Dead Ringer
by Paul Henreid
List Price:
Our Price: $10.93
You Save: $9.00 (45%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $9.99 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD details
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Actor: Bette Davis, Jean Hagen, Karl Malden, Peter Lawford, Philip CareyDirector: Paul Henreid
Brand: Warner Brothers
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Mono; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Mono; French (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 1.0
Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.78:1
Running Time: 116 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-08-10
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Reviews of Dead Ringer
DVD Review: "Loved? You never loved anybody but yourself!"
Summary: 4 Stars
It's a delicious double dose of Davis as she plays twin sisters, one assuming the other's identity after her death. If you're a Davis fan, you'll know this can be used to refer to two of her films, A Stolen Life (1946), and this one, Dead Ringer (1964). Directed by Paul Henreid, probably more famous for his acting roles rather than his directing accomplishments (he played Lazlo in Casablanca), Dead Ringers is a twisted tale based just outside of reality starring Bette Davis in two roles (I guess that way no one can upstage you), along with Karl `Don't leave home without it' Malden, and Rat Packer, playboy, and all-time lighting round champion on the game show Password (seriously, I looked it up...he got 10 out of 10 in 16 seconds) Peter Lawford.
As I've said, Davis plays two roles, one as the rich, flighty, and perpetually snobby Margaret DeLorca, and another as her down on her luck, frumpy, essentially good twin sister Edith Phillips, owner and proprietor of a seedy cocktail bar in an even seedier part of town. As the film begins, we bare witness to a funeral, that of Margaret's recently deceased husband Frank. As the ceremony finishes up, along comes Edith. Later we find out the two sisters haven't seen each other in quite sometime, as their estrangement has something to do with the fact that Edith had originally loved Frank, but then Margaret came along and pretty much stole him away. The two meet up after the funeral, and we can see there's no love lost between Edith towards Margaret, something Margaret doesn't seem to understand, as she's been on easy street, even more so now as it appears she never even really loved Frank, but only his moolah. A frustrated Edith takes her leave, but learns something, a secret long since buried, one that exposes her sister and pretty much drives Edith over the brink. Edith devises a seemingly ingenious plan to do away her sister (the scene with Davis holding a gun to Davis' head is a hoot), steal her identity, and receive the goodies that being filthy rich provides, goodies that were rightfully hers. The plan goes off reasonably well, but the troubles soon arise, as Edith must now familiarize herself with all the little aspects that made up Margaret's life. Not only that, but Margaret's got a skeleton of two (her being evil and all) in her closet (one involving an adulterous affair with golf pro Lothario played by Lawford) that come around to complicate matters even more. What's an identity thievin' twin to do?
Book ended between two films I liked better in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) and Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964), the sometimes tame Dead Ringer is still a thoroughly enjoyable, albeit fairly tacky movie. Seeing the poor, pushed over the edge Davis give the snooty, haughty Davis her comeuppance is a real treat. Davis pulls off the dual roles wonderfully, creating a clear and distinctive delineation between the two characters. Not only that, but she's just so much fun to watch, transforming an average B film into a truly entertaining photoplay. The film lacked the seat gripping tension and the sensationalism of Davis' Baby Jane or Sweet Charlotte, but I actually found myself appreciating that aspect, as Dead Ringer enjoyed a subtle build up as the possibility of discovery and exposure stealthily swirled around Edith throughout. I though Karl Malden did well as the police detective/suitor to Edith, searching for answers and trying to cope with not only his loss, but also with the fact that Edith had a twin sister, which no one really seemed to know. Peter Lawford also performed suitably in his role as the sleazy, greedy, conniving adulterer, one I felt he fit into just a little too comfortably...ultimately, this is Bette Davis' movie, and all others are here to support her. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, and, even though it slowed at some points (the film run like almost 2 hours), it engaged me well as I was eager to see how the story played out. Henreid did very well directing the movie along, maintaining a steady pace, allowing for the audience to enjoy the experience to its' fullest. One very minor thing I noticed...when Lawford's character was wrestling with that great big dog, it was painfully obvious in a couple of the quick cuts that a stuffed dog (and not even a good-looking stuffed dog) was used. I deducted no points for that, but that should have been caught and removed during the editing process, as it only served to bring me out of the story (Hey, look! A fake dog!)...I guess my having so few nits to pick with this film, that one stands out pretty clearly. Everything worked well, including the sets, costumes, locations, etc. Also, I thought the musical score was truly fitting, enhancing the various scenes and promoting the appropriate sensibility, be it one of danger, tension, or just plain creepiness.
Both the picture (in widescreen format) and the audio are really excellent on this DVD, and being a Warner Brother's release, I was very surprised at not only the inclusion of extras, but also the amount of extras (maybe they've finally decided this whole DVD format is worthwhile and including only a trailer just doesn't cut it anymore, at least not for a major studio). Along with the original theatrical trailer, there's a commentary track by prominent playwright and sometimes performing cross dresser Charles Busch and Boze Hadleigh, an extremely effeminate (if you didn't know, Davis is an icon in the rainbow community, much like that of Judy Garland) author who wrote Bette Davis Speaks, supposedly based off of numerous interviews he had with the star before she passed. There's also two shorts, one with Hadleigh called Double Take: A Conversation with Boze Hadleigh (13 min.), and another showcasing the famous Doheny Mansion (7 min.), which was used in the movie.
Cookieman108
Description of Dead Ringer
DEAD RINGER - DVD MovieBestsellers in DVD
![The Story of Jeremiah [VHS] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
The Story of Jeremiah [VHS]Vision Video; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Wresting With God [VHS]by Vision Video
Vision Video; Published: 1990-10-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
Study Bible Video with Workbook [VHS]Spring Arbor Distributors; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops:
Tempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.17
Price in other shops:
Tempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/ Party Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
![Strike the Original Match [VHS] Image](/images/Strike-the-Original-Match-VHS-0001374079-X.jpg)
Strike the Original Match [VHS]New Liberty Films; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
![Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS] Image](/images/Medjugorje-The-Miracles-and-the-Message-VHS-0001373293-X.jpg)
Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS]JPN Film Production; Release date: 1995-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.99
Mayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008by Mayo
DVD
Price in other shops:
Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single Userby Oakstone
DVD
Price in other shops:
Cost Accounting [VHS]by Charles T. Horngren, George Foster, Srikant M. Datar, Howard Teall
Pearson Canada, Toronto; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
Jezebel (Restored and Remastered Edition)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2006-05-30; DVD
Best price: $8.53
Price in other shops:
Mr. SkeffingtonWarner Brothers; Release date: 2005-06-14; DVD
Best price: $11.82
Price in other shops:
Mildred Pierce (Keepcase)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2005-06-14; DVD
Best price: $5.98
Price in other shops:
The Bette Davis Collection, Vol. 3 (The Old Maid / All This, And Heaven Too / The Great Lie / In This Our Life / Watch on the Rhine / Deception)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2008-04-01; DVD
Best price: $24.29
Price in other shops:
The NannyFox; Release date: 2008-04-08; DVD
Best price: $10.45
Price in other shops:
Strait JacketSony; Release date: 2002-03-12; DVD
Best price: $8.13
Price in other shops:
The Bad SeedWarner Brothers; Release date: 2004-08-10; DVD
Best price: $2.92
Price in other shops:
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (Two-Disc Special Edition)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2006-05-30; DVD
Best price: $11.39
Price in other shops:
Hush...Hush, Sweet CharlotteDAVIS,BETTE; Release date: 2005-08-09; DVD
Best price: $7.19
Price in other shops:
A Stolen LifeRelease date: 2010-12-22; Published: 2010; DVD
Best price: $15.70
Price in other shops: