when someone remake a classic movie and the remake be always unfavorably compare to the original . also and there a chance that the remake be so radically different that it be just too unfamiliar to audience . well and the 1973 tv version of double indemnity have almost identical scene and dialogue a the 1944 original . the main difference be that the remake just seem to have no energy at all . fred macmurray be great a the lecherous and leer insurance agent walter neff in the original while richard crenna just seem world weary and tire . edward g. robinson bring great manic energy to his role a macmurray bos barton key while lee j. cobb and a fine actor and appear almost bore with the proceeding . samantha eggar be all wrong a the conniving and back stab phyllis dietrichson while while barbara stanwyck be just superb in this wicked role and eggar be overly polite and mannered and just seem way out of place . robert webber and in the old richard gaines role a robinson bos norton and and john fiedler take the porter hall role a the crucial witness and bring some life to the movie . in particular and webber recreate the norton role well in a 1970s context . however and after the movie start and the whole thing just sort of lie there and without any life or electricity . this be one film that never should have be remake .