Dead Ringer (1964)

Synopsis:

Many years ago, Margaret (Bette Davis) stole twin sister Edith’s (also played by Davis) boyfriend. Still angry about the betrayal, bitter Edith murders the scheming Margaret and assumes her identity, but Edith doesn’t know that that her sister’s life is a mess.

Reaction & Thoughts:

“You really hate me, don’t you? You’ve never forgiven me in all these years.”

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) was a huge hit, and success in the film industry always begets copycats. Although it was never intended to be more than a Baby Jane wannabe, Dead Ringer turned out rather well. The story is bonkers and star Bette Davis’s double-service of smoked ham is delicious — the film is lots of fun!

Film historians have (sarcastically) referred to What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? and its clones as “hagsploitation,” but the much-maligned sub-genre should be praised, not ridiculed. In an industry where ageism and misogyny are serious problems, it’s a really good thing to see stories that revolve around women of a certain age.

Inspired by a 1940s Mexican movie, Dead Ringer was originally prepared by Warner Bros. for actress Lana Turner (Peyton Place), who bailed out at the last moment. Davis agreed to make the movie after Warners offered her a beefy paycheck and promised to hire Davis’s old pal, actor Paul Henreid (Casablanca), to direct the movie.

If anything, Dead Ringer shows how Davis was able to elevate a film by sheer willpower. Plot holes are plentiful, so this is one of those movies that requires a fair amount of suspension of disbelief from viewers. But, as I said before, Davis’s double-headed performance makes this murder-mystery fun to watch.

Gallons of dark humor also enhance the dubious narrative. As ironies keep piling up, I guarantee that you will chuckle every time the film hits you with one of its wacky twists. Dead Ringer even offers a series of important moral lessons: “be happy with what you have,” “jealousy is bad,” “let go of the past,” and more importantly, “before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.” I’m sure you get the point.

A wonderful cast surrounds Davis. Karl Malden (On the Waterfront) is fine as a decent detective in love with the good sister, and Peter Lawford (Good News) is wonderfully sleazy as the bad sister‘s lover. Also with Jean Hagen (Singin’ in the Rain), George Macready (Paths of Glory), and Estelle Winwood (Neil Simon’s Murder by Death). Director Henried’s real-life daughter, Monica, plays Davis’s maid.

The visual effects are simple, but effective. The camera work (this is cinematographer Ernest Haller’s last movie) and editing are clever enough to make you believe the twin sisters are real. Davis does, of course, a phenomenally good job here (she also played twins in A Stolen Life), but one can’t underestimate the skill required to create the proper illusion. Andre Previn’s (Irma la Douce) jazzy music score is a plus.

Conclusions & Final Thoughts:

Though not as good as Robert Aldrich’s 1962 classic What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, Dead Ringer is fist-rate entertainment of the Grand Guignol kind. The film is well-crafted (actor Paul Henreid does a surprisingly good job as director) and well-acted, and there’s a good chance that you’ll laugh your head off as you watch Bette Davis try to out-act Bette Davis. Recommended. B&W, 115 minutes, Not Rated.

Theatrical Trailer: