A Stolen Life

The subject is not really new.In her last film "Two-Faced woman" ,Greta Garbo played "twins" (but actually there was only one woman) with different personalities.More interesting was Siodak's "the dark mirror" where Davis' good friend Olivia de Havilland played twin sisters too,one of whom was suspected of murder.

Twins were certainly trendy at the time since ,the very same year as De Havilland,Davis tried her hand at the subject,not in a thriller,but in a melodrama.Davis was as subtle an actress to portray two different women.One of them is an artist ,a romantic loyal woman ;the other one is a real bitch,who steals her sister's boyfriend (Glenn Ford).

There are scenes with an "accursed " anarchist artist who becomes Kate's teacher cause he thinks her painting is lousy.The reason,he says ,is that she was never a real woman (like sister Patricia ,maybe?)Those scenes with Karnock are mostly filler,and the film becomes interesting again when Kate pretends to be Patricia,although these scenes show more than a distant resemblance with "Two-faced woman" by Cukor.

Not a major Davis movie,but interesting for her numerous fans.

Davis fans get to double their fun in this well-crafted soaper. At the same time, the plot remains something of a stretch. Can twin Katie finally find happiness impersonating identical twin Pat. As herself, poor Katie is lonely, timid, and searching for an identity. Most of the time she spends folding her need into art painting. At the same time, twin Pat is outgoing, self-assured and bold; in short, Pat's everything Katie isn't. Nonetheless, Katie's future brightens when she meets what appears her soul-mate, Bill (Ford), on a lighthouse island. But then Bill meets seductive Pat, and they marry leaving poor Katie alone again. Now Katie faces a bleak future until fate intervenes and she must suddenly impersonate her twin. As Pat, however, the timid Katie discovers abilities she didn't know she had. But will these come at the cost of losing the subtle appeal that first charmed Bill. In effect Katie now lives a life stolen from Pat, but at what cost.

What impresses me most is WB's craftsmanship- the howling seas, the ace photography, and especially the undetectable doubling of Davis in the same shot. In those technologically lesser days (1946), I thought doubling in the same shot could only be done by splitting the film so that some distance on screen had to remain between the doubles. Here, however, that distance is often erased. I wish IMDB had some info on how they did it.

Acting-wise it's a Davis showcase, but the studio backs up its star in fine fashion. Speaking of Davis, she's mostly without her sometime theatrics, conveying the twins' personality differences in fairly subtle fashion. Ford too is well cast as an apparently sensitive working man, who nevertheless jilts sensitive Katie for philandering Pat. But I have to wonder about Dane Clark's arrogant role that appears peripheral to the main plot. Perhaps it's the studio's effort at promoting a promising actor before the public.

All in all, the soaper remains a polished production from Hollywood's golden period, even if the story requires quite a swallow. Meanwhile, Davis fans get to double their fun.

I was surprised that I liked this movie as much as I did. As an artist and someone who has worked with machinery, I found the budding relationship between artist Kate and lighthouse engineer Bill easy-going and authentic, plus I loved the scenes of sailing, boating, and the lighthouse in fog on a rocky island. I'm glad I stumbled upon it on broadcast TV one late night. The message that we should be true to ourselves was very hopeful. No movie plot with one actress playing identical twins will ever be plausible, but it makes for good fiction and is an interesting illustration of the actors' ability to stretch into unusual roles.

I have lost count of how many times I've watched this wonderful film. Each time I get something from it and i believe it is Bette Davis best work - which is a big statement ! Viewers will be hypnotised by Bette's amazing performance and the filmography is truly amazing. To watch this film through modern eyes, you often find yourself trying to work out how the director and editor managed to get away with the 'two bette' film sequences. This is no evidence of 'lines' in the film, or murky backgrounds and if you didn't know it was the same women, you would really think they were twins. The story line is terrific, Glenn Ford (very young) fits the role perfectly and Dane Clark's performance is very direct and well played. There really is something for everyone in this film and a must watch.

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). Handsome young Glenn Ford (as Bill Emerson) happens by, and Ms. Davis bums a ride in his dinghy. The two pick up Mr. Ford's crusty lighthouse keeper, Walter Brennan (as Eben Folger). On the verge of spinsterhood, Davis is clearly attracted to Ford, and arranges to paint Mr. Brennan's portrait - but, she really wants to show Ford her etchings. Later, cocky Dane Clark (as Karnock) intrudes.

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. Throw in the fact that Bette Davis (also as Patricia "Pat" Bosworth) plays her own slutty sister, and you've struck movie gold. Expect, of course, the titular "A Stolen Life" as the evil Davis moves to steals her sister's man. Assisted by special effects wizardry from Willard Van Enger and Russell Collings, both Davis and Davis are terrific in their roles.

******** A Stolen Life (7/6/46) Curtis Bernhardt ~ Bette Davis, Glenn Ford, Dane Clark, Walter Brennan