Paul Henreid - Dead Ringer (1964)

Though he's most famous for his portrayal of Victor Laszlo in 1942's Casablanca, actor Paul Henreid took a few turns behind the camera as evidenced by this 1964 thriller starring Bette Davis as twins Margaret DeLorca and Edith Phillips. After landing the beau they both sought after by falsely claiming she was pregnant, Margaret lives a life of luxury as the wife of a wealthy man. Now, 20 years later, a broke and lonely Edith has returned for revenge. After killing the recently widowed Margaret, Edith assumes her identity with plans of living the life she feels she's deserved all along. But in order to pull it off, she'll have to play the role of Margaret connivingly enough to fool her servants as well as a local playboy and the police.







A "film noir", excellent from beginning to end. There are no superfluities or lacks of any kind, perfect balance of all the elements. It isn't as haunting and lurid as "Baby Jane", but the same kind of movie depicting an inhuman world in which everyone is against everyone. It is so well done, it rises to the level of art. Intense esthetic satisfaction, very organically sound. It's a real masterpiece. Even the music is masterful. The dialogue is sparse and effective, the cinematography stylish without being overbearing or tacky. Far more stylish and polished than "Whatever happened to Baby Jane", which tended to sprawl in a narrative sense. Both films are `guilty pleasures' with plenty of dark humor, not the least of which being Karl Malden holding a torch for elderly Bette!!! Malden is superb, as usual. The final twist of the plot is breath-taking in its subtlety and philosophical implications. (IMDB user comment)









Su propia víctima
Tras la muerte de su marido, Margareth De Lorca recibe la visita de Edith Philips, su hermana gemela, a la que no ve desde hace muchos años. Como ha heredado una fortuna, Margareth le ofrece a Eddie ayuda económica, aunque ésta se niega a aceptarla. Eddie acaba asesinando a Margareth y usurpando su personalidad para quedarse con su dinero. Pero Tony Collins, el amante de su hermana descubre la verdad y le chantajea.





La mort frappe trois fois
La présence d’Edith Phillips (Bette Davis) aux funérailles du milliardaire Frank De Lorca occasionne des retrouvailles difficiles avec sa sœur jumelle Margaret (Bette Davis), qui est aussi la veuve de ce dernier. Edith tient Margaret responsable de sa rupture avec De Lorca qui fut un ancien amour de jeunesse. Propriétaire d’un bar miteux, fauchée et criblée de dettes, Edith envie la situation confortable de sa sœur, allant même jusqu’à concevoir un plan machiavélique en vue de s’accaparer de sa fortune. Après avoir tué Margaret, Edith se fait passer pour morte et prend l’identité de sa sœur...






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