Dead Ringer

Cast

Bette Davis
as Edith/Margaret

Karl Malden
as Sgt. Jim Hobbson

Peter Lawford
as Tony Collins

Philip Carey
as Sgt. Ben Hoag

Jean Hagen
as Dede

George Macready
as Paul Harrison

Estelle Winwood
as Matriarch

George Chandler
as George

Mario Alcalde
as Garcia

Cyril Delevanti
as Henry

Monika Henreid
as Janet

Bert Remsen
as Dan

Charles Watts
as Apartment Manager

Ken Lynch
as Capt. Johnson

Charles Meredith
as Defense Lawyer

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Critic Reviews for Dead Ringer

Audience Reviews for Dead Ringer

• Apr 08, 2013

  A twist ending is the cherry on top of this okay thriller spiced with performances by always solid method actor Karl Malden and gliding-by-on-my-looks pretty boy, Peter Lawford , but anchored by the grande dame w/o the self parody that tainted her later work. Look to see the difference between how Bette smooches Karl, her boyfriend, and Peter, her, uh, other boyfriend, its worth the admission price alone.
  Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
• Jul 13, 2011

  Another in a string of Bette Davis' comeback movies of the sixties, "Dead Ringer" feels and looks recycled, but has all the mystery and charm of a Davis' film. What feels recycled ultimately boils down to the fact that many of the pieces of the plot are the same as other, better films. Davis had played identical twins earlier in the 1946 film "A Stolen Life" and Olivia de Havilland had basically played the same kind of role in a very similar film entitled "The Dark Mirror" from that same year. Murderous twins have always been an interesting thriller concept and noir staple, because of the extremes that siblings can present when they are given the chance to kill. Davis was reemerging in the public sphere after her Oscar nominated turn in "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?". This film and another film of that decade put Davis back into the limelight and with good reason. She was the queen of the film noir as well as acted in dramatic turns in the thirties and forties. This film exploits her popularity to the fullest, as well as her newfound fame, and without her this film would not have had the same impact, and wouldn't have been enjoyable. Another great performance in this film comes from legendary actor Karl Malden. It's his curiosity into the death of his girlfriend and compassion towards her twin sister that really makes a statement about how a person changes when they murder someone, no matter how sweet or innocent they were beforehand. It seems obvious why Edie kills Margaret: because she is in debt, her sister has everything because she married her former beau, and Edie has had a hard, miserable life. Her impersonation of her sister isn't always spot on, and the ensuing story about her living day to day, trying to keep up the mirage she's concocted, doesn't do much except tell us about the social life of Margaret. The film doesn't say much about Edie as a character, or how she feels while deceiving everyone, including her boyfriend, which is especially damning. She is immediately demonized after killing her sister, and is oftentimes shown to be unreliable, calculating, and very bitter. This film only emphasizes Davis, and most of the film is exposition that includes her own musings. The peripheral characters are mostly slags and socialites, and except for Karl Malden, none of them give any insight into the character of Margaret, who remains a mystery except for what little insight Tony gives us, which is only that he exists. Only the ending tells us anything about either twin, gives us any moral, or any damning existential question.
  Spencer S Super Reviewer
• Sep 05, 2010

  This is a cool thriller, Davis plays twins, and the rest of the cast is good too. I really liked this movie, it's thrilling.
  Aj V Super Reviewer
• Apr 22, 2010

  Pretty Cool Movie as Betty Davis Plays Twin Parts, This is a twist ending suspense film that most will be able to guess 1/2 way through it. 2 sisters one rich one poor and they are twins, so the poor one kills the rich one and takes her place. Very suspenseful with what happens all through the movie. I have been creeped out by Betty Davis ever since I was a kid and still am, but in this role she is worth 4 stars
  Bruce B Super Reviewer

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