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:

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.

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:

Featured in The 75th Annual Academy Awards (2003) (TV)

Ronald Colman stars as the obsessed thespian who takes his work seriously.

If you like "Othello," you'll love this flick since half the movie revolves around the stage production of the play.

The film has a great cast with Signe Hasso and Shelley Winters as the women in Colman's life while Edmond O'Brien plays the enterprising press agent.

A couple of the supporting players I particularly liked were Millard Mitchell as the grizzled reporter who finds an angle and Joe Sawyer, the 1940's answer to Drew Carey, who plays the cop on the case.

Great raw moments in this one with noir realism throughout.