The Dark Mirror (1946)

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 thisespecially 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 eightyfive minute running time is consciously stretched. The film's ending is a surprise as Terry's wrath and frustration finally surface.

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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After a doctor is found murdered, the chief suspect is a woman (Olivia De Havilland) identified by several witnesses at the scene. But the detective (Thomas Mitchell) assigned to the case discovers that she has an identical twin sister (also De Havilland) which begs the question ..... which one is the murderess? The director Robert Siodmak (THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE) and De Havilland tip their hand fairly early in the film so that we know who the murderer is so the suspense comes from how will they find out and will they find out before she commits another killing. Siodmak provides the requisite moody atmosphere and De Havilland does an excellent job of differentiating between the two sisters, it's really one of her best performances. Lew Ayres is the psychiatrist who attempts to find out which is the twisted sister through psychological means and ends up falling in love with one of them. The screenplay is by Nunnally Johnson who would return to the subject again nine years later with THREE FACES OF EVE. The effective underscore is by Dimitri Tiomkin. With Richard Long and Ida Moore.

The Olive DVD is a nicely rendered B&W transfer in its appropriate 1.33 aspect ratio

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Starring Olivia de Havilland and Olivia de Havilland, THE DARK MIRROR is a fun, psychologically-oriented, murder mystery. It is probably foremost, a super vehicle for Olivia to show her acting chops. She plays twin sisters (Terry and Ruth Collins) convincingly; using the subtlest of nuances to depict both personalities.

It is also a splendid job by Robert Siodmak. Imagine, he also made the superb THE KILLERS in the same year. There is only a single scene, where Terry and Ruth are speaking face to face, that looks the slightest bit artificial: the rest is an amazing technical achievement by any standard.

The Oscar nominated story (Vladimir Pozner), screenwriting (Nunnally Johnson), music (Dimitri Tiomkin) and cinematography (Milton Krasner) are all very fine. And when you find that Olivia de Havilland is supported by the likes of Lew Ayres and Thomas Mitchell; there's nothing left but to sit back and enjoy.

This is definitely a film that deserves a DVD/Blu-ray release.

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I have been waiting for years for this to come out on DVD. One of Olivia's great films and Robert Siodmak at his very best.

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