IMDb RATING
7.0/10
3.5K
YOUR RATING
A celebrated actor struggles to distinguish his own life from that of his most recent stage role, Othello.A celebrated actor struggles to distinguish his own life from that of his most recent stage role, Othello.A celebrated actor struggles to distinguish his own life from that of his most recent stage role, Othello.
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
3.5K
YOUR RATING
- Director
- Writers
- Ruth Gordon
- Garson Kanin
- William Shakespeare(extracts from play "Othello")
- Stars
Top credits
- Director
- Writers
- Ruth Gordon
- Garson Kanin
- William Shakespeare(extracts from play "Othello")
- Stars
- Won 2 Oscars
- 3 wins & 3 nominations total
Videos1
Peter M. Thompson
- Asst. Stage Manageras Asst. Stage Manager
- (as Peter Thompson)
- Director
- Writers
- Ruth Gordon
- Garson Kanin
- William Shakespeare(extracts from play "Othello") (uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- See more cast details at IMDbPro
Storyline
Anthony John is an actor whose life is strongly influenced by the characters he plays. When he's playing comedy, he's the most enjoyable person in the world, but when he's playing drama, he's impossible to be around. it's terrible to be around him. That's why his wife Brita divorced him: although she loves him and still works with him, she couldn't stand to live with him anymore. So when Anthony has the role of Othello, he devotes himself entirely to the part, but it soon overwhelms him; with each day, Othello's murderous jealousy fills his mind more and more. —Leon Wolters <wolters@strw.LeidenUniv.nl>
actorcharacter says you're hurting mecharacter says you keep out of thishave cake and eat it too idiomf rated40 more
- Genres
- Certificate
- Approved
- Parents guide
Did you know
- TriviaAs a nervous seventeen year-old Shelley Winters read for the part of Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind (1939) with her Brooklyn accent. George Cukor chased everyone out of his office, sent for two cokes, and advised her to go to college and visit public places to see how ordinary people walked and talked. It wasn't until after he had cast her in this film that he realized who she was.
- GoofsFrom all appearances during the opening sequence, Anthony John's new comedy is just opening on Broadway - deliverymen carry a fresh sign into the lobby covered with blurbs from rave reviews, leading lady is asked to look at new publicity photos and theater is packed during scene from play. But suddenly, it's revealed that this play has been running a year and is actually about to close. In reality, virtually all plays close due to dwindling attendance (and don't have SRO audiences in last days, as does this one) nor do producers waste money on advertising and publicity on productions that have already posted closing notices, as appears to be the case here since actors are already discussing their next jobs.
- Quotes
Anthony John: How's the chicken cacciatore?
Pat Kroll: It's your stomach.
- Crazy creditsOpening credits appear against a theatre image with stage curtain.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The 75th Annual Academy Awards (2003)
- SoundtracksOpus 10 No. 3 in E Major
(1829-32) (uncredited)
Written by Frédéric Chopin
Played a bit on piano by Brita
Top review
Colman's finest hour...gripping performances...
There is an atmospheric film noir quality to A DOUBLE LIFE and one that is so fitting for the kind of story it tells. Ronald Colman is an actor who becomes obsessed with his role when playing Othello and goes off the deep end. He does his role so convincingly that it is almost frightening to see him in the grip of his delusions--a Jekyll and Hyde sort of transformation takes over when his dark side emerges. A brilliant performance and he's surrounded by excellent supporting players, notably Shelley Winters in one of her earliest roles as a dumb waitress. Signe Hasso and Edmond O'Brien are fine too. Her fear of Colman's manic state looks genuine as he looms over her figure on the bed, preparing to strangle her.
Not the sort of film you'd expect George Cukor to direct but he does it well with only occasional slow stretches in a story that could have been more tightly controlled with too much repetition in the stage scenes. Brooding and absorbing with a fine background score by Miklos Rozsa. Colman's Oscar-winning performance makes it well worth seeing.
Not the sort of film you'd expect George Cukor to direct but he does it well with only occasional slow stretches in a story that could have been more tightly controlled with too much repetition in the stage scenes. Brooding and absorbing with a fine background score by Miklos Rozsa. Colman's Oscar-winning performance makes it well worth seeing.
helpful•245
- Doylenf
- Jan 22, 2002
Details
- Runtime1 hour 44 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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