Dead Ringer (3 stars)

Dead Ringer, from 1964, is a mystery/suspense film starring the amazing Bette Davis.  Also starring Karl Malden and Peter Lawford, and directed by Bette's two-time co-star Paul Henreid, Dead Ringer affords this incredible actress the opportunity to play her second dual role in a film.  Earlier in her career---in A Stolen Life (reviewed HERE)---she portrayed twin sisters, Kate and Pat Bosworth, two women as different as night and day.  Here in Dead Ringer, she plays Edith (Edie) Phillips and Margaret (Maggie) DaLorca, again, two vastly different women.

Edie and Maggie, who are estranged and haven't seen one another for years, meet up at the funeral of Maggie's husband, Frank.  Edie and Frank had been in love many years earlier, but after being told by Maggie that she was expecting his child, Frank broke off with Edie and married Maggie, who then said that her child had died.  Edie learns from Maggie's long-time chauffeur, however, that there never was a DaLorca child.

After realizing that Maggie had concocted the pregnancy story in order to manipulate Frank into marrying her, Edie is beyond furious.  Not only did she lose Frank, her one great love, but instead of the life of wealth and luxury Maggie obtained, Edie went on to barely eke out an existence in a little bar.  Behind on her payments and in receipt of an eviction notice, Edie decides it is time to make Maggie pay for the years of heartbreak she has brought upon her.

Edie's plan is simple...she will kill Maggie, making it appear as her own suicide, and then take her place as Mrs. DaLorca.  Everyone will think that Edith Phillips is dead, having taken her own life while in a despondent state.  No one would ever consider that it isn't Maggie who lives...but Edie.

However, things don't go as smoothly as Edie had expected, for now, as Margaret, she must live a life she has never known.  There are unfamiliar rooms in a large mansion,  locked jewelry boxes, documents that need signed, friends she doesn't recognize, a vicious dog that suddenly becomes friendly, and an illicit lover who is not easily deceived.  How long can Edie keep up the charade?  How long can she pass herself off as Margaret DaLorca?  Especially when Edith's police officer beau (Karl Malden) begins investigating the case?

Dead Ringer is a very solid, highly entertaining 3-star film, which features a shocking twist and the usual top-notch performance of Bette Davis. Truly, that woman was at her best when she was being bad. I totally love her.

Anyhow, Dead Ringer is out on DVD and should be quite easy to track down. Also, TCM has it on their schedule fairly often. Do try to see it. Happy viewing!!