Ruth Brown Snyder was born in March 27, 1895 and died in January 12, 1928. She and her lover Judd Gray had murdered her husband- Albert after having having him take out a big insurance policy with a double indemnity clause. Later, this murder case has become the insipritaion for the novel "Double Indemnity(1943)" and the book "The Postman Always Rings Twice (1934)", both written by James M. Cain, which were later adapted for the screen.
Therefore, we can see a lot of connections between the films and the murder case. Firstly, the plot of "Double Indemnity(1944)" directed by Billy Wilder is about a provocative housewife who wishes her husband were dead. So she persuade the insurance salesman to help her. Which is significantly similar with the real murder case, Ruth Snyder persuaded her boyfriend- Judd Gray to kill her husband after having her husband to purchase a "signed" $48,000 life insurance policy with the assistance of an insurance agent, that paid extra ("double indemnity") if an unexpected act of violence killed the victim. This reminds me of where Walter tricks Mr. Jackson to sign a illegal copy of the document so the insurance policy would get validated by the insurance company.
Secondly, according to Judd Gray, Ruth had made at least seven attempts to kill her husband, all of which he survived. This remind me of where Cora and Frank in "The Postman Always Rings Twice" directed by Tay Garnett, were trying to kill the husband- Mr. Smith by placing marbles in the bathroom. But did not succeed until the second attempt of the murder, where they hit him in the head with a class bottle before they drive him off the cliff.Later, a detective found a paper with the letters "J.G." written on it. Ruth immediately turned to her lover. This significant moment has also reappear in the film when the authorities have discovered irrefutable evidence which is a note written by Cora before she died to prove that Frank is guilty for murdering Mr. Smith.
Lastly, we can see Cora and Frank turn on each other in the the film, this has also happened in real life, when Ruth Snyder and Judd Gray turned on each other, contending the other was responsible for killing Albert Snyder; both were convicted and sentenced to death.
After looking at this murder case, I found that case has created an impact on society at that time period which has influenced the media genre.
Therefore, we can see a lot of connections between the films and the murder case. Firstly, the plot of "Double Indemnity(1944)" directed by Billy Wilder is about a provocative housewife who wishes her husband were dead. So she persuade the insurance salesman to help her. Which is significantly similar with the real murder case, Ruth Snyder persuaded her boyfriend- Judd Gray to kill her husband after having her husband to purchase a "signed" $48,000 life insurance policy with the assistance of an insurance agent, that paid extra ("double indemnity") if an unexpected act of violence killed the victim. This reminds me of where Walter tricks Mr. Jackson to sign a illegal copy of the document so the insurance policy would get validated by the insurance company.
Secondly, according to Judd Gray, Ruth had made at least seven attempts to kill her husband, all of which he survived. This remind me of where Cora and Frank in "The Postman Always Rings Twice" directed by Tay Garnett, were trying to kill the husband- Mr. Smith by placing marbles in the bathroom. But did not succeed until the second attempt of the murder, where they hit him in the head with a class bottle before they drive him off the cliff.Later, a detective found a paper with the letters "J.G." written on it. Ruth immediately turned to her lover. This significant moment has also reappear in the film when the authorities have discovered irrefutable evidence which is a note written by Cora before she died to prove that Frank is guilty for murdering Mr. Smith.
Lastly, we can see Cora and Frank turn on each other in the the film, this has also happened in real life, when Ruth Snyder and Judd Gray turned on each other, contending the other was responsible for killing Albert Snyder; both were convicted and sentenced to death.
After looking at this murder case, I found that case has created an impact on society at that time period which has influenced the media genre.