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26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Olivia De Havilland Shines, August 6, 2000
This review is from: Dark Mirror [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Although director Robert Siodmak is most closely identified with noir classics such as The Killers, Crisscross, and The Phantom Lady, The Dark Mirror is a fine addition to his portfolio. Expanding on the scope of his creativity, Siodmak relies heavily on the performance that he draws from star actress Olivia De Havilland. The Dark Mirror is a psychological thriller about a murder committed by one of two twin sisters; Ruth and Terry Collins. Playing both sister roles, De Havilland's acting ability and developmental character depth is tested. De Havilland passes admirably. At first the twin sisters seem physically and emotionally similar. Subltle nuances differentiate their personalities and it is De Havilland's fine acting that peels away the layers of emotionalism that define each sister's character traits. De Havilland aided by keen camera work by Siodmak, keeps viewers on edge as she shifts roles within frames that are shared by both sisters. ( I still don't understand how Sidomak achieved this- especially the scenes when Terry is comforting a terrifed Ruth.) When Terry attempts to drive Ruth insane, thoughts of Gaslight come to mind, but De Havilland's dual performance creates even more interest. Dimitri Tomkin's musical score is also a plus as it serves to accentuate the emotions that heighten the film's climactic expressions shared by the twin sisters. The script by Nunnally Johnson, is sometimes mundane, and it seems that the film's eighty- five minute running time is consciously stretched. The film's ending is a surprise as Terry's wrath and frustration finally surface.
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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Double DeHavilland, January 8, 2000
This review is from: Dark Mirror [VHS] (VHS Tape)
The Dark Mirror is an improbable, yet entertaining suspense story about a detective and a psychiatrist's attempts to determine which one of a pair of twins committed murder. The movie succeeds because of the effective performance by Olivia deHavilland as the twins. Rather than making the twins polar opposites (which is what most actresses whould have done and most twins aren't), she subtlely distinguishes between the two, and her performance at the climax of the movie is very memorable. The special effects to give the illusion of two Olivias are quite good, especially given the time when the film was made. All in all, it's an entertaining movie and I'd recommend it.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
"Double trouble--for sure"., February 21, 2007
This review is from: Dark Mirror [VHS] (VHS Tape)
For those of you who think Olivia de Havilland's career was only that of
sweet ladies (Melanie--Gone With the Wind), think again! She is the reason to watch this film, and the movie launched her in several roles
where she was not very good-(The Heiress, My Cousin Rachel, etc.) In my
opinion, she's better when she's bad. She's not Bette Davis "bad"--she's
much more subtle and a lot more fun to watch. Try this picture--you might
like it!
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