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A Double Life (1947) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.3/10   910 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 7% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
George Cukor
Writers:
Ruth Gordon (writer)
Garson Kanin (writer)
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Contact:
View company contact information for A Double Life on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
1948 (Turkey) more
Genre:
Crime | Drama | Film-Noir more
Plot:
Anthony John is an actor whose life is strongly influenced by the characters he plays. When he's playing comedy... more | add synopsis
Awards:
Won 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 2 nominations more
NewsDesk:
Shelley Winters: 1920-2006
 (From IMDb News. 14 January 2006)

User Comments:
Dark, Brooding Drama more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Ronald Colman ... Anthony John
Signe Hasso ... Brita

Edmond O'Brien ... Bill Friend

Shelley Winters ... Pat Kroll
Ray Collins ... Victor Donlan
Philip Loeb ... Max Lasker
Millard Mitchell ... Al Cooley
Joe Sawyer ... Pete Bonner
Charles La Torre ... Stellini
Whit Bissell ... Dr. Stauffer
John Drew Colt ... Stage Manager

Peter M. Thompson ... Asst. Stage Manager (as Peter Thompson)
Elizabeth Dunn ... Gladys (as Elizabeth Dunne)
Alan Edmiston ... Rex
Art Smith ... Wigmaker
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Inspiration (USA) (working title)
The Art of Murder (USA) (working title)
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Runtime:
104 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)
Certification:
Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #12847, Adult Audience) | Sweden:15

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
In the film, Ronald Colman plays a fictional actor who stars in the longest-running "Othello" in history. In real life, actor Paul Robeson, who had just become the first black actor to star in an otherwise white production of "Othello" on Broadway, had just completed the longest run of the play. more
Goofs:
Miscellaneous: From all appearances during the opening sequence, Anthony John's new comedy is just opening on Broadway--deliverymen carry a fresh sign into the lobby covered with blurbs from rave reviews, leading lady is asked to look at new publicity photos and theater is packed during scene from play. But suddenly, it's revealed that this play has been running a year and is actually about to close. In reality, virtually all plays close due to dwindling attendance (and don't have SRO audiences in last days, as does this one) nor do producers waste money on advertising and publicity on productions that have already posted closing notices, as appears to be the case here since actors are already discussing their next jobs. more
Quotes:
Anthony John: How's the chicken cacciatore?
Pat Kroll: It's your stomach.
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in Enemies: A Love Story (1989) more

FAQ

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5 out of 6 people found the following comment useful:-
Dark, Brooding Drama, 7 December 2002
Author: harry-76 from Cleveland, Ohio

Just the mention of playing role of Othello makes Ronald Coleman's Anthony John start hallucinating. Triggered by this project suggestion, Anthony finds himself murmuring lines from Shakespeare's tragedy while walking down the street alone and sitting by himself in restaurants.

Anthony's total commitment to his craft of fantasy, unfortunately, takes a deadly toll on his private life. Signe Hasso's Brita understands this, and instantly fears for her ex-husband's--now co-star's--happiness.

Here's a modern tragedy, scripted by Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin, of an actor who just couldn't leave his role at the stage door.

"When the actor starts believing he's the character he's playing, that's the time to fire him," remains a wise theatre management adage.

It's a darned good principle, too.

When the actor fails to maintain an "invisible wall" between himself and his co-actors, that's the time for some concern. Although practioners of the Stanislavsky tradition may achieve great "truth" in their work, they may not realize that this achievement is more "relative" than "absolute" and can become a "double edged-sword."

Anthony John's "character-absorption" tendency, while earning him a "great performance," conversely yields a decidedly unconstructive home life. Unless the actor finds some kernels of project idealism to enhance his personal development, the entire enterprise may be negligible.

Milton Krasner's dark cinematography and Miklos Rozsa's dissonant score supports George Cukor's pessimistic direction. Likewise, Walter Hampden's advisement for the "Othello" sequences adds authenticity to the Shakespearian flavor.

In the end, we have a shattering drama, holding within its fold a grave thespian caution: "it's only a character being played, not real life."

For his fine work as Anthony John, Coleman received an Academy Award.

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Can an actor get that wrapped up in a role? Equinox23
RC deserves more!! classicbriron
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