Dead Ringers (1988)

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

Director:

David Cronenberg

Writers:

David Cronenberg, Norman Snider

Stars:

Jeremy Irons, Geneviève Bujold, Heidi von Palleske

20 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jeremy Irons	...	Beverly / Elliot
Geneviève Bujold	...	Claire / Leo's wife(actress)
Heidi von Palleske	...	Cary / Elliot's girlfriend
Barbara Gordon	...	Danuta / clinic receptionist
Shirley Douglas	...	Laura / Claire's friend
Stephen Lack	...	Anders Wolleck
Nick Nichols	...	Leo / Claire's husband
Lynne Cormack	...	Arlene / patient
Damir Andrei	...	Birchall / Claire's secretary
Miriam Newhouse	...	Mrs. Bookman / patient
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

Storyline

The Mantle brothers are both doctors - both gynecologists - and identical twins. Mentally however, one of them is more confident than the other, and always manages to seduce the women he meets. When he's tired of his current partner, she is passed on to the other brother - without her knowing. Everything runs smoothly, until an actress visits their clinic, and the shy brother is the first to fall in love. Will they be able to 'share' her ?

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Plot Keywords:

identical twins | mutated organ | downward spiral | 1950s | gynecologist | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film is part of the Criterion Collection, spine #21.

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Goofs

Jeremy Irons used his British accent to play the roles of the adult twins, even though the characters grew up in Canada.

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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 ...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Adaptation. (2002)

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Soundtracks

In the Still of the Night (I'll Remember)
Performed by The Five Satins
under license from Arista Records, Inc.
Copyrighted by Llee Corp.
Composed by Fred Parris

User Reviews

Irons in his two best screen performances!

A very fine film that challenges and rewards just about equally and somehow has a downbeat ending that manages to be uplifting. I suppose we have been through a lot by the end and although there is an horrific sadness there is an awful inevitability and we like the twin brothers can finally see no other way out. Bujold plays a starlet who comes between two identical twins (Irons in his two best screen performances!) and whilst the tale begins playfully enough we are given enough signals to suggest all will not be well, although we like all three leads do hope so. We see ourselves in the three and if at first we are confounded to discover we are confused by who is who, just when we have got the two under some control, like Bujold indeed, it all goes wrong and the brothers switch personalities before our very eyes. This is all disturbing enough without the gynaecological instruments of torture and the playing with pain and pleasure leading us to some darkened room.

Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 September 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dead Ringers

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$13,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,012,180, 25 September 1988

Gross USA:

$8,038,508

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$8,038,508

Company Credits

Production Co:

Morgan Creek Entertainment, Téléfilm Canada, Mantle Clinic II

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1