Dead Again (1991)

Mike Church is a Los Angeles private detective who specializes in finding missing persons. He takes on the case of a mystery woman who he calls Grace. She is suffering from amnesia and has ... See full summary »

Director:

Kenneth Branagh

Writer:

Scott Frank

Stars:

Kenneth Branagh, Andy Garcia, Derek Jacobi

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kenneth Branagh	...	Roman Strauss / Mike Church
Andy Garcia	...	Gray Baker
Derek Jacobi	...	Franklyn Madson
Wayne Knight	...	'Piccolo' Pete Dugan
Hanna Schygulla	...	Inga
Campbell Scott	...	Doug
Emma Thompson	...	Grace / Margaret Strauss
Jo Anderson	...	Sister Madeleine / Starlet
Christine Ebersole	...	Lydia Larsen
Lois Hall	...	Sister Constance
Richard Easton	...	Father Timothy
Patrick Montes	...	Pickup Driver
Raymond Cruz	...	Clerk
Robin Williams	...	Doctor Cozy Carlisle
Patrick Doyle	...	Policeman in lift

Storyline

Mike Church is a Los Angeles private detective who specializes in finding missing persons. He takes on the case of a mystery woman who he calls Grace. She is suffering from amnesia and has no memories of her own. She keeps having nightmares involving the murder of a pianist, Margaret, by her husband Roman Strauss in the late 1940s. In an attempt to solve the mystery about these nightmares, Church seeks the help of Madson who is an antiques dealer with the gift of hypnosis. The hypnosis sessions will soon begin to reveal some surprises.

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Plot Keywords:

church | murder | hypnosis | private eye | detective | 

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Taglines:

How many times can you die for love?

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Genres:

Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and violence

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 August 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Volver a morir

Filming Locations:

380 South San Rafael Avenue, Pasadena, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$38,020,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Mirage

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Black and White Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

A lacquer box containing an antique pair of scissors, seen late in the film, has Japanese characters on it that translate into "These are for you." A recurring line of dialogue in the film.

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Goofs

Grace says "I know my left hand from my right hand" but gestures with the wrong hands.

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Quotes

Cozy Carlisle: Hey, thumbdick, I was a damn good shrink. Nineteen years I worked with a lot of people through a lot of shit. OK, I slept with a patient or two. It's not like I didn't care about them. I loved being a doctor. I used to not charge half my patients. Then the fucking state comes along, they send in some bitch undercover, and I'm fucked. Life isn't fair, is it?

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Crazy Credits

Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh are each credited twice for their dual roles in this movie.

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Connections

References Dial M for Murder (1954)

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Soundtracks

"Isn't It Romantic"
by Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart

User Reviews

Overlooked Branagh Gem

I didn't catch this one until it hit a discount theatre in Miami Beach, but I'm glad I did. Whatever the status of Branagh and Thompson's relationship at the time, they project a fantastic chemistry as lovers karmically doomed to repeat the same mistakes over and over again, or so we are led to believe. Branagh has a fantastic directorial sense, honed in his years with Shakespearian theatre, and the intertwining of black-and white and colour footage to evoke different time periods works to great effect. Supporting players Derek Jacobi, Robin Williams, and Andy Garcia put in excellent performances, and the serviceable plot is made transcendant by this fine group of actors. Although some of the gore is a bit heavy, it doesn't overwhelm the story, something Branagh learned no doubt from the films of Alfred Hitchcock, and like the works of Hitchcock, even after the mystery is finally sorted out, the film continues to reward with repeat viewings. So, if the last copy of Blair Witch is out, and you're looking for a bit of suspense that isn't all blood and guts, give this one a try. You'll feel enlightened.