Hollywood’s love for remakes is an old story. Before Bette Davis, there was Dolores del Rio in La Otra (1946). Rian James wrote the original story, which was acquired by Warner Bros.. Paul Henreid was brought in to direct and Bette Davis to star in the American version, titled Dead Ringer. Karl Malden and Peter Lawford were added to the cast to make it even more American. The original manuscript is perfectly suited for a traditional Hollywood thriller, and that’s exactly what the film delivers.

Bette Davis’s performance, or rather, performances, are what elevate this film above the rest. Davis plays twins, Margaret and Edith, and the two characters require very different traits from the actress, making it like seeing two sides of the same coin. The film’s dark and heavy atmosphere is established from the opening funeral sequence. Henreid uses a film noir aesthetic to gradually transform the drama into intense suspense. This was the second time Bette Davis had played twins in a film, having previously done so in Curtis Bernhardt’s A Stolen Life in 1946.

The script by Albert Beich and Oscar Millard is full of unexpected twists, calculated with millimeter precision, which keeps the film’s rhythm steady and prevents it from lagging. The supporting characters also contribute significantly. Karl Malden is very convincing as Sergeant Hobbson, and Peter Lawford is the perfect piece to complete the puzzle as the astute Tony Collins. Paul Henreid does a great job behind the camera, working perfectly with cinematographer Ernest Haller (Rebel Without a Cause, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?) and André Previn (My Fair Lady), who provided the score. The trio achieves great chemistry, and the final result is a very cohesive film. The only criticism is that at times it struggles to move away from familiar clichés.