Olivia is twins! This is an entertaining noir/thriller coated with very fashionable mid-40's Freudian elements. Olivia de Havilland plays identical twins, one good (Ruth) and one bad (Terry). One has committed a murder. But how will dogged detective Thomas Mitchell and psychiatrist Lew Awyres nail the right sister?
From the outset, it's pretty obvious that Terry is our murderess, and that Ayres will inevitably fall in love with the good de Havilland, Ruth. However, the fun is in getting there! Olivia de Havilland puts in some very memorable work as the twins, making Terry cold, calculating yet very much in control, and Ruth sweeter and more submissive yet still individual. The identical twins angle is an obvious gimmick, and the first time I saw two de Havilland's on screen I chuckled, yet it becomes very convincing as the film goes on, in large part due to Olivia de Havilland. And the technology is still impressive. Siodmak has lots of fun with the doubling, and creates many trademark noir moments of shadow and intrigue. Lew Awyres is quite interesting in his part. Sixteen years on from his beautiful performance in "All Quiet On The Western Front" he is very lithe, moustached and full of reassuring class. The film is pure melodrama but it's served up very well.
From the outset, it's pretty obvious that Terry is our murderess, and that Ayres will inevitably fall in love with the good de Havilland, Ruth. However, the fun is in getting there! Olivia de Havilland puts in some very memorable work as the twins, making Terry cold, calculating yet very much in control, and Ruth sweeter and more submissive yet still individual. The identical twins angle is an obvious gimmick, and the first time I saw two de Havilland's on screen I chuckled, yet it becomes very convincing as the film goes on, in large part due to Olivia de Havilland. And the technology is still impressive. Siodmak has lots of fun with the doubling, and creates many trademark noir moments of shadow and intrigue. Lew Awyres is quite interesting in his part. Sixteen years on from his beautiful performance in "All Quiet On The Western Front" he is very lithe, moustached and full of reassuring class. The film is pure melodrama but it's served up very well.