A Double Life (1947)

Director:

George Cukor

Writers:

Ruth Gordon (writer)
Garson Kanin (writer)

Release Date:

1948 (Turkey)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir

Plot:

Anthony John is an actor whose life is strongly influenced by the characters he plays. When he's playing comedy...

Plot Keywords:

Othello | Jealousy | Actor | Shakespeare's Othello | Theatrical Director

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

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

Also Known As:

Inspiration (USA) (working title)
The Art of Murder (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #12847, Adult Audience) | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Eùpire Theatre, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Garson Kanin Productions

Trivia:

Paddy Chayefsky, who later became a highly successful author and playwright ("Marty"), can be seen as an uncredited photographer at the death scene. According to Shelley Winters, Chayefsky needed the money to go to New York and get married.

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.

Quotes:

Anthony John: How's the chicken cacciatore?
Pat Kroll: It's your stomach.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Enemies: A Love Story (1989)

Imagination Against Reality

Ronald Colman gives an electrifying performance as Tony John, a Broadway actor who can't separate his offstage life from Shakespeare's Othello, the character he plays on stage....Two important scenes illustrate Tony's dilemma. The first one takes place in producer Max Lasker's office. Acting is a matter of talent for the practical-minded Lasker. But Donlan, Tony's friend, disagrees: "No, no. When you do it like Tony does it, it's much more. The way he has of becoming someone else every night...so completely. No, don't tell me his whole system isn't affected by it."....The other scene occurs in waitress Pat Kroll's apartment. Tony tells her his name is Martin. She thanks him. Then he says: "Or Paul. Hamlet. Joe. And maybe Othello."....When Tony begins rehearsing Othello, we learn that though he's trying to keep his real life separated from his stage life, "The part begins to seep into your life, and the battle begins. Reality against imagination." He can't keep the two separated: In his mind Pat is Desdemona and he's Othello, and he wrongly believes she has been unfaithful to him. He murders her....Colman's bravura performance, in a complex and difficult role, earned him 1947's Academy Award for Best Actor. Oscar nominations went to Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin for Best Original Screenplay. Not to be overlooked is Milton Krasner's atomspheric cinematography.