Cinematheque: Edward G. Robinson

Insurance salesman Walter Neff (MacMurray) finds a respite from his life of beer, bowling, and house calls in the form of Phyllis Dietrichson (Stanwyck), a vamp who convinces Neff to help her pull off the “accidental” death of her husband. Robinson co-stars as Neff’s dogged investigator colleague, Barton Keyes. This sardonic vision of lust, greed, and murderous boredom – adapted by Wilder and Raymond Chandler from James M. Cain’s novel - is one of the unquestioned masterpieces of film noir.