Dead Ringers (1988)

Director:

David Cronenberg

Writers:

David Cronenberg (written by) and
Norman Snider (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

23 September 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Two bodies. Two minds. One soul. Separation can be a terrifying thing.

Plot:

Twin gynecologists take full advantage of the fact that nobody can tell them apart, until their relationship begins to deteriorate over a woman.

Plot Keywords:

Twin | Gynecologist | Identical Twins | Actress | Sex

Awards:

22 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Jeremy Irons	...	Beverly Mantle / Elliot Mantle
Geneviève Bujold	...	Claire Niveau (in opening credits) (as Genevieve Bujold)
Heidi von Palleske	...	Cary (in opening credits) (as Heidi Von Palleske)
Barbara Gordon	...	Danuta
Shirley Douglas	...	Laura
Stephen Lack	...	Wolleck / Anders Wolleck
Nick Nichols	...	Leo
Lynne Cormack	...	Arlene
Damir Andrei	...	Birchall
Miriam Newhouse	...	Mrs. Bookman
David Hughes	...	Superintendent
Richard W. Farrell	...	Dean of Medicine (as Richard Farrell)
Warren Davis	...	Anatomy Class Supervisor
Jonathan Haley	...	Beverly, Age 9
Nicholas Haley	...	Elliot, Age 9
Marsha Moreau	...	Raffaella
Denis Akiyama	...	Pharmacist
Dee McCafferty	...	Surgeon
Susan Markle	...	Operating Room Nurse
Murray Cruchley	...	Assisting Surgeon
Jane Luk	...	Lecture Hall Nurse
Tita Trevisan	...	Furniture Salesman
Jacqueline Hennessy	...	Escort Twin
Jill Hennessy	...	Escort Twin (as Jillian Hennessy)
David Walden	...	Director
Liliane Stillwell	...	Wardrobe Person
Denise McLeod	...	Art Gallery Lady
Bob Bainborough	...	Mr. Glaser
Nick Rice	...	MC (as Nicholas Rice)
Joe Matheson	...	Sean
Hadley Kay	...	Delivery Boy
Cynthia Eastman	...	Sobbing Woman
Nora Colpman	...	Mrs. Randall
Rena Polley	...	Soap Opera Character
Madeleine Atkinson	...	Soap Opera Character
John Bayliss	...	Performance Double
Graham Evans	...	Picture Double
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David Cronenberg	...	Obstetrician (uncredited)
Alan Gough	...	Director / producer of TV soap opera (uncredited)
Jordan-Patrick Marcantonio	...	Twin Boy (uncredited)
Julian-Peter Marcantonio	...	(uncredited)
Greg Van Riel	...	Man in reception (uncredited)

Directed by
David Cronenberg

Writing credits
David Cronenberg		(written by) and
Norman Snider		(written by)
Bari Wood		(book "Twins") and
Jack Geasland		(book "Twins")

Produced by
Carol Baum	....	executive producer
John Board	....	associate producer
Marc Boyman	....	producer
David Cronenberg	....	producer
Sylvio Tabet	....	executive producer
James G. Robinson	....	executive producer (uncredited)
Joe Roth	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Howard Shore

Cinematography by
Peter Suschitzky		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Ronald Sanders

Casting by
Deirdre Bowen

Production Design by
Carol Spier

Art Direction by
James McAteer

Set Decoration by
Elinor Rose Galbraith

Costume Design by
Denise Cronenberg

Makeup Department
Eva Coudouloux	....	make-up/hair: T.V. soap opera
Shonagh Jabour	....	makeup artist
Ivan Lynch	....	hair designer
Maxine Rennes-Gunderson	....	assistant hair stylist (as Maxine Rennes)
Barbara Szablowski	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Gabriella Martinelli	....	post-production supervisor
Gabriella Martinelli	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John Board	....	first assistant director
Cynthia Clayton	....	trainee assistant director (as Cyndie Clayton)
Kevin Larstone	....	assistant director: T.V. soap opera
Laurie Mirsky	....	third assistant director
Izidore K. Musallam	....	second assistant director

Art Department
John Bannister	....	scenic artist
Andrew Chatham	....	assistant head carpenter
Kirk Cheney	....	construction manager
Ane Christensen	....	assistant set dresser
Ying Chung	....	carpenter
Brian Clancy	....	carpenter
Janet Cormack	....	scenic artist
Casey De Snoo	....	carpenter
Chris Dutton	....	set dresser
J.C. Edwards	....	carpenter
Danielle Fleury	....	assistant set decorator
Brian Fowler	....	carpenter
Christopher Geggie	....	lead props (as Chris Geggie)
Brian Gibson	....	scenic artist
Peter Grundy	....	first assistant art director
David Hamayda	....	carpenter
Doug Harlocker	....	property master (as Douglas Harlocker)
Jasper Haynes	....	carpenter
Jacqui Hemingway	....	scenic artist assistant
John Jackson	....	carpenter
Gregory P. Keen	....	first assistant art director (as Gregory Keen)
John Keenan	....	carpenter
Murray Keith	....	assistant head carpenter
Alicia Keywan	....	supervising art director
Simon Kwasniak	....	carpenter
Brian Lumley	....	carpenter
Joe Madziak	....	carpenter
Rocco Matteo	....	art department trainee
Dan McGee	....	carpenter
Michael J. Meade	....	trainee set decorator (as Michael Meade)
Bruce H. Meredith	....	carpenter
Allan Meuse	....	carpenter
Jak Oliver	....	key scenic artist
Thomas Pearce	....	co-head carpenter
John Quesenberry	....	carpenter (as J.L. Quesenberry)
Warren Quigley	....	scenic artist assistant
Marlene Rain	....	property buyer
Malcolm Reid	....	carpenter
John Rice	....	carpenter
Jacques Rophoz	....	carpenter
Myles Roth	....	carpenter
Ted Samuels	....	carpenter
Al Snikkar	....	carpenter
Tim Spencer	....	carpenter
Danni Starbuck	....	carpenter
Jasna Stefanovic	....	art department trainee
Vlasta Svoboda	....	first assistant art director
Clive Thomasson	....	set dresser
Alexandra Thompson	....	art department trainee
Steve Trevella	....	carpenter
Jim Veale	....	co-head carpenter (as James H. Veale)
Ken Watkins	....	second assistant art director
Ian Wheatley	....	assistant set decorator
Greg Young	....	assistant head carpenter
John Dondertman	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Tim Spencer	....	art department assistant (uncredited)

Sound Department
Terry Burke	....	foley artist
Richard Cadger	....	sound editor
Viktoria Cseh-McCormick	....	assistant sound editor (as Victoria Cseh)
Bryan Day	....	sound mixer
David Evans	....	sound editor
David Giammarco	....	sound editor
Wayne Griffin	....	sound editor
Sean Kelly	....	assistant sound editor
Judy 'Lucky' Kemeny	....	assistant sound editor (as Judy Kemeny)
Michael LaCroix	....	boom operator (as Michael Lacroix)
John Laing	....	assistant sound editor
Andy Nelson	....	re-recording mixer
Dino Pigat	....	a.d.r. recorded by
Donna Powell	....	assistant foley
Peter Tarshis	....	sound recording: T.V. soap opera sequence
Don White	....	re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Bill Francis	....	lab assistant
Derek Howard	....	lab supervisor
Walter Klassen	....	mechanical design
Don McLeod	....	artist
Ted Ross	....	lab assistant
Gordon J. Smith	....	special effects designer (as Gordon Smith)

Visual Effects by
Dimitris Anapliotis	....	optical printer
Randall Balsmeyer	....	motion control programmer
Jon Campfens	....	optical printer
Chris Furniotis	....	optical line-up
George Furniotis	....	optical direction
John Furniotis	....	optical direction (as G. John Furniotis)
Shelly Morrow	....	junior optical layout/camera animation
Richard Palin	....	motion control assistant
Alan Peppiatt	....	rotoscope artist
Don Snowdon	....	rotoscope artist
Lee Wilson	....	optical effects supervisor
Bob Yoshioka	....	optical line-up

Camera and Electrical Department
Scotty Allan	....	gaffer
Roger Bowden	....	generator operator
Carlo Campana	....	key grip
Arthur E. Cooper	....	second assistant camera
Marijo Corcoran	....	camera trainee
Robert Crone	....	Steadicam operator
John Denniston	....	assistant cameraman: T.V. soap opera
Attila Dory	....	still photographer
Nigel Draper	....	electric
Ted Fanyeck	....	electric
John Garland	....	electric (as Jon Garland)
John Grierson	....	cameraman: T.V. soap opera
Duane Gullison	....	generator operator
Mitch Holmes	....	best boy-grip
Michael Iwan	....	grip
Gary Ledbetter	....	electric
Marvin Midwicki	....	first assistant camera
Don Payne	....	grip
Ian D. Scott	....	best boy-electric (as Ian Scott)
M.A. Simmons	....	video assistant
Andreas Trauttmansdorff	....	camera trainee
David Willetts	....	electric (as David J. Willetts)
Bill Wilson	....	electric
David J. Woods	....	video supervisor (as David Woods)
John Zulinski	....	grip
Nigel Draper	....	lamp operator (uncredited)

Animation Department
Peter Grucza	....	animation stand

Casting Department
Peter Lavender	....	extras casting
Melanie Tanz	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Trysha Bakker	....	wardrobe assistant
Jay Du Boisson	....	wardrobe mistress (as Jay DuBoisson)
Nancy Duggan	....	seamstress
Brenda Gilles	....	wardrobe assistant
Patricia Hanley	....	seamstress

Editorial Department
Lesley Clark	....	post-production assistant
Charlotte Disher	....	editing production assistant
David Giammarco	....	second assistant editor
Chris Hinton	....	colour timer
Bernadette Kelly	....	trainee assistant editor
Susan Maggi	....	second assistant editor
Michael Rea	....	first assistant editor
Sandra Tucker	....	post-production assistant
Steve Weslak	....	associate editor

Music Department
Homer Denison	....	orchestration
Brian Eddolls	....	electronic music preparation
Jean Kerr	....	music coordinator: London
Dick Lewzey	....	music re-recording engineer
London Philharmonic Orchestra	....	music performed by (as The London Philharmonic Orchestra)
Suzana Peric	....	music editor
Howard Shore	....	conductor

Transportation Department
Howard Brenner	....	driver
David Brown	....	driver
Ron Coles	....	driver
Frances Hendry	....	head driver
Allen Kosonic	....	driver (as Al Kosonic)
Gilbert Lacasse	....	driver
Jerome McCann	....	driver captain
Chris Radley Walters	....	driver (as Chris Radley-Walters)
Steven Sacrob	....	driver (as Steve Sacrob)
Richard Spiegelman	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Jami Abell	....	assistant: Mr. Roth
James F. Breithaupt	....	post-production accounting (as Jim Breithaupt)
John P. Cassels	....	production assistant
Lesley Clark	....	assistant: Mr. Boyman
Prudence Emery	....	unit publicist
Alice Ferrier	....	production coordinator
Marta Fischer	....	production assistant
John Gaskin	....	assistant accountant
Janet Gayford	....	production secretary
Lynn Gran	....	craft service
Sara Holmes	....	office clerk
Ted Hunter	....	sculptor: Wolleck's studio sculptures
Anthony Kadak	....	location assistant
Neil Kredentser	....	location assistant
Heather McIntosh	....	production auditor
Vince Nyuli	....	unit location manager
Jeremy Podeswa	....	unit publicist
James G. Robinson	....	presenter
Margaret Roiphe	....	financier's representative
Joe Roth	....	presenter
Dug Rotstein	....	script supervisor
Wendie Saltarski	....	post-production accounting
Lillian Sarafinchan	....	location manager
Cindy Scott	....	accounting clerk
Teri Spasov	....	assistant accountant
Sandra Tucker	....	assistant: Mr. Cronenberg
Janet M. West	....	assistant: Mr. Robinson (as Janet West)
Anita Simand	....	creative executive (uncredited)
Melanie Tanz	....	assistant: producers (uncredited)
Paul Van Zyl	....	intern (uncredited)

Thanks
Donato Baldasarra	....	special thanks: A.C.F.C.
Celia Hamilton	....	special thanks: ACTRA
Lynn Kelly	....	special thanks: C.A.M.E.R.A., Local 81
Scot Laughton	....	special thanks: Portico Design + Development, Toronto
Harvey Pasternak	....	special thanks (as Dr. Harvey Pasternak)
Don Percifield	....	special thanks: Directors Guild of Canada Inc.
Arthur Winkler	....	special thanks: Chubb Insurance Company of Canada
Christopher Wood	....	special thanks: Panache Design, Toronto (as Christopher & Suzanne Wood)
Suzanne Wood	....	special thanks: Panache Design, Toronto (as Christopher & Suzanne Wood)

Production Companies

• Morgan Creek Productions (produced in association with) (as Morgan Creek Productions, Inc.)
• Téléfilm Canada (produced with the participation of) (as Telefilm Canada)
• Mantle Clinic II

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1988) (USA) (theatrical)
• Finnkino (1989) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (1989) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Media Home Entertainment (1989) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan for Heron Enterprises)
• Criterion Collection, The (1996) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Polyband (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2001) (Australia) (DVD)
• Video Film Express (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• TVA International (2004) (Canada) (DVD)
• Twister Digital Video (2004) (Russia) (DVD)
• Aquarius TV (2005) (Greece) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• CMV Laservision (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• Concorde Home Entertainment (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2011) (Australia) (video) (VOD)
• Divisa Home Video (2012) (Spain) (DVD)
• Astral Films (Canada)
• Image Entertainment (USA) (laserdisc)
• Leader Music (2011) (Argentina) (DVD) (as Leader Vision)
• Rank Film Organization (UK)

Other Companies

• 2 Gorillas  radical surgical instruments
• 4 - Office Automation  special thanks
• Association of Canadian Film Craftspeople (ACFC)  acknowledgement
• Balsmeyer and Everett  main title design (as Balsmeyer & Everett, Inc.)
• Balsmeyer and Everett  motion control system (as Balsmeyer & Everett, Inc.)
• Bijoux Fabrice  special thanks (as Fabrice Jewellery)
• C.T.S. Studios  music recorded at (as CTS Studios, London)
• Corporation of the City of Mississauga  special thanks
• Ferguson Audio Engineering  special thanks (as Corey and Grant, Ferguson Audio Engineering)
• Film Effects  opticals (as Film Effects, Toronto)
• Film Finances  completion bond (as Film Finances, Inc.)
• Film House Group  re-recorded at (as Film House Group Inc.)
• Giannino's Restaurant  special thanks
• Hubbard Casting  special thanks (as Hubbard Casting, London, England)
• James & Aster  additional source music courtesy of (as James & Aster Music, New York)
• Mitel  special thanks
• PS Production Services  equipment services (as P.S. Production Services Ltd.)
• Panavision (Canada) Corporation  cameras and lenses (as Panavision {Canada} Ltd.)
• Pathé Sound  A.D.R. recorded at
• R. Laborie and Associates  special thanks
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services (uncredited)
• Sigmacon Medical Products  special thanks
• Soundmix Studios Ltd.  sound transfers
• Standing Metal Works  radical surgical instruments
• Studio Catering  catering
• T.'n.T Negative Cutting  negative cutting (as TNT Negative Cutting)
• Television Program Enterprises (TPE)  "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" courtesy of
• Toronto Film Liaison Office  special thanks
• Touché Productions  T.V. soap opera
• Week, Division of Squibb Canada  special thanks

Also Known As:

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Norway:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18 | South Korea:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Iceland:16 | Italy:VM14 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Argentina:18 | Chile:18

Filming Locations:

Bell Trinity Square - 483 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Morgan Creek Productions

Trivia:

Robert De Niro turned down the Mantle twins roles because he felt uncomfortable playing a gynecologist.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In a scene dated 1954, the twins seen are playing with The Visible Woman, Revell toy company's biological model of a woman that was not marketed until at least five years later.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Elliot, Age 9:You've heard about sex...
Beverly, Age 9:Sure I have.
Elliot, Age 9:Well I've discovered why sex is.
Beverly, Age 9:You have? Fantastic.
Raffaella:It's because humans don't live under water.
Beverly, Age 9:I don't get it.
Elliot, Age 9:Well, fish don't need sex because they just lay the eggs and fertilize them in the water. Humans can't do that because they don't live in the water. They have to - internalize the water. Therefore we have sex.
Beverly, Age 9:So you mean humans would have sex if they lived in the water?
Elliot, Age 9:Well they'd have a kind of sex. The kind where you wouldn't have to touch each other.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

Soundtrack:

In the Still of the Night (I'll Remember)

"No, you're right, he's not alone- but he's lonely. Even with me."

While I like "The Brood" quite a bit, Dead Ringers gets my vote as Cronenberg's best work.

Follow along as the twin brothers spiral out of control when they unsuccessfully try to break free from each other. Although it's not without some humor, Dead Ringers is very bleak. It has an emotional intensity that most movies can't touch. It is sad AND beautiful.

The movie itself *looks* great. Good script, and AWESOME performances from both Irons and Bujold. As another reviewer suggested, watch it twice if you don't like it the first time- it might grow on you.

This is my all-time favorite movie.