Dead Ringers (1988)

Director:

David Cronenberg

Writers:

Bari Wood (book) and
Jack Geasland (book) ...
(more)

Release Date:

23 September 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Two bodies. Two minds. One soul. Separation can be a terrifying thing.

Plot:

Twin gynecologists take full advantage of the fact that nobody can tell them apart, until their relationship begins to deteriorate over a woman.

Plot Keywords:

Gynecologist | Twin | Doctor | Identical Twins | Actress

Awards:

20 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Jeremy Irons	...	Beverly Mantle / Elliot Mantle
Geneviève Bujold	...	Claire Niveau (as Genevieve Bujold)
Heidi von Palleske	...	Cary (as Heidi Von Palleske)
Barbara Gordon	...	Danuta
Shirley Douglas	...	Laura
Stephen Lack	...	Anders Wolleck
Nick Nichols	...	Leo
Lynne Cormack	...	Arlene
Damir Andrei	...	Birchall
Miriam Newhouse	...	Mrs. Bookman
David Hughes	...	Superintendent
Richard W. Farrell	...	Dean of Medicine (as Richard Farrell)
Warren Davis	...	Anatomy Class Supervisor
Jonathan Haley	...	Beverly, Age 9
Nicholas Haley	...	Elliot, Age 9
Marsha Moreau	...	Raffaella
Dennis Akayama	...	Pharmacist (as Denis Akiyama)
Dee McCafferty	...	Surgeon
Susan Markle	...	Operating Room Nurse
Murray Cruchley	...	Assisting Surgeon
Jane Luk	...	Lecture Hall Nurse
Tita Trevisan	...	Furniture Salesman
Jacqueline Hennessy	...	Coral (as Jacqueline Hennessy)
Jill Hennessy	...	Mimsy (as Jillian Hennessy)
David Walden	...	Director
Liliane Stillwell	...	Wardrobe Person
Denise McLeod	...	Art Gallery Lady
Bob Bainborough	...	Mr. Glaser
Nick Rice	...	MC (as Nicholas Rice)
Joe Matheson	...	Sean
Hadley Kay	...	Delivery Boy
Cynthia Eastman	...	Sobbing Woman
Nora Colpman	...	Mrs. Randall
Rena Polley	...	Soap Opera Character
Madeleine Atkinson	...	Soap Opera Character
John Bayliss	...	Performance Double
Graham Evans	...	Picture Double
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David Cronenberg	...	Obstetrician (uncredited)
Alan Gough	...	Director / producer of TV soap opera (uncredited)
Jordan-Patrick Marcantonio	...	Twin Boy (uncredited)
Julian-Peter Marcantonio	...	(uncredited)
Greg Van Riel	...	Man in reception (uncredited)

Directed by
David Cronenberg

Writing credits
Bari Wood		(book "Twins") and
Jack Geasland		(book "Twins")
David Cronenberg		(written by) and
Norman Snider		(written by)

Produced by
Carol Baum	....	executive producer
John Board	....	associate producer
Marc Boyman	....	producer
David Cronenberg	....	producer
Sylvio Tabet	....	executive producer
James G. Robinson	....	executive producer (uncredited)
Joe Roth	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Howard Shore

Cinematography by
Peter Suschitzky		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Ronald Sanders

Casting by
Deirdre Bowen

Production Design by
Carol Spier

Art Direction by
Alicia Keywan		(supervising art director)
James McAteer

Set Decoration by
Elinor Rose Galbraith

Costume Design by
Denise Cronenberg

Makeup Department
Eva Coudouloux	....	hair stylist: TV soap opera
Eva Coudouloux	....	makeup artist: TV soap opera
Shonagh Jabour	....	makeup artist
Ivan Lynch	....	hair designer
Maxine Rennes-Gunderson	....	assistant hair stylist
Barbara Szablowski	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Gabriella Martinelli	....	post-production supervisor
Gabriella Martinelli	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John Board	....	first assistant director
Cynthia Clayton	....	trainee assistant director (as Cyndie Clayton)
Kevin Larstone	....	assistant director: TV soap opera
Laurie Mirsky	....	third assistant director
Izidore K. Musallam	....	second assistant director

Art Department
John Bannister	....	scenic artist
Andrew Chatham	....	assistant head carpenter
Kirk Cheney	....	construction manager
Ane Christensen	....	assistant set dresser
Ying Chung	....	carpenter
Brian Clancy	....	carpenter
Janet Cormack	....	scenic artist
Casey De Snoo	....	carpenter
Chris Dutton	....	set dresser
J.C. Edwards	....	carpenter
Danielle Fleury	....	assistant set decorator
Brian Fowler	....	carpenter
Christopher Geggie	....	lead props (as Chris Geggie)
Brian Gibson	....	scenic artist
Peter Grundy	....	first assistant art director
David Hamayda	....	carpenter
Doug Harlocker	....	property master (as Douglas Harlocker)
Jasper Haynes	....	carpenter
Jacqui Hemingway	....	scenic artist assistant
John Jackson	....	carpenter
John Keenan	....	carpenter
Gregory P. Keen	....	first assistant art director (as Gregory Keen)
Murray Keith	....	assistant head carpenter
Simon Kwasniak	....	carpenter
Brian Lumley	....	carpenter
Joe Madziak	....	carpenter
Rocco Matteo	....	art department trainee
Dan McGee	....	carpenter
Don McLeod	....	artist: motion control system
Michael J. Meade	....	trainee set decorator (as Michael Meade)
Bruce H. Meredith	....	carpenter
Allan Meuse	....	carpenter
Jak Oliver	....	key scenic artist
John Quesenberry	....	carpenter (as J. L. Quesenberry)
Warren Quigley	....	scenic artist assistant
Marlene Rain	....	property buyer
Malcolm Reid	....	carpenter
John Rice	....	carpenter
Jacques Rophoz	....	carpenter
Myles Roth	....	carpenter
Ted Samuels	....	carpenter
Al Snikkar	....	carpenter
Tim Spencer	....	carpenter
Danni Starbuck	....	carpenter
Jasna Stefanovic	....	art department trainee
Vlasta Svoboda	....	first assistant art director
Clive Thomasson	....	set dresser
Alexandra Thompson	....	art department trainee
Steve Trevella	....	carpenter
Jim Veale	....	co-head carpenter (as James H. Veale)
Ken Watkins	....	second assistant art director
Ian Wheatley	....	assistant set decorator
Greg Young	....	assistant head carpenter
John Dondertman	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Thomas Pearce	....	co-head carpenter (uncredited)
Tim Spencer	....	art department assistant (uncredited)

Sound Department
Terry Burke	....	foley artist
Richard Cadger	....	sound editor
Viktoria Cseh-McCormick	....	assistant sound editor (as Victoria Cseh)
Bryan Day	....	sound mixer
David Evans	....	sound editor
David Giammarco	....	sound editor
Wayne Griffin	....	sound editor
Sean Kelly	....	assistant sound editor
Judy 'Lucky' Kemeny	....	assistant sound editor (as Judy Kemeny)
Michael LaCroix	....	boom operator (as Michael Lacroix)
John Laing	....	assistant sound editor
Andy Nelson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dino Pigat	....	adr recordist
Donna Powell	....	assistant foley artist
Peter Tarshis	....	sound recordist: TV soap opera sequence
Don White	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Randall Balsmeyer	....	motion control programmer
Gordon J. Smith	....	special effects designer (as Gordon Smith)

Visual Effects by
Dimitris Anapliotis	....	optical printer
Jon Campfens	....	optical printer camerman
Bill Francis	....	laboratory assistant: motion control system
Chris Furniotis	....	optical line-up
George Furniotis	....	optical director
John Furniotis	....	optical director (as G. John Furniotis)
Derek Howard	....	laboratory supervisor: motion control system
Walter Klassen	....	mechanical designer: motion control system
Shelly Morrow	....	junior optical layout/camera animation
Richard Palin	....	motion control assistant
Alan Peppiatt	....	rotoscope artist
Ted Ross	....	laboratory assistant: motion control system
Don Snowdon	....	rotoscope artist
Lee Wilson	....	optical effects supervisor
Bob Yoshioka	....	optical line-up

Stunts
John Bayliss	....	stunt double

Camera and Electrical Department
Scotty Allan	....	gaffer
Roger Bowden	....	generator operator
Carlo Campana	....	key grip
Arthur E. Cooper	....	second assistant camera
Marijo Corcoran	....	camera trainee
Robert Crone	....	Steadicam operator
John Denniston	....	assistant camera: t.v. soap opera
Attila Dory	....	still photographer
Nigel Draper	....	electrician
Ted Fanyeck	....	electrician
John Garland	....	electrician (as Jon Garland)
John Grierson	....	camera operator: t.v. soap opera
Duane Gullison	....	generator operator
Mitch Holmes	....	best boy grip
Michael Iwan	....	grip
Gary Ledbetter	....	electrician
Marvin Midwicki	....	first assistant camera
Don Payne	....	grip
Ian D. Scott	....	best boy electric (as Ian Scott)
M.A. Simmons	....	video assistant
Andreas Trauttmansdorff	....	camera trainee
David Willetts	....	electrician (as David J. Willetts)
Bill Wilson	....	electrician
David J. Woods	....	video supervisor (as David Woods)
John Zulinski	....	grip
Nigel Draper	....	lamp operator (uncredited)

Animation Department
Peter Grucza	....	animation stand

Casting Department
Peter Lavender	....	extras casting
Melanie Tanz	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Trysha Bakker	....	wardrobe assistant
Jay Du Boisson	....	wardrobe mistress
Nancy Duggan	....	seamstress
Brenda Gilles	....	wardrobe assistant
Patricia Hanley	....	seamstress

Editorial Department
Lesley Clark	....	post-production assistant
Charlotte Disher	....	editing production assistant
Chris Hinton	....	color timer
Bernadette Kelly	....	trainee assistant editor
Susan Maggi	....	second assistant editor
Michael Rea	....	first assistant editor
Sandra Tucker	....	post-production assistant
Steve Weslak	....	associate editor

Music Department
Homer Denison	....	orchestrator
Brian Eddolls	....	electronic music preparation
Jean Kerr	....	music coordinator: London
Dick Lewzey	....	music re-recording engineer
Suzana Peric	....	music editor
Howard Shore	....	conductor

Transportation Department
Howard Brenner	....	driver
David Brown	....	driver
Ron Coles	....	driver
Frances Hendry	....	head driver
Allen Kosonic	....	driver (as Al Kosonic)
Gilbert Lacasse	....	driver
Jerome McCann	....	driver captain
Chris Radley Walters	....	driver (as Chris Radley-Walters)
Steven Sacrob	....	driver
Richard Spiegelman	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Jami Abell	....	assistant: Mr. Roth
James F. Breithaupt	....	post-production accountant (as Jim Breithaupt)
John P. Cassels	....	production assistant
Lesley Clark	....	assistant: Mr. Boyman
Prudence Emery	....	unit publicist
Alice Ferrier	....	production coordinator
Marta Fischer	....	production assistant
John Gaskin	....	assistant accountant
Janet Gayford	....	production secretary
Alan Gough	....	director: t.v. soap opera (as R. Alan Gough)
Alan Gough	....	producer: t.v. soap opera (as R. Alan Gough)
Lynn Gran	....	craft service
Sara Holmes	....	office clerk
Ted Hunter	....	sculptor: Wolleck's studio sculptures
Anthony Kadak	....	location assistant
Neil Kredentser	....	location assistant
Heather McIntosh	....	production auditor
Vince Nyuli	....	unit location manager
Jeremy Podeswa	....	unit publicist
James G. Robinson	....	presenter
Margaret Roiphe	....	representative: financer
Joe Roth	....	presenter
Dug Rotstein	....	script supervisor
Wendie Saltarski	....	post-production accountant
Lillian Sarafinchan	....	location manager
Cindy Scott	....	accounting clerk
Teri Spasov	....	assistant accountant
Melanie Tanz	....	assistant: producers
Sandra Tucker	....	assistant: Mr. Cronenberg
Paul Van Zyl	....	intern
Janet M. West	....	assistant: Mr. Robinson (as Janet West)
Anita Simand	....	creative executive (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Mantle Clinic II
• Morgan Creek Productions
• Téléfilm Canada

Distributors

• Finnkino (1989) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (1989) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1988) (USA) (theatrical)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Aquarius TV (2005) (Greece) (DVD)
• Astral Films (Canada)
• CMV Laservision (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (1996) (USA) (laserdisc)
• Criterion Collection, The (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (USA) (laserdisc)
• Kurt Media (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• Media Home Entertainment (video)
• Polyband (2001) (DVD)
• Rank Film Organization (UK)
• TVA International (2004) (Canada) (DVD)
• Twister Digital Video (2004) (Russia) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2001) (Australia) (DVD)
• Video Film Express (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• 2 Gorillas  radical surgical instruments
• Balsmeyer and Everett  motion control system
• Balsmeyer and Everett  titles
• Film Effects  opticals
• Film House  sound re-recording
• P.S. Production Services  equipment services
• Pathé Sound  ADR recording
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services
• Soundmix Studios Ltd.  sound transfers
• Standing Metal Works  radical surgical instruments
• Studio Catering  catering
• Studios CTS  music recorded at
• T.'n.T Negative Cutting  negative cutting

Also Known As:

Alter ego (Canada: French title)
Gemini (Canada: English title) (working title)
Twins (Canada: English title) (working title)
Die Unzertrennlichen (West Germany) [de]
Dubbelgångare (Sweden) [sv]
Erottamattomat (Finland) [fi]
Faux-semblants (France) [fr]
Inseparabili (Italy) [it]
Inseparables (Spain) [es]
Irmãos Inseparáveis (Portugal) [pt]
Kobni blizanci (Serbia) [sr]
Nierozlaczni (Poland) [pl]
Oi dihasmenoi (Greece) [el]
Oskiljaktiga (Finland: Swedish title) [sv]
Una vez en la vida (Mexico) (cable TV title) [es]

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Portugal:M/16 | Iceland:16 | Italy:VM14 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Norway:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18 | South Korea:18

Filming Locations:

Bell Trinity Square - 483 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Mantle Clinic II

Trivia:

Margot Kidder was David Cronenberg's second choice for playing the role of Claire Niveau.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In a scene dated 1954, the twins seen are playing with The Visible Woman, Revell toy company's biological model of a woman that was not marketed until at least five years later.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Elliot, Age 9: You've heard about sex...
Beverly, Age 9: Sure I have.
Elliot, Age 9: Well I've discovered why sex is.
Beverly, Age 9: You have? Fantastic.
Raffaella: It's because humans don't live under water.
Beverly, Age 9: I don't get it.
Elliot, Age 9: Well, fish don't need sex because they just lay the eggs and fertilize them in the water. Humans can't do that because they don't live in the water. They have to - internalize the water. Therefore we have sex.
Beverly, Age 9: So you mean humans would have sex if they lived in the water?
Elliot, Age 9: Well they'd have a kind of sex. The kind where you wouldn't have to touch each other.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Lightning Bug (2004)

Soundtrack:

In the Still of the Night (I'll Remember)

"Dead Ringers" = Separation Anxiety?

I must admit that I have a bit of a fascination with identical twins, and I don't think I'm alone on this. We often wonder to ourselves about how life must be for those that are, being able to con others by one twin being able to pose as the other or one twin taking the blame for the other's misdeeds.

I first encountered a pair of identical twins when I was still in preschool and the concept has stuck with me ever since. So have the questions and the articulate pondering of how they can socialize in an environment as active as something, say, a public high school. How would they function? Normally, I would guess, but that's not enough for some, and director David Cronenberg also explores the concept of twins and has made a delicate and obsessive film that dives deep into its subject matter and doesn't relent in his hunt.

Cronenberg is a director with an impeccable track record of nasty, gore-laden and brilliant horror and sci-fi movies that many times serve a greater purpose other than grossing out the audience. To paraphrase his IMDb biography, his works are often metaphors for larger social questions that are left up to the viewer to answer. Hence, this in no way makes his work easy to grasp or understand; it may take repeated viewings, but the pieces will eventually fall into place.

Let's reflect: "Videodrome" (1983) explored the notion of reality-morphing television and technology and its fusion with human flesh - as witnessed by a man whose obsession with a strange television signal warps his perceptions of reality and he literally becomes a media assassin, as well as a human VCR with a vagina-like slit in his stomach to which a video cassette could be inserted; "The Fly" (1986) displayed the agonizing process of slow death and the effect it has on those involved - showcased by a woman having to watch her lover, a brilliant scientist whose DNA is mixed with that of a common housefly, waste away into something more terrifying; Cronenberg's third work of genius at this time, 1988's "Dead Ringers," dissected duality, that two separate minds can possibly equal one whole body or personality. Cronenberg explored each of these with graphic special effects and detailed and imaginative storytelling, both of which earned him the love and following of many fans and essayists.

Here, in "Dead Ringers," Cronenberg explores this issue of duality, and the possibility that two individual personalities, twin gynecologists Elliot and Beverly Mantle (Jeremy Irons, in a hefty and confusing performance), are actually halves of a whole. Elliot is the smooth ladies man - confident, bright, highly sexual. Beverly is the more secretive one - confused, lonely, desperate.

Based on supposedly true events and a book called "Twins" by Bari Wood and Jack Geasland, both men share each other's secrets, lives, patients, and sexual conquests of women. Sex comes up a lot in Cronenberg's film, and he uses it as a joke between the two twins: "You'd still be a virgin if it weren't for me," quips the extrovert Elliot to the introvert Beverly. Elliot and Beverly live together, but live as each other and can't live without each other; they would rather die than be separate.

Things become complicated for them both when Beverly begins romancing a desperate actress named Claire Niveau (Genevieve Bujold), and for once he begins to come out of his shell when he finds that he's falling madly in love with her. She eventually discovers that Elliot and Beverly are twins. Beverly attempts to win her back when she calls it quits to their relationship and eventually does, but where does this leave Elliot, the smoother of the Mantle Brothers?

It's not enough that Beverly is also hounded by a rather ghastly dream and he eventually begins down a tragic spiral of drug addiction, as does Elliot, who says that they share the same body and mind. The two brothers then begin attempts to "separate," which will have tragic consequences for both of them.

Cronenberg has a knack for getting commanding performances from his players and "Dead Ringers" is no exception. Irons puts on a confusing and masterful performance as both Mantle twins, as the film really makes you believe you're watching two men (when it's actually one man interacting with himself). Cronenberg utilizes extraordinary split-screen technology, body doubles, and editing to make you think Irons has a twin that nobody's ever seen before. (P.S: One should also be on the lookout for a real-life pair of twins: a young, pre-"Law & Order" Jill Hennessy and her sister Jacqueline in brief cameo roles as two female escorts.)

Hardcore Cronenberg fans will definitely find "Dead Ringers" rewarding, if not lacking. You know what I'm talking about: gore, oh, delicious, explicit carnage and gore. Well, if one is a gorehound, you'll be disappointed but a more observant hound will find their desserts in the psychological gore that makes up for much of what's normally missing in this picture. The graphic gynecological surgical instruments, one particular dream sequence, and the ending "surgery" will definitely make those thirsty for blood + guts crave for more.

"Dead Ringers" shows David Cronenberg at his artistic best; I've waited a long time to see this movie and I myself was not disappointed in the slightest. If "The Fly" is considered his greatest film, then "Dead Ringers" shows him at his most mature as a director. This picture allowed Cronenberg to begin real work in mainstream cinema and also allowed for him to get the respect of other great directors (I've heard that Martin Scorsese has a lot of admiration for him).

David Cronenberg's theatrical masterpiece - "Dead Ringers."

8/10