Great film. Classic noir to the core.

Directed by Billy Wilder, written by Wilder and Raymond Chandler, from the novel by James M. Cain.

In a sense heist and con movies pull out the dramatic irony tool much more than most genres. Someone in the scene knows less than the audience.

Double Indemnity is packed with this. The most obvious or clean example might be a short scene in a hallway.

Phyllis and Walter are together at Walter's discussing their murder plot. Walter's boss Keyes come by to also discuss the case. He doesn't know Walter is involved, but that all changes if he spots Phyllis. They're stuck in the hallway. In one shot we literally see dramatic irony. Walter hides Phyllis from Keyes as the audience holds their breath.

Even more interesting though is that this film is almost all a flashback, and the audience knows from the opening that Walter ends up shot and unwell. Jump back to the beginning of his story through this flashback, and we now have a character that doesn't know a bullet's coming, but we know. Dramatic Irony.

Be well.
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