film noir, studied by film students from coast to coast, but the book is rarely discussed. Perhaps because the book is drastically different from its counterpart, starting the physical description of the woman. Cain wrote her dark and statuesque, much like Joan Crawford, who starred as Mildred Pierce in 1945. Mildred was written to be soft and blonde, like Barbara Stanwyck, the star of Double Indemnity. Confused yet? Good, because you need to be confused while reading this novel; that’s the entire point!
Part romance, part thriller, part insurance lesson, this is a fun and fast read. I actually liked it better than the movie, but I won’t spoil anything by telling you why. Just pick it up on the next dark and stormy night and get ready for a thrill!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of 1944's Double Indemnity here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of James M. Cain's Mildred Pierce here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of James M. Cain's The Postman Always Rings Twice here!
Part romance, part thriller, part insurance lesson, this is a fun and fast read. I actually liked it better than the movie, but I won’t spoil anything by telling you why. Just pick it up on the next dark and stormy night and get ready for a thrill!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of 1944's Double Indemnity here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of James M. Cain's Mildred Pierce here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of James M. Cain's The Postman Always Rings Twice here!