DARK MIRROR, THE
1946 / 85:00 / B/W / Film Noir/ Thriller
Director: Robert Siodmak
Starring: Olivia de Havilland, Lew Ayres, Thomas Mitchell
Formats: Available in High Definition restored version.
SYNOPSIS:
Nunnally Johnson scripted this film noir tale of identical twin sisters suspected of murder. Or at least one of them is, but therein lies the plot. Olivia de Havilland, as both sisters, convincingly portrays sweet, sympathetic Ruth and her vixenish, latently insane twin, Terry. The problem is that one of them was spotted leaving the scene of the crime shortly after it was committed, but witnesses and the police don't know which one it was. Enter Lew Ayres, as a young psychologist recently out of the army, who is a specialist in the mental processes of identical twins. The story twists and spins on it's psychological premise as Ayres runs the sisters through batteries of tests and probings in an effort to find out who is guilty. This, of course, brings them closer together and a dual love story begins as well one a bit more agressive than the other. (A clue). It's a good tight thriller, much aided by Milton Krasner's darkly effective camera-work and Dimitri Tiomkin's suggestive score.
REVIEWS:
"Copping thespic honors, despite a relatively light part, Thomas Mitchell plays the baffled dick with a wry wit and assured bearing that carries belief."Variety, Oktober 2, 1946
AWARDS:
Award	Categorie	Person	Year	Status
ACADEMY AWARDS	Best Original Story	Vladimir Pozner	1946	nominated
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