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IMDbPro

A Double Life

  • 19471947
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 44m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
3.5K
YOUR RATING
Shelley Winters, Ronald Colman, and Signe Hasso in A Double Life (1947)
A celebrated actor struggles to distinguish his own life from that of his most recent stage role, Othello.
Play trailer1:34
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Film-Noir
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
    • George Cukor
  • Writers
    • Ruth Gordon
    • Garson Kanin
    • William Shakespeare(extracts from play "Othello")
  • Stars
    • Ronald Colman
    • Edmond O'Brien
    • Signe Hasso
Top credits
  • Director
    • George Cukor
  • Writers
    • Ruth Gordon
    • Garson Kanin
    • William Shakespeare(extracts from play "Othello")
  • Stars
    • Ronald Colman
    • Edmond O'Brien
    • Signe Hasso
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 60User reviews
    • 39Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 2 Oscars
      • 3 wins & 3 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:34
    Trailer

    Photos497

    "Double Life, A" Ronald Colman 1947 Universal **I.V.
    "Double Life, A" Ronald Colman 1947 Universal **I.V.
    Shelley Winters, Ronald Colman, and Signe Hasso in A Double Life (1947)
    Shelley Winters and Ronald Colman in A Double Life (1947)
    Shelley Winters and Ronald Colman in A Double Life (1947)
    A Double Life (1947)
    A Double Life (1947)
    A Double Life (1947)
    A Double Life (1947)
    A Double Life (1947)
    A Double Life (1947)
    A Double Life (1947)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ronald Colman
    Ronald Colman
    • Anthony Johnas Anthony John
    Edmond O'Brien
    Edmond O'Brien
    • Bill Friendas Bill Friend
    Signe Hasso
    Signe Hasso
    • Britaas Brita
    Shelley Winters
    Shelley Winters
    • Pat Krollas Pat Kroll
    Ray Collins
    Ray Collins
    • Victor Donlanas Victor Donlan
    Philip Loeb
    Philip Loeb
    • Max Laskeras Max Lasker
    Millard Mitchell
    Millard Mitchell
    • Al Cooleyas Al Cooley
    Joe Sawyer
    Joe Sawyer
    • Pete Bonneras Pete Bonner
    Charles La Torre
    • Stellinias Stellini
    Whit Bissell
    Whit Bissell
    • Dr. Staufferas Dr. Stauffer
    John Drew Colt
    • Stage Manageras Stage Manager
    Peter M. Thompson
    • Asst. Stage Manageras Asst. Stage Manager
    • (as Peter Thompson)
    Elizabeth Dunne
    • Gladysas Gladys
    Alan Edmiston
    • Rexas Rex
    Art Smith
    Art Smith
    • Wigmakeras Wigmaker
    Sid Tomack
    Sid Tomack
    • Wigmakeras Wigmaker
    Wilton Graff
    Wilton Graff
    • Dr. Mervinas Dr. Mervin
    Harlan Briggs
    Harlan Briggs
    • Oscar Bernardas Oscar Bernard
    • Director
      • George Cukor
    • Writers
      • Ruth Gordon
      • Garson Kanin
      • William Shakespeare(extracts from play "Othello") (uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      As 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.
    • Goofs
      From 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 credits
      Opening credits appear against a theatre image with stage curtain.
    • Connections
      Featured in The 75th Annual Academy Awards (2003)
    • Soundtracks
      Opus 10 No. 3 in E Major
      (1829-32) (uncredited)

      Written by Frédéric Chopin

      Played a bit on piano by Brita

    User reviews60

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Imagination Against Reality
    Ronald Colman gives an electrifying performance as Tony John, a Broadway actor who can't separate his offstage life from Shakespeare's Othello, the character he plays on stage....Two important scenes illustrate Tony's dilemma. The first one takes place in producer Max Lasker's office. Acting is a matter of talent for the practical-minded Lasker. But Donlan, Tony's friend, disagrees: "No, no. When you do it like Tony does it, it's much more. The way he has of becoming someone else every night...so completely. No, don't tell me his whole system isn't affected by it."....The other scene occurs in waitress Pat Kroll's apartment. Tony tells her his name is Martin. She thanks him. Then he says: "Or Paul. Hamlet. Joe. And maybe Othello."....When Tony begins rehearsing Othello, we learn that though he's trying to keep his real life separated from his stage life, "The part begins to seep into your life, and the battle begins. Reality against imagination." He can't keep the two separated: In his mind Pat is Desdemona and he's Othello, and he wrongly believes she has been unfaithful to him. He murders her....Colman's bravura performance, in a complex and difficult role, earned him 1947's Academy Award for Best Actor. Oscar nominations went to Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin for Best Original Screenplay. Not to be overlooked is Milton Krasner's atomspheric cinematography.
    helpful•29
    3
    • Leo-86
    • May 17, 1999

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 1, 1948 (Mexico)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Italian
      • Swedish
    • Also known as
      • Inspiration
    • Filming locations
      • 1430 Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production company
      • Kanin Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 44 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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    Shelley Winters, Ronald Colman, and Signe Hasso in A Double Life (1947)
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