Character Relationship Map: Double Indemnity

Characters

• Walter Neff (played by Fred MacMurray) — protagonist

  An insurance salesman who falls for Phyllis and conspires to murder her husband to trigger a double indemnity clause. He stages the death as a train accident but is investigated by claims manager Bart...

• Phyllis Dietrichson (played by Barbara Stanwyck) — protagonist

  A femme fatale who manipulates Walter into helping her murder her husband for insurance money. She drives the victim to the train station and helps stage the body. When confronted by Walter, she shoot...

• Barton Keyes (played by Edward G. Robinson) — supporting

  A dogged and proud claims manager who investigates the apparent suicide of Mr. Dietrichson. Skeptical of the official story, he suspects foul play and an accomplice. He questions Walter but trusts his...

• Mr. Jackson (played by Porter Hall) — supporting
• Bit Part (uncredited) (played by John Berry) — supporting
• Lola Dietrichson (played by Jean Heather) — supporting

  Phyllis's stepdaughter who visits Walter to confide her fears that Phyllis murdered her mother. She noticed Phyllis trying on mourning clothes days before the death and worries she will be killed next...

• Conductor (uncredited) (played by Kernan Cripps) — minor
• Man in Drug Store (uncredited) (played by Eddie Hall) — minor
• Pacific All-Risk Telephone Operator (uncredited) (played by Teala Loring) — minor
• Man (uncredited) (played by Clarence Muse) — minor
• Train Conductor (uncredited) (played by Edmund Cobb) — minor
• Norton's Secretary (uncredited) (played by Bess Flowers) — minor
• Charlie the Garage Attendant (uncredited) (played by Sam McDaniel) — minor
• Mr. Dietrichson (played by Tom Powers) — supporting

  Phyllis's husband and the intended victim of the insurance fraud. He is unknowingly included in a double indemnity policy renewal. Phyllis drives him to a train station where Walter hides in the car a...

• Pullman Porter (uncredited) (played by Billy Mitchell) — minor
• Man Reading Book (uncredited) (played by Raymond Chandler) — minor
• Lou Schwartz (uncredited) (played by Douglas Spencer) — minor
• Nino Zachetti (played by Byron Barr) — supporting

  Phyllis's hotheaded boyfriend who visits her nightly after the murder. Keyes suspects Nino is her accomplice, while Walter fears Phyllis is manipulating him to eliminate both Walter and Lola. Before d...

• Edward S. Norton Jr. (played by Richard Gaines) — supporting
• Joe Pete (played by John Philliber) — supporting

Story Analysis

A classic film noir about an insurance salesman entangled in a murder-for-profit scheme

Plot Progression

1. The Fatal Proposal
2. The Deadly Plan
3. The Unraveling
4. The Desperate End