The Dark Mirror (1946)

A man is found murdered, with witnesses convinced about the woman they saw leaving his apartment. However, it becomes apparent that the woman has a twin, and finding out which one is the killer seems impossible.

Director:

Robert Siodmak

Writers:

Nunnally Johnson (written for the screen by), Vladimir Pozner (original story)

Stars:

Olivia de Havilland, Lew Ayres, Thomas Mitchell

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Olivia de Havilland	...	Terry Collins / Ruth Collins
Lew Ayres	...	Dr. Scott Elliott
Thomas Mitchell	...	Police Lt. Stevenson
Richard Long	...	Rusty
Charles Evans	...	Dist. Atty. Girard
Garry Owen	...	Franklin (as Gary Owen)
Lela Bliss	...	Mrs. Didriksen
Lester Allen	...	George Benson

Storyline

A woman suspected of murdering her doctor boyfriend has an identical twin sister. When both twins have an alibi for the night of the murder, a psychiatrist is called in to assist a detective in solving the case. Through a series of tests, he discovers which twin actually committed the crime and in the course of his investigation he falls in love with the normal twin.

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Plot Keywords:

same actress playing twin role | one actress for twin sisters | actress playing multiple roles | evil twin | black and white | 

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Taglines:

When he called her "killer"... and took her twin in his arms... Did he know which was which?

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1947 (Turkey)

Also Known As:

Der schwarze Spiegel

Filming Locations:

Samuel Goldwyn Studios - 7200 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

International Pictures (I), Nunnally Johnson Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

"Screen Director's Playhouse" broadcast a 30 minute radio adaptation of the movie on March 31, 1950 with Olivia de Havilland reprising her film role.

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Goofs

The daytime overhead general shot of the police car arriving at the Medical Building with the witnesses gives the pedestrians opposite shadows to those of the vehicles. In the following mid shots the direction of light has changed again.

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Quotes

Dr. Scott Elliott: Not even nature can duplicate character, not even in twins.

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Connections

Referenced in The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio: Screen Directors Playhouse: Chicago Deadline (2017)

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Soundtracks

Symphony No. 4 in Em (1st movement), Opus 98
Music by Johannes Brahms (uncredited)
[Playing on the radio in Dr. Elliott's apartment]

User Reviews

Olivia vs Olivia

As stated in everyone's write-ups, this is a story of a murder with a twist; the perp is one of two identical twins. One alibis for the other, and since both can't be prosecuted for the crime, the guilty one walks. This does not sit well with Insp. Thomas Mitchell, who tries to think of a way to implicate the guilty one - whichever one that is. And so he enlists the help of psychiatrist Lew Ayres.

At first, the murder is presented as an unsolvable conundrum and in a light-hearted vein, but things get serious thereafter and, unfortunately, the plot begins to bog down over some technical psychological data. But Olivia DeHavilland saves the day and the movie with a splendid performance (or two) as the twins. Gradually there appear personality differences so that even the audience can tell the difference between the two. Not many actresses could have pulled off the layered performances of the twins, but not many actresses are as proficient or as skilled as DeHavilland.

This is another neglected gem from Universal's cobwebbed movie vaults that needs to be put into circulation by that comatose studio. It is one of Ms. DeHavilland's best performances and raises an average, talky movie to classic status.