IMDb RATING
6.8/10
2.4K
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An English schoolteacher meets his lookalike, a French count; and unwillingly swaps identities with him.An English schoolteacher meets his lookalike, a French count; and unwillingly swaps identities with him.An English schoolteacher meets his lookalike, a French count; and unwillingly swaps identities with him.
Ernie Priest
- Man
- (uncredited)
Jack Sharp
- Cafe Bar Patron
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis was a very troubled production. Writer and Director Robert Hamer was struggling with the alcoholism which would eventually kill him only a few years later, and had so much difficulty with Bette Davis that he had several lapses during filming, with only the support and kindness of his friend Sir Alec Guinness (who had insisted on him as director) getting him through the ordeal. Davis, whose career was in a major slump, was angry at being restricted to a cameo and was unpleasant to everyone on-set. Guinness later commented that her legendary professionalism was "largely a myth". Daphne Du Maurier, the author of the original novel, had also created difficulties by interfering with the filming and offering complaints at perceived deviations from her original story. MGM had no faith in the movie and extensively re-edited it after shooting was completed, also imposing a score which Hamer did not want composed by studio veteran Bronislau Kaper.
- GoofsThe 1950 Delahaye 135 MS Cabriolet belonging to Jean is made in France and has Paris plates but the steering wheel is on the right, indicating an export model for England or other countries that drive on the left.
- Quotes
[last lines]
Bela: What are you doing here?
John Barratt: Fate has made a beautiful mistake and we are together when we might have been apart.
- Crazy creditsOpening credits are shown over various images of the book by Daphne Du Maurier.
- ConnectionsRemade as The Scapegoat (2012)
Featured review
Don't read it, just rent it
This movie has such an interesting premise, I almost don't want to tell you about it. As it unfolds, the twists and turns will keep you on your toes from start to finish. Let's start off with the least surprising part of the movie: Alec Guinness plays dual roles. He loves disguises, so it's no wonder he was drawn to The Scapegoat. One Alec Guinness is wealthy, titled, living in luxury with a wife, stepdaughter, and mistress. The other is an inconsequential college professor with apathy for everything in his life. When one Alec keeps getting mistaken for the other, he's confused. When he finally sees his own reflection looking back at him from across the bar, he gets to know the man he might have been. It's very fun, with trick camera angles, and reminds us of all the eight roles he played in Kind Hearts and Coronets.
Well, I've made up my mind: I won't tell you the plot. All you need to know is that it's a tense thriller with two Alec Guinnesses. This is far from an Ealing comedy, so don't expect to laugh. There is one sad part to the movie, one you should be aware of if you're a Bette Davis fan and don't want to see her in her Baby Jane phase. She plays a bedridden morphine addict, and her over-the-top acting style is as out of place in the late '50s as it was in the '60s. I prefer to see her in her prime, but it was still great to see Alec playing his two parts. Check it out!
Well, I've made up my mind: I won't tell you the plot. All you need to know is that it's a tense thriller with two Alec Guinnesses. This is far from an Ealing comedy, so don't expect to laugh. There is one sad part to the movie, one you should be aware of if you're a Bette Davis fan and don't want to see her in her Baby Jane phase. She plays a bedridden morphine addict, and her over-the-top acting style is as out of place in the late '50s as it was in the '60s. I prefer to see her in her prime, but it was still great to see Alec playing his two parts. Check it out!
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- HotToastyRag
- Nov 11, 2020
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Details
Box office
- Budget
- $943,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 31 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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