Dead Ringer DVD

Reviewed by SuperNova

DVD released by Warner Brothers

Dead Ringer
Studio: Warner Brothers
Year: 1964
Rated: Not Rated
Film Length 115 Minutes
Color: Black and White
Languages: English and French

Directed By: Paul Henreid
Produced By: William H. Wright
Starring: Bette Davis, Karl Malden and Peter Lawford

The Feature:

Oscar winning actress Bette Davis (What Ever Happened To Baby Jane?) stars in this 1964 classical thriller of congregated mendacity, infidelity and sisterly obsession by legendary director Paul Henreid. -- Edith and Margaret were born twin sisters, but life for both women was equally different. Edith was the less successful of the two in terms of friendships, love and financial achievement. Her unpleasant tale can be traced many years back when she had a thriving relationship with a gentleman that possessed a promising future of great splendor and happiness. Her luck, as it would be, was cut short once her sister Margaret entered the picture stealing not only Edith’s proposed husband, but her hopes, dreams and trust as well. The two eventually got married and Edith remained out of the picture for a long time -- running her own cocktail lounge, before finding out the news of Margaret’s husbands tragic passing.

When both women finally meet face to face Margaret taunts Edith’s bitter resentment by flaunting around her life style of fame and luxury. During a car ride home the truth behind why Edith’s anticipated husband left her for Margaret is revealed and in return sends Edith into a demonic mindset. Edith begins to concoct an elaborate plan to murder her twin sister and then to steal her identity so that she too can enjoy the finer qualities of life, but pulling off this masquerade becomes far more problematic than Edith thinks. After lying to the police she finds herself cornered by yet another conspiracy. Edith’s tiptoeing only gets her so far and the unfamiliar territory catches up with her soon enough. One by one, the unsavory revelations become too apparent and Edith is forced to bribe her way through Margaret’s life or consider the options of going to jail. Just how long can her mentality withstand the pressure of being in someone else’s shoes? Find out when you watch Dead Ringer!

Reviewers Verdict:

Bette Davis is no stranger to dual roles, she portrayed twins in the 1946 romantic drama “A Stolen Life” with costar Glenn Ford. Here she manages to exceed her own previous performance in an overly eccentric and narcissistically campy role paired as twin sisters Edith and Margaret. Dead Ringer is a fascinating thriller and a true pleasure to watch. It was one of Warner Brothers titles slated for an August 10th release alongside Tom Browning’s banned 1932 film “Freaks”, Mervyn LeRoy’s 1956 classic “The Bad Seed” and their double bill feature of 1960’s “Village of The Dammed" and 1963’s “Children of The Dammed.” Dead Ringer" proved to be Oscar winning Bette Davis’s last leading role and the fifty-six-year-old makes the most of her opportunity by savoring every possible moment, line and smoky exhale -- for that alone this films reserves her gratitude and respect as not only a talented actress, but a dedicated woman as well.

I honestly cannot say enough about Paul Henreid’s Dead Ringer. The concept behind the story is intriguing and the subtle hints about inner indiscretion and the corruption of materialism works well within the film. The conflicting battle between Edith and Margaret showcases just how impure the human conscious can be and the length we may go, to possess a certain satisfaction in our lives. The whole notion of the concealed secret kept from Edith for many years conveys dramatic storytelling and makes the actions of Edith appear somehow justifiable. It’s bad enough that Margaret stole her husband away from Edith, but to reveal the real immoral and unjust reason why it happened was selfish. Though both sisters may be bound by blood their lives are vastly contrasting and filled with trickery and self-absorption.

I find it very cynical, knowing, behind Edith’s disguise conceals someone else’s identity. All the lies and empty statements that she attest to cannot hide the fact that she is no better than her sister and living the life of luxury and fame cannot bring her happiness especially when it wasn’t earned. Dead Ringer has a lot going for it beyond its social linear of dishonesty. The cinematography by Ernest Haller is one of the films greatest aspects fully accentuating the interior shadows and stark lighting. While a little conventional on the surface, you certainly have to admire the use of split screen technology, which allowed Bette Davis to share the screen to interact with herself. Andre Previn’s musical score works effectively with the films environment inside of the Doheny mansion. The screenplay by Albert Beich and Oscar Millard is absolutely solid only relying on the excellent cast to bring it to life.

Bette Davis immersed herself completely into the role of Edith using her facial contours to truly emphasize the emotions she was going through trying to fill the shoes of Margaret. When she isn’t focusing on the camera with her ostentatious gaze, Bette Davis is crafting a tantalizing tension that is able to turn a murderess beauty into a heroin. Her mesmerizing mannerisms make Dead Ringer a positive success as she explores the scripts subtleties with admiration and emotive command. Like any great actress, though, you need a supporting cast to bring out your best. Karl Malden’s role as the nosy cop, Sergeant Hobbson and love interest of Edith adds another element to the stories sincerity. His mourning over Edith has a reflective solemn tone and when the final reveal comes it makes the ending more heartbreaking. Peter Lawford does a wonderful job as the debonair Tony Collins trying to romance Margaret. His maniacal gluttony sends the film into one final twist assuring Dead Ringer a place among many classics of its time.

Audio:

Presented here in an English and French original 2.0 mono soundtrack, Warner Brothers surpasses my expectations. The soundtrack is pristine without a spec of distraction or hissing distortion. Dialogue is vibrant and highly lucid. Sounds project richly from the speakers with an overall bold and natural tonality. Andre Previn’s musical score suits the atmosphere of the movie adequately. While just a little low and hollow at times, the music creates another dimension of ethereal obsession. It’s hauntingly chilling and feeds off the onscreen tension accurately. Also available are English, French and Spanish subtitles. Another wonderful job by Warner Brothers.

Video:

Warner Brothers presents Paul Henreid’s Dead Ringer in an absolutely stunning (1.85:1) anamorphic widescreen transfer. The overall visual presentation of the movie is gorgeous, but the print has a few minor flaws to speak of. While the contrast is evidently high there is some reoccurring speckling and occasional print blemishes. Blacks are deeply saturated and shadowing looks beautiful. Whites are predominantly detailed and grayscale appears sufficiently good. Although there were no compression errors, I did notice infrequent haloing in certain scenes, most notably during the split screen segments when Bette Davis had to double for both characters. A solid effort nonetheless. Great job Warner Brothers.

Special Features:

Commentary By Charles Busch And “Bette Davis Speaks” Author Boze Hadleigh
Double Take: A Conversation with Boze Hadleigh
Vintage Featurette Behind The Scenes At Doheny Mansion
Theatrical Trailer

Supplements:

Warner Brothers keeps the tradition flourishing with some truly enlightening and entertaining extras. The disc consist of a static menu with background music. A scene access menu with remote access to twenty five chapter cues. A special features menu consisting of a spoiler riddled theatrical trailer and a selective audio option menu. The audio commentary by author Boze Hadleigh and Charles Busch gives wonderful insight on Bette Davis’s career. Boze Hadleigh and Charles Busch are enthusiastic to talk about Bette Davis and it’s apparent both have researched her life and career exhaustively.

Double Take: A Conversation with Boze Hadleigh: During this twelve minute interview, Boze Hadleigh concentrates on exploring the charisma and studded star power of the late and great Bette Davis. Boze Hadleigh provides extensively well researched information not only about Bette Davis’s role in Dead Ringer, but of the supporting cast as well. He’s interviewed Bette Davis on more than one occasion and manages to convey her magnetic charm with gusto and pleasure.

Vintage Featurette Behind The Scenes At Doheny Mansion: This is a seven minute feature highlighting the 57,000 square foot Doheny mansion that Dead Ringer was filmed in. Built by a wealthy oil man named Edward Doheny in 1927, the mansion has appeared in countless films throughout time. There’s a wealth of information to be learned as this ‘Vintage Behind The Scenes’ featurette documents the production of the shoot with an enthusiastic voice over. We are treated to candid clips of the cast and crew and the technical process of exterior and interior shooting.

Closing Thoughts:

Dead Ringer is a lose remake of a Mexican movie entitled La Otra, which consisted of the same obtrusive format of two sisters leading disparate life styles. This is a perfected work of art with multiple talents that aligned together at the right moment and time. Dead Ringer stands as one of the greatest acting achievements in Bette Davis’s career and one of Paul Henreid’s most financially successful movies. The acting is wonderful, every character stands out and is able to hold their own. Dead Ringer rightfully deserves a home on DVD and thanks to Warner Brothers it now has one. I recommend Dead Ringer to not only fans of Better Davis, but to fans of film noir as well. Dead Ringer is a movie that you appreciate not for the period it was made in, but for everything that it holds inside.

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