Repeat Performance

Interesting noir that issues from an imaginative premise-- suppose we had a year that we could live all over again. So who wouldn't want that opportunity. Naturally, we could change our own actions to better optimize outcomes, but what about others-- would their actions have to change too.

The premise may even require the entire world to live that same year over so as to fit into the changes that ripple out from our own changes. Conceptual questions aside, the premise is simplified here into a rather clever soap-operish plot— namely, can sympathetic Sheila (Leslie) avoid killing her louse husband (Hayward) a second time around. That is, can she maybe just ignore his many provocations, given a second chance.

Instead of playing up occult aspects, the screenplay concentrates on revolving relationships among sophisticated show-business types. It's a good cast, especially an agreeably addled Richard Basehart. However, I'm not sure the sweetly gentle Leslie has the gravitas for a difficult role, especially for the wronged woman part. Still, she certainly wins our sympathy. Director Werker films in noirish style lending the visuals a suitably twilight quality. The ending too is appropriate, without obvious cheating on the premise.

The movie seems more obscure than deserved and I'm not sure why. It certainly made an impression on me on first viewing many years ago. I suspect the obscurity is because of a B- movie cast-- no matter how accomplished—and a non-studio pedigree. But whatever the reason, the film remains a thought provoking 90-minutes even this many years after.

Terrific soap opera with a twist. A beautiful actress kills her cheating, alcoholic husband on New Year's Eve, but soon finds she's getting the chance to relive the past year of her life all over again! Who among us wouldn't want a chance like this? Fantasy elements in the story are surprisingly subtle, as we realize along with Joan Leslie that some paths can be walked twice, but the outcome is difficult to change. Leslie, who looks like a young Esther Williams, gives a very good performance, aided by some taut dialogue. Neat little item, with plenty of backstage witticisms and show-people with no morals. *** from ****

Basehart's introduction to film has him appearing in a memorable supporting role here. This is well acted by all and superior to the remake, decades later. It hold suspense, with good performances managing to shy away from being overly melodramatic. A woman tries to avoid a terrible destiny when she is given a chance to relive the last year of her life.

Very good drama/fantasy which is billed as a noir. Given the moving goalposts for a film noir I suppose it qualifies, but is more like "It Happened Tomorrow" ('44), which is a fantasy but not billed as a noir. In any case, it is an engrossing film that holds your interest from start to finish. Lovely Joan Leslie never looked lovelier, and this must be her best performance in a spotty career. Suave Tom Conway is here as well as Louis Hayward. Another B-lister, he does a nice job as Leslie's alcoholic husband.

According to the TCM host this picture was nearly lost but was discovered after a copy showed up inadvertently in someone's collection. Lucky for us. This is a well done minor gem of a film which benefits from a good script and screenplay. Film fans and noir fans especially would appreciate this unheralded drama with a unique twist.

The first time I watched REPEAT PERFORMANCE was on Nickolodeon in the late 1980s, circa 1987-1988, when the cable channel was still showing old movies in the wee hours of the morning. I was caught up in the trials and tribulations of glamorous actress Sheila Page (Joan Leslie) who shoots her philandering horndog of a husband (Louis Hayward) in a fit of passionate rage on New Year's Eve and hears police sirens off in the distance, and wishes that she could live the past year all over again. She does. Will Sheila shoot her husband again? You'll have to find out for yourself. I can't spoil it for you. I can say this, however: REPEAT PERFORMANCE was one of the first movies put out by Eagle-Lion Films after the name change from Producers Releasing Corporation; it had been purchased by the J. Arthur Rank Organisation based in England with the purpose of making bigger-budgeted films. I had this movie on tape, taped over it for some unknown reason, and now it's hard to find. Darn. Anyway, fine movie. Ahhh, one more thing: Joan Leslie made a cameo appearance in the television remake TURN BACK THE CLOCK (1989) with Connie Sellecca and William Russ.