With just a handful of actors and a few pages of dialogue, the simplicity of Billy Wilder’s Double Indemnity (1944) makes it just as much of a joy to watch today as it must have been when it was released seventy years ago. A breathtaking new print of the film is playing at Film Forum from August 1-7, and these are 5 reasons why you need to see it.

1. It's serious, but not too serious: Hate feeling depressed after watching dark films? Then Double Indemnity is for you. Although it’s a serious murder mystery and nothing joyful really happens, something about Billy Wilder’s touch as a filmmaker makes the movie charming. It’s a murder-drama that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

2. “Good-bye, baby”: The boyish charm of Fred McMurray as Walter Neff is infectious. Even when he does terrible things we forgive him...even cheer for him! What can he do? He’s just a sucker for a pretty face!
3. Structure and Score: When Walter picks up the voice recorder at the beginning of the film, this gives him probable reason to begin telling his story, and gives the audience its window. Through flashback we go to the past and learn everything that has led up to this point, connecting up with Walter in real time for the film’s finale. Accompanying the story is the great score by Miklos Rozsa (Ben Hur). It fits in so well, scene-by-scene, you might never have noticed it, but it deserves to be noticed, as it is quite exemplary.
4. “There’s a speed limit in this state Mr. Neff. 45 mph.”- But the witty exchanges are speeding! The back-and-forth between Walter Neff and Barbara Stanwyck as Phyllis are the most enjoyable parts of the film. These sugarcoated indecencies are playful but still show that these actors have serious chops. A certain wall does exist between the actors; we never really believe these are real people but always actors. Still, while what was just another day at the office for Neff and Stanwyck yielded some very memorable scenes.
5. The Script – Written by both Wilder and novelist Raymond Chandler, the script is the backbone of the movie. The screenwriters take the well-used accident insurance scheme and weave it into a fresh plot; what starts out as a friendly visit to renew some automobile insurance ends tragically. Thanks to insurance boss Barton Keyes (Edward G. Robinson) and his little inner voice, we get insight into the complexities of the insurance industry, the intelligence of Walter and Phyllis’s plan, and plenty of other twists and turns along the way. This script keeps us fully engaged with this true classic of film, now celebrating its 70^th birthday!

Double Indemnity will play a limited engagement at Film Forum from August 1-7. For tickets and more click here.