Editing Double Indemnity (section)

===Casting===
[[File:Double indemnity screenshot 3.jpg|thumb|Wilder supposedly chose a bad wig for Stanwyck to underscore Phyllis's "sleazy phoniness".]]Sistrom and Wilder wanted Barbara Stanwyck to play Phyllis Dietrichson. She was the highest-paid woman in America.<ref name="dvd2"/> Stanwyck was reluctant to play a [[femme fatale]], fearing it would have an adverse effect on her career. She recalled being "a little afraid after all these years of playing heroines to go into an out-and-out killer." Wilder asked, "Well, are you a mouse or an actress?" She was grateful for his encouragement.<ref name="Lally"/>{{rp|134}}

[[Alan Ladd]], [[James Cagney]], [[Spencer Tracy]], [[Gregory Peck]], and [[Fredric March]] all passed on the role of Neff.<ref name="Lally"/>{{rp|134}} Wilder scraped "the bottom of the barrel" and approached [[George Raft]]. Since Raft did not read scripts, Wilder described the plot. Raft interrupted, "Let's get to the lapel bit...when the guy flashes his lapel, you see his badge, you know he's a detective." Since Neff was not a cop, Raft turned the part down.<ref name="zolmain">[[Maurice Zolotow|Zolotow, Maurice]] (1977). ''Billy Wilder in Hollywood''. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. {{ISBN|978-0-399-11789-3}}.</ref>{{rp|117}} This was the last in a series of films Raft declined which turned out to be classics.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Filmink|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/stars-stop-stars-george-raft/|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|title=Why Stars Stop Being Stars: George Raft|date=February 9, 2020}}</ref> Wilder realized the part needed someone who could play a cynic and a nice guy simultaneously.<ref name="Lally"/>{{rp|134}}

Fred MacMurray was accustomed to playing "happy-go-lucky good guys" in light comedies. In 1943, he was the highest-paid actor in Hollywood.<ref>Flint, Peter B. "[https://www.nytimes.com/1991/11/06/arts/fred-macmurray-is-dead-at-83-versatile-film-and-television-star.html Fred MacMurray Is Dead at 83; Versatile Film and Television Star]." ''The New York Times'', November 6, 1991.</ref> When Wilder approached him about the role, MacMurray said, "You're making the mistake of your life!" He felt he lacked the skill for a serious part,<ref name="Phillips"/>{{rp|61}} but Wilder pestered the actor until he relented. MacMurray felt Paramount would never let him play a "wrong" role, because the studio carefully crafted his image. Paramount let him take the unsavory role, hoping to teach him a lesson during negotiations for his contract renewal.<ref name="sikmain"/>{{rp|202–3}} MacMurray's success in the role came as a surprise to both him and Paramount; he later recalled that he "never dreamed it would be the best picture [he] ever made."<ref name="zolmain"/>{{rp|118}}

Edward G. Robinson was reluctant to step down to third billing as Barton Keyes, reflecting that "At my age, it was time to begin thinking of character roles, to slide into middle and old age with the same grace as that marvelous actor [[Lewis Stone]]". Robinson agreed to take the role in part because he would receive the same salary as the two leads for fewer shooting days.<ref name="Lally"/>{{rp|135}}

For Jean Heather as Lola it was her credited first film role, for Byron Barr as Nino it was his first film role ever, and for Tom Powers as Mr. Dietrichson it was his first film role since 1917.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}