A Double Life movie storyline. The successful middle-aged Broadway actor Anthony “Tony” John is a dedicated lonely professional that still loves his former wife Brita. They are playing Othello for almost two years and Tony has a breakdown, beginning to lose his mind and sense of reality, confusing his identity with his characters.
One night, he meets the waitress Pat Kroll in a distant bar and he spends the night with the easy woman. Then he proposes Brita, who is his best friend, but she refuses to marry him again triggering a jealousy process against their friend Bill. Tony decides to visit Pat late night and in an insanity process, he lives the situation of Othello killing Desdemona. The police arrest a suspect but Bill wants to prove that Tony is responsible for the murder.
A Double Life is a 1947 film noir which tells the story of an actor whose mind becomes affected by the character he portrays. It stars Ronald Colman and Signe Hasso. It is directed by George Cukor, with screenplay by Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin. Ronald Colman won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in this film.
The leading role had originally been slated for Laurence Olivier. Colman was initially anxious about doing Shakespeare on screen. To reassure him, Cukor told the actor that the film had been designed to get him a long-overdue Oscar (which he later won); Colman had been nominated three times before.
Julie Kirgo wrote that A Double Life is truly a picture of opposing forces, mirror images and deadly doubles: “Anthony John is at war with Othello, the elegant world of the theater is opposed to the squalid existence of Shelley Winters’ Pat Kroll, and illusion versus reality are all conveyed in opposing lights and darks of Krasner’s luminous photography.”
Adam Lounsbery wrote that “there are many things about A Double Life that don’t exactly place it in the category of film noir, but the look of the film is pure noir. It’s full of shadows, dramatic lighting effects, city streets at night, and cramped, dark rooms. There’s a mounting sense of dread running through the film, and Krasner’s cinematography is largely responsible for it”. [5]
About the Story
Celebrated stage actor Anthony “Tony” John, riding high on the success of his current comedy “A Gentleman’s Gentleman”, is offered the lead in a new production of Shakespeare’s Othello by theatrical producer Max Lasker. Lasker also wants Tony’s ex-wife, Brita, to co-star as Desdemona.
Tony initially declines the offer to the relief of director Victor Donlan, who knows that Tony becomes overly involved in his roles. Brita agrees with Donlan and warns press agent Bill Friend that although Tony’s mood is delightful when appearing in a comedy, he is terrifying when appearing in a drama. She warns Friend that Tony becomes so immersed in roles, that they can take over his reality. Tony changes his mind after becoming obsessed with the idea of portraying Othello.
Whilst contemplating the role, Tony meets waitress Pat Kroll at an Italian restaurant, and the two soon begin a casual affair. Brita reluctantly accepts the role of Desdemona and rehearsals begin. The production opens to rave reviews, but Tony gradually becomes absorbed in his role and begins to lose a grip on where the play ends and his real life begins. Tony sees jealousy as the key to his character.
Just before the 300th performance of the play, Brita shows him a locket Bill gave her for her birthday and this sparks jealous rages within him. That night, during Othello’s “kiss of death” scene with Desdemona, Tony becomes overcome with the role and nearly chokes Brita to death. When the play begins its second year, Tony asks Brita to remarry him, but she refuses. Tony suspects Brita is in love with Bill. Enraged, confused and delirious, Tony goes to Pat’s apartment. The play and reality become conflated in his mind and he eventually kills Pat with Othello’s “kiss of death.” Tony returns to Brita’s and falls asleep on her couch.
The next day, reporter Al Cooley offers Bill front page publicity for Tony’s play by pointing out the similarities between Pat’s murder and Othello’s “kiss of death.” Tony is enraged when he sees the story, and physically attacks Bill. Bill suspects Tony is Pat’s killer and goes to the police, only to find that Pat’s drunken neighbor has been arrested for her murder. Tony demands Bill’s dismissal, and Bill plans a short vacation. Bill tells Brita he loves her, but Brita does not return his feelings. However, Brita reveals to Bill that Tony left her home on the night of Pat’s murder.
A Double Life (1947)
Directed by: George Cukor
Starring: Ronald Colman, Signe Hasso, Edmond O’Brien, Shelley Winters, Ray Collins, Philip Loeb, Millard Mitchell, Joe Sawyer, Charles La Torre, Whit Bissell, John Drew Colt
Screenplay by: Ruth Gordon, Garson Kanin
Production Design by: Harry Horner
Cinematography by: Milton R. Krasner
Film Editing by: Robert Parrish
Set Decoration by: John P. Austin, Russell A. Gausman
Art Direction by: Harvey T. Gillett, Bernard Herzbrun
Music by: Miklós Rózsa
MPAA Rating: None.
Distributed by: Universal Pictures
Release Date: December 25, 1947
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