A Double Life

Infobox Film
name = A Double Life


caption = DVD cover
director = George Cukor
producer = Michael Kanin
writer = Ruth Gordon Garson Kanin
starring = Ronald Colman Signe Hasso Edmond O'Brien
music = Miklós Rózsa
cinematography = Milton R. Krasner
editing =
distributor = Universal International Pictures
released = December 25, 1947
runtime = 104 minutes
country = United States
language = English
budget =
amg_id = 1:14459
imdb_id = 0039335|

"A Double Life" is a 1947 film noir which tells the story of an actor whose mind becomes affected by the character he portrays. The movie starred Ronald Colman and Signe Hasso. It was directed by George Cukor and written for the screen by Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin. [imdb title|id=0039335|title=A Double Life.]

Plot

Celebrated stage actor Anthony John (Ronald Colman) has driven away his actress wife Brita (Signe Hasso) with his erratic temper. However, they star together in the play "Othello". Gradually, his portrayal of a jealous murderous man undermines his sanity. The actor eventually kills his mistress, Pat Kroll (Shelley Winters), but does not remember doing it.

Background

Noir analysis

Julie Kirgo wrote that "A Double Life" is truly a picture of opposing forces, mirror images and deadly doubles: "Anthony John is at war with Othello, the elegant world of the theater is opposed to the squalid existence of Shelley Winters' Pat Kroll, and illusion versus reality are all conveyed in opposing lights and darks of Krasner's luminous photography." [Silver, Alain, and Elizabeth Ward, eds. "Film Noir: An Encyclopedic Reference to the American Style," film noir analysis by Julie Kirgo, page 95, 3rd edition, 1992. Woodstock, New York: The Overlook Press. ISBN 0-87951-479-5.]

Cast

* Ronald Colman as Anthony John
* Signe Hasso as Brita
* Edmund O'Brien as Bill Friend
* Shelley Winters as Pat Kroll
* Ray Collins as Victor Donlan
* Philip Loeb as Max Lasker
* Millard Mitchell as Al Cooley
* Joe Sawyer as Pete Bonner
* Charles La Torre as Stellini
* Whit Bissell as Dr. Stauffer

Critical reception

When the film was released film critic Bosley Crowther lauded the film, writing, "We have it on the very good authority of Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin, who should know—they being not only actors and playwrights but wife and spouse—that what seems a fairly safe profession, acting, is as dangerous as they come and love between people of the theatre is an adventure fraught with infinite perils. Especially is it risky when an actor takes his work seriously and goes in for playing "Othello." Then handkerchiefs and daggers rule his mind. At least, that is what is demonstrated in a rich, exciting, melodramatic way in the Kanin's own plushy production...George Cukor, in his direction, amply proves that he knows the theatre, its sights and sounds and brittle people." [ [http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?_r=1&res=9503EED7173BE33BBC4851DFB4668383659EDE&oref=slogin Crowther, Bosley] . "The New York Times", film review, February 20, 1948. Last accessed: March 29, 2008.]

Critic Jerry Renshaw wrote, "A Double Life" is an unusually intelligent, literate noir that is a classy departure from the pulpy "B" atmospherics often associated with the genre. Keep an eye out for Paddy Chayefsky and John Derek in minuscule bit parts." [ [http://www.filmvault.com/filmvault/austin/d/doublelifea1.html Renshaw, John] . "Austin Chronicle", film review, February 23, 1999. Last accessed: March 29, 2008.]

Awards

Academy Awards
* Best Actor in a Leading Role - Ronald Colman (winner)
* Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture - Miklós Rózsa (winner)
* Best Director - George Cukor (nominee)
* Best Writing, Original Screenplay- Garson Kanin and Ruth Gordon (nominees)Golden Globes
* Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama - Ronald Colman (winner)

References

External links

*
*
*