Double Indemnity

Lady Esther presents the Screen Guild Players in Paramount Pictures' smash dramatic hit, Double Indemnity, from the novel by James M. Kane. It stars Barbara Stanwick as Phyllis, Fred McMurray as Walter, and Walter Abel as Keys.

The Lady Esther Screen Guild Players in Double Indemnity. Downtown Los Angeles is dark and deserted. But high above the quiet street, one window shows a splash of life. Walderneth, star agent for Pacific All Risk Insurance, is in his private office typing a report.

Office memorandum to Barton Keyes Claims Manager. July 16th 1938, dear Keyes, are you all buzzed your debt again? I mean you were right on that Dietrichson claim, accident and double indemnity. You said it wasn't an accident. Check. You said it wasn't suicide. Check. You said it was murder. Check and double check.

He pauses. Thumbles for a cigarette with his right hand. Now we see that the other hand hangs limp and useless at his side. And spreading from below his shoulder, a dark red stain discolours his shirt. He takes a long drag on the cigarette, brushes it out and then goes on.

I'll admit it, keys. You can always smell a phony clam. And you were pretty good on this one for a while. Only you made just one little mistake. You picked the wrong guy for the murder.

And that's where I want to set you straight. I'm gonna tell you who it was. It all started one afternoon about the end of May. I'd stopped at this house over on Los Felas to check up on some auto renewals.

The maid who answered the bell was kind of nasty, as I was trying to talk my way in. What is it, Nettie? Who's at the door? That was her. That was the first time I ever saw her.