![]() ![]() The isolation of the island can be a haven, or it can be a trap. It’s a great place to set a movie with moods and undercurrents. The changeable sea can be dark and threatening at one moment, or gloriously beautiful and serene the next. Taking place on an unnamed island off the Massachusetts coast, we get lots of majestic seascape, crashing waves on the rocky New England coastline, a lighthouse that figures prominently in the story, sailboats, a ship in a bottle, and a cozy cottage. What this film does have going for it is a whole lot of atmosphere, which I suspect is a draw for a lot of its fans. It could have been a film with more depth if it explored this more, as well as issues of co-dependency, instead of just hinging everything that happens to Katie based on her being the “good” twin. ![]() Their relationship is not completely adversarial, and they seem to mostly live their lives apart. She is quite capable of wheedling her way into what she wants it’s just that her wants are more simple and wholesome than Pat’s. She’s self-centered and shallow, but she’s not maniacal. “A Stolen Life”, however, gives us a slightly more acceptable situation in that Pat is not really evil. I doubt writers and producers have any idea of the angst this causes in many twins who, if they are lucky, can laugh at the ridiculousness of such a theme, or if unlucky enough to be hit with insensitive comparisons, and self doubt, in real life, must be reminded yet again of the burden of being the “different” one in a society where movies tell them they are freaks automatically. In movies, there is a cruel assumption that one twin must have all the positive attributes and the other all the negative. ![]() What God has put together, the world insidiously tries to pick apart. God help the twins if one, or even both of them, is handicapped. At best, it becomes a benign parlor game of visiting relatives marveling at different interests of the twins.Īt worst, it becomes an onslaught of labeling each twin as the one who has better grades in school, which twin is more gifted athletically, which twin is actually better looking or at least has fewer flaws than the other twin. It’s common to compare twins, to search out something that makes them different from the other. I also find them insulting, preferring, like most twins, not to regard myself as a freak of nature. While I believe I can be objective and unprejudiced about most issues, I have to state right off that I detest “evil twin” stories. Herein lies the main plot device that links the episodes in this film. She also plays Katie’s identical twin sister, Pat. Break up the separate themes of this film and I suppose you could have at least three separate movies, so adventurous is the life of the unadventurous character Katie Bosworth, played by Bette Davis. Assisted by special effects wizardry from Willard Van Enger and Russell Collings, both Davis and Davis are terrific in their roles.“A Stolen Life” (1946) is one of those movies that does not seem to equal the sum total of its parts, but its parts are interesting. Expect, of course, the titular "A Stolen Life" as the evil Davis moves to steals her sister's man. Throw in the fact that Bette Davis (also as Patricia "Pat" Bosworth) plays her own slutty sister, and you've struck movie gold. You can definitely sense some subtext and symbolism in this picture And, you can't go wrong with Bette Davis melodramatically falling in love amidst crisp direction by Curtis Bernhardt, beautiful black-and-white photography by Ernest Haller and Sol Polito, a sweet soundtrack by Max Steiner, and the crew at Warner Bros. Later, cocky Dane Clark (as Karnock) intrudes. Brennan's portrait - but, she really wants to show Ford her etchings. On the verge of spinsterhood, Davis is clearly attracted to Ford, and arranges to paint Mr. Ford's crusty lighthouse keeper, Walter Brennan (as Eben Folger). Handsome young Glenn Ford (as Bill Emerson) happens by, and Ms. Wealthy New England artist Bette Davis (as Kate Bosworth) emerges late from her star vehicle, and misses the boat taking her to visit her cousin, the distinguished Charlie Ruggles (as Freddie Linley). ![]()
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