1938
Insurance agent Walter Neff dictates a confession, recounting how he was seduced by Phyllis Dietrichson into murdering her husband for a double indemnity payout. They stage the death as an accident, pushing Mr. Dietrichson from a train, but Neff's astute claims manager, Barton Keyes, immediately suspects foul play. As Keyes investigates, Neff discovers Phyllis's manipulative past and realizes she intends to frame him. Neff confronts Phyllis, who shoots him, but he fatally wounds her in return, then finishes his confession before collapsing as Keyes arrives.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Insurance salesman Walter Neff’s nocturnal arrival and narrated confession set the stage for a femme fatale–driven scheme.
Open full beat sheetWalter Neff is listed as Insurance Agent. Tall, 35 years old, unmarried, insurance agent who commits murder. In the parsed data, Walter Neff is connected to 68 scenes, 287 dialogue lines, 292 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
68 scenes / 287 dialogue linesPhyllis Dietrichson is listed as Femme Fatale. Early thirties, blonde, manipulative, married to Mr. Dietrichson. In the parsed data, Phyllis Dietrichson is connected to 24 scenes, 171 dialogue lines, 173 text mentions, first appearing around scene 6.
24 scenes / 171 dialogue linesBarton Keyes is listed as Claims Manager. Claims manager at Pacific All-Risk, meticulous, cynical, Neff's mentor. In the parsed data, Barton Keyes is connected to 20 scenes, 83 dialogue lines, 85 text mentions, first appearing around scene 7.
20 scenes / 83 dialogue linesLola Dietrichson is listed as Mr. Dietrichson's daughter. 19 years old, daughter of Mr. Dietrichson by his first wife. In the parsed data, Lola Dietrichson is connected to 9 scenes, 39 dialogue lines, 39 text mentions, first appearing around scene 23.
9 scenes / 39 dialogue linesMr. Dietrichson is listed as Victim. 51 years old, blocky man, oil business executive. In the parsed data, Mr. Dietrichson is connected to 5 scenes, 33 dialogue lines, 45 text mentions, first appearing around scene 23.
5 scenes / 33 dialogue linesMr. Jackson is listed as Witness. Medford, Oregon resident, witness on the train. In the parsed data, Mr. Jackson is connected to 4 scenes, 11 dialogue lines, 11 text mentions, first appearing around scene 30.
4 scenes / 11 dialogue linesNino Zachetti is listed as Lola's boyfriend. 25 years old, Italian, hot-headed, former medical student. In the parsed data, Nino Zachetti is connected to 3 scenes, 11 dialogue lines, 14 text mentions, first appearing around scene 26.
3 scenes / 11 dialogue linesSam Gorlopis is listed as Truck driver. Big, dumb bruiser, involved in a fraudulent insurance claim. In the parsed data, Sam Gorlopis is connected to 2 scenes, 20 dialogue lines, 21 text mentions, first appearing around scene 8.
2 scenes / 20 dialogue linesMr. Norton is listed as President of Insurance Company. Pompous, well-groomed executive. In the parsed data, Mr. Norton is connected to 2 scenes, 6 dialogue lines, 9 text mentions, first appearing around scene 44.
2 scenes / 6 dialogue linesA Dodge coupe runs a red light, nearly hitting a newspaper truck, and drives to the Pacific Building.
Walter NeffNeff arrives at the Pacific Building and is let in by the night watchman.
Walter NeffNeff rides the elevator to the twelfth floor while the watchman makes small talk.
Walter NeffNeff enters his office, tends to a gunshot wound, and begins dictating a confession to Keyes.
Walter NeffNeff arrives at the Dietrichson home to discuss auto insurance renewals.
Walter Neff, Phyllis DietrichsonNeff and Phyllis flirt while discussing insurance policies.
Walter Neff, Phyllis DietrichsonNeff returns to the office and finds Keyes interrogating Sam Gorlopis.
Walter Neff, Barton Keyes, Sam GorlopisKeyes confronts Gorlopis about a fraudulent insurance claim regarding a burned truck, eventually forcing him to sign a waiver.
Barton Keyes, Walter Neff, Sam GorlopisNeff returns to his office and reflects on the message from Mrs. Dietrichson.
Walter NeffNeff checks his calendar for the appointment with Mrs. Dietrichson.
Walter NeffPhyllis greets Neff at the door.
Phyllis Dietrichson, Walter NeffPhyllis and Neff discuss accident insurance for her husband, leading to a confrontation about her true intentions.
Phyllis Dietrichson, Walter NeffNeff leaves the house in his car.
Walter NeffNeff stops for a beer.
Walter NeffNeff bowls to distract himself.
Walter NeffNeff arrives home as it begins to rain.
Walter NeffPhyllis visits Neff at his apartment, and they reconcile.
Walter Neff, Phyllis DietrichsonNeff and Phyllis prepare drinks while discussing murder methods.
Walter Neff, Phyllis DietrichsonNeff and Phyllis discuss insurance fraud and murder while drinking.
Walter Neff, Phyllis DietrichsonNeff dictates his confession into a machine.
Walter NeffNeff and Phyllis finalize their plan to commit murder together.
Walter Neff, Phyllis DietrichsonNeff continues his dictation regarding the setup.
Walter NeffNeff visits the Dietrichson home to get Mr. Dietrichson's signature.
Walter Neff, Phyllis Dietrichson, Lola Dietrichson, Mr. DietrichsonNeff and Phyllis discuss the plan after Mr. Dietrichson leaves.
Walter Neff, Phyllis DietrichsonNeff finds Lola waiting in his car.
Walter Neff, Lola DietrichsonNeff drives Lola to meet Zachetti.
Walter Neff, Lola Dietrichson, Nino ZachettiNeff drops Lola off; she meets her boyfriend Zachetti who is hostile toward Neff.
Walter Neff, Lola Dietrichson, Nino ZachettiNeff drives away, reflecting on the situation and his plans with Phyllis.
Walter NeffNeff arrives at the market to meet Phyllis.
Walter NeffNeff and Phyllis meet secretly to discuss the accident policy and the change in plans.
Walter Neff, Phyllis DietrichsonKeyes offers Neff a job as his assistant; Phyllis calls Neff with news.
Walter Neff, Barton Keyes, Phyllis DietrichsonNeff arrives home to establish his alibi.
Walter NeffNeff talks to the attendant to establish his presence.
Walter NeffNeff sets up his alibi and prepares for the murder.
Walter NeffNeff sneaks into the garage to hide in the car.
Walter NeffPhyllis and Mr. Dietrichson leave the house.
Phyllis Dietrichson, Mr. DietrichsonPhyllis and Dietrichson drive off with Neff hidden in the back.
Walter Neff, Phyllis Dietrichson, Mr. DietrichsonPhyllis and Dietrichson argue in the car while Neff hides in the back. Phyllis kills Dietrichson.
Walter Neff, Phyllis Dietrichson, Mr. DietrichsonPhyllis and Neff (disguised as Dietrichson) arrive at the station to board the train.
Walter Neff, Phyllis DietrichsonNeff interacts with Jackson on the observation platform before jumping off.
Walter Neff, Mr. JacksonNeff and Phyllis stage the accident by placing the body on the tracks.
Walter Neff, Phyllis DietrichsonNeff returns home and attempts to establish an alibi.
Walter NeffNeff records his confession on a dictaphone.
Walter Neff, Barton KeyesKeyes and Neff meet with Norton to discuss the Dietrichson case.
Walter Neff, Barton Keyes, Mr. NortonNorton confronts Neff and Keyes about the Dietrichson case, suggesting suicide. Phyllis arrives and Norton attempts to negotiate a settlement, which she rejects.
Walter Neff, Phyllis Dietrichson, Barton Keyes, Mr. NortonKeyes visits Neff at his apartment, expressing his growing suspicion that the Dietrichson case is murder.
Walter Neff, Barton KeyesKeyes leaves the apartment, narrowly missing Phyllis who was hiding in the hallway.
Walter Neff, Phyllis Dietrichson, Barton KeyesLola Dietrichson meets Neff at his office to express her suspicions about her father's death and Phyllis's past.
Walter Neff, Lola DietrichsonLola tells Neff about her mother's death and her suspicions regarding Phyllis and her father's death.
Walter Neff, Lola DietrichsonNeff takes Lola to dinner to cheer her up.
Walter Neff, Lola DietrichsonNeff and Lola go for a drive to the beach.
Walter Neff, Lola DietrichsonNeff encounters Jackson outside Keyes' office.
Walter Neff, Barton Keyes, Mr. JacksonKeyes explains his theory about the Dietrichson murder to Neff and interviews Jackson.
Walter Neff, Barton Keyes, Mr. JacksonNeff calls Phyllis to arrange a meeting.
Walter Neff, Phyllis DietrichsonNeff and Phyllis meet in the market to discuss the claim and the investigation.
Walter Neff, Phyllis DietrichsonNeff dictates his thoughts about Phyllis and his situation.
Walter NeffNeff and Lola talk about Zachetti and Phyllis.
Walter Neff, Lola DietrichsonKeyes tells Neff that the case has broken open.
Walter Neff, Barton KeyesNeff and Keyes exchange final words before Neff heads to the elevator.
Walter Neff, Barton KeyesNeff listens to Keyes' dictaphone recording clearing him and implicating Zachetti.
Walter Neff, Barton KeyesNeff calls Phyllis to arrange a meeting.
Walter Neff, Phyllis DietrichsonNeff and Phyllis confront each other; Phyllis shoots Neff, then they reconcile before she is shot.
Walter Neff, Phyllis DietrichsonNeff encounters Zachetti and directs him to call Lola.
Walter Neff, Nino ZachettiNeff dictates his confession until Keyes arrives.
Walter Neff, Barton KeyesNeff and Keyes share a final, emotional moment before Neff's departure.
Walter Neff, Barton KeyesWitnesses gather to watch the execution of Neff.
Walter Neff, Barton KeyesNeff is strapped into the chair for his execution.
Walter Neff, Barton KeyesThe gas chamber is sealed.
The execution process begins.
Walter NeffThe gas fills the chamber.
Walter Neff, Barton KeyesThe doctors confirm Neff's death.
Barton KeyesKeyes leaves the prison, visibly shaken.
Barton KeyesSo we just sat there, and she kept on crying softly, like the rain on the window, and we didn't say anything. Maybe she had stopped thinking about it, but I hadn't. I couldn't. Because it all tied up with something I had been thinking about for years, since long before I ever ran into Phyllis Dietrichson. Because, in this business you can't sleep for trying to figure out the tricks they could pull on you. You're like the guy behind the roulette wheel, watching the customers to make sure they don't crook the house. And then one night, you get to thinking how you could crook the house yourself. And do it smart. Because you've got that wheel right under your hands. And you know every notch in it by heart. And you figure all you need is a plant out in front, a shill to put down the bet. And suddenly the doorbell rings and the whole set-up is right there in the room with you... Look, Keyes, I'm not trying to whitewash myself. I fought it, only maybe I didn't fight it hard enough. The stakes were fifty thousand dollars, but they were the life of a man, too, a man who'd never done me any dirt. Except he was married to a woman he didn't care anything about, and I did...
...Furthermore, no connection whatsoever has been established between Walter Neff and Mrs. Phyllis Dietrichson, whereas I am now able to report that such a connection has been established between her and another man. This man has been observed to visit the Dietrichson home on the night of July 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th. We have succeeded in identifying him as one Nino Zachetti, former medical student, aged twenty-eight, residing at Lilac Court Apartments 1228 N. La Brea Avenue. We have checked Zachetti's movements on the night of the crime and have found that they cannot be accounted for. I am preparing a more detailed report for your consideration and it is my belief that we already have sufficient evidence against Zachetti and Mrs. Dietrichson to justify police action. I strongly urge that this whole matter be turned over to the office of the District Attorney. Respectfully, Barton Keyes.
He came here the first time just to ask where Lola was. I made him come back. I was working on him. He's crazy sort of guy, quick-tempered. I kept hammering into him that she was with another man, so he'd get into one of his jealous rages, and then I'd tell him where she was. And you know what he'd have done to her, don't you, Walter.
It's Anne Matthews, I told you. I also told you we're going roller skating. I'm meeting her at the corner of Vermont and Franklin -- the north-west corner, in case you're interested. And I'm late already. I hope that is all clear. Good night, Father. Good night, Phyllis.
Yeah, and what happened to her? She sat in the hotel lobby for four days straight. Never even saw the guy until we poured him back on the train.
Yeah, and what happened to her? She sat in the hotel lobby for four days straight. Never even saw the guy until we poured him back on the train.
No? Look, Gorlopis. Every month hundreds of claims come to this desk. Some of them are phonies, and I know which ones. How do I know, Gorlopis?
What's the matter, Gorlopis? Don't you know how to open the door? Just put your hand on the knob, turn it to the right, pull it toward you --
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