You're gonna be bothered by how cool I am.

Back to the Premiere list. The first of probably 2 of these today.

98. Barbara Stanwyck as Phyllis Dietrichson
Double Indemnity (1944)



Before there was Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct, there was Barbara Stanwyck in Double Indemnity. This isn't my favorite - by far - of Billy Wilder's movies. It's the film that pretty much established the clichés of film noir, but Wilder's writing is so tongue-in-cheek that you have to love it. Stanwyck's part in it, though, is something particular.

Stanwyck was never a "beauty" along the lines of Lana Turner or Greta Garbo or many other screen sirens. But she can work the heck out of what she's got, and you totally buy that she's someone men would fall all over themselves for. She was either wearing a wig or had her hair dyed blonde for this movie (my money's on "wig"), and it doesn't really suit her at all. But she still finds a way to exude confidence and sexiness. Her first conversation with Fred MacMurray's smooth-talking, somewhat condescending (let's count the number of lines he has that are capped off with "baby", shall we?) insurance salesman is a thing of beauty. And - you know, I'm just going to quote it here, because it's art.

Phyllis: Mr. Neff, why don't you drop by tomorrow evening about eight-thirty. He'll be in then.
Walter Neff: Who?
Phyllis: My husband. You were anxious to talk to him weren't you?
Walter Neff: Yeah, I was, but I'm sort of getting over the idea, if you know what I mean.
Phyllis: There's a speed limit in this state, Mr. Neff. Forty-five miles an hour.
Walter Neff: How fast was I going, officer?
Phyllis: I'd say around ninety.
Walter Neff: Suppose you get down off your motorcycle and give me a ticket.
Phyllis: Suppose I let you off with a warning this time.
Walter Neff: Suppose it doesn't take.
Phyllis: Suppose I have to whack you over the knuckles.
Walter Neff: Suppose I bust out crying and put my head on your shoulder.
Phyllis: Suppose you try putting it on my husband's shoulder.
Walter Neff: That tears it.

This is not even really my favorite performance of Stanwyck's (that would be The Lady Eve, if you were wondering), but it's so iconic that you can't really talk about Stanwyck without talking about her deliciously evil turn as Phyllis Dietrichson.