The Other (1972)

A series of gruesome accidents plague a small American farming community in the summer of 1935, encircling two identical twin brothers and their family.

Director:

Robert Mulligan

Writers:

Tom Tryon (screenplay) (as Thomas Tryon), Tom Tryon (novel) (as Thomas Tryon)

Stars:

Uta Hagen, Diana Muldaur, Chris Udvarnoky

1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Uta Hagen	...	Ada
Diana Muldaur	...	Alexandra
Chris Udvarnoky	...	Niles Perry
Martin Udvarnoky	...	Holland Perry
Norma Connolly	...	Aunt Vee
Victor French	...	Angelini
Loretta Leversee	...	Winnie
Lou Frizzell	...	Uncle George
Portia Nelson	...	Mrs. Rowe
Jenny Sullivan	...	Torrie
John Ritter	...	Rider
Jack Collins	...	Mr. P.C. Pretty
Ed Bakey	...	Chan-yu
Clarence Crow	...	Russell

Storyline

In the summer of 1935, 12-year-old twins Niles and Holland Perry live with their family on a Connecticut farm. Their loving grandmother Ada has taught them something called "the game." A number of accidents begin happening, and it seems to Niles that Holland is responsible. It is Ada who begins to see the truth, and she is the only one who can stop this macabre game of murder.

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Plot Keywords:

accident | child's point of view | pregnant wife | brother brother relationship | rat | 

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Taglines:

There have been all the others. Now there is The Other

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Thomas Tryon, who penned the screenplay; said he was deeply disappointed in the final result: "Oh, no. That broke my heart. Jesus. That was very sad... That picture was ruined in the cutting and the casting. The boys were good; Uta was good; the other parts, I think, were carelessly cast in some instances--not all, but in some instances. And, God knows, it was badly cut and faultily directed. Perhaps the whole thing was the rotten screenplay, I don't know. But I think it was a good screenplay."

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Goofs

Holland laughs as he leaves the room with the hydrocephalic baby, but his mouth doesn't move.

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Quotes

Niles Perry: Holland? Damn you, what are you doing in the dark anyway?
Holland Perry: I'm thinking. Close the door.
Niles Perry: (closes door) Thinking? About what?
Holland Perry: Old lady Rowe. Damn old bitch.

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Alternate Versions

When shown on Network Television the last shot contained a voiceover, in which the person in the shot said they were going to tell the sheriff the truth about all the bad things which had been going on.

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Connections

Referenced in Reflections of Evil (2002)

User Reviews

Underrated Chiller From A Great Director

I remember very clearly that parts of the Thomas Tryon novel just about had me wetting myself, it was that scary, and I wondered if the movie version would do it justice. In many ways, it nearly surpasses the book...which is something that rarely ever happens. Some people don't care for the performances by Chris and Martin Udvarnoky as the twins, Niles and Holland, but the fact that they weren't typical "Hollywoodized" child stars enabled them to give more naturalistic performances, thereby making them more believable...and creepy.

And what can you say about one of theater's Grande Dames, Uta Hagen? I think this was the only film I've ever seen her in, and she's spectacular. Well before "bad kids" became a genre cliché, this one beats all the other like-minded thrillers by a mile, even THE OMEN. (Well, maybe not THE BAD SEED, though.)

And as the cherry-on-top, Jerry Goldsmith turned in one of his best scores on this one. And DP Robert Surtees' work is so beautiful in contrast to the sheer horror it has us bear witness to...

Director Mulligan deserved all the praise he got for THE OTHER, and more acclaim than he did get because of the fact that it was considered a "low-class horror movie." When you watch it, though, you may not think so by the chilling ending. See if this doesn't stay with you for weeks afterward, the way it did for me...

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 May 1972 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Other

Filming Locations:

Angels Camp, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$475,611

Company Credits

Production Co:

Benchmark, Rem, Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min 100 min (FMC Library Print) 100 min (DVD release)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1