REPEAT PERFORMANCE
US, 1947, 91 minutes, Black and white.
Louis Hayward, Joan Leslie, Virginia Field, Tom Conway, Richard Basehart.
Directed by Alfred L.Werker.
Repeat Performance is an enjoyable 40s thriller - akin to the Twilight Zone. It is a story of an actress who kills her husband, wishes that the year could be lived again and this happens. And, of course, there are, more or less, the same results. Joan Leslie as the actress, Louis Hayward is the self-centred husband. Richard Basehart in his first film, is an eccentric poet. The film was remade as a telemovie in the late 80s, Turn back the Clock. Joan Leslie had a small guest role as a visitor to a New Year's eve party in the re-make.
1. Entertaining thriller? World of the imagination? Reliving one's life knowing what the outcome of the past year was? Plausibility of the plot?
2. Production values: black and white photography, New York settings? Musical Score?
3. The title, the actress, living her life over again, the repeat performance?
4. The setting and Sheila killing Barney, her fears, with William, wanting the whole year lived over again, her wish granted? The change to the year before? Explanations to John, her knowing the information? Arriving at the New Years party, 1946?
5. Sheila, her skill as an actress, her love for Barney, his drinking? Her desperation? Knowing that he would fall in love with Paula? Not wanting her to be an American? The encounter with Paula at the party, talking things over with William and warning against him putting into the institution? With John and the performance of the play?
6. The progress of the year, the ups and downs of Sheila's relationship with Barney, William's publishing his poems, put in the asylum? Paula's play, her agreeing to do the part? The party and Barney's fall, recovery? Paula's arrival? The build-up to New Years Eve, Paula on the boat, the clash with Sheila, Barney going to the boat, returning?
7. New Years Eve the second time, the clash of Sheila and Barney, Barney's threatening Sheila, his being shot by William? William's comment about fate the scenario but with different players?
8. Barney as a self-centred character, drinking, loathing Sheila, wanting to write a play, the infatuation with Paula, the party, the affair, his fall? The recovery and his determination?
9. William, his poetry, drinking, with Sheila, the warning, putting up with her, the publication of his book, his behaviour and her putting him in the asylum?
10. Paula, the English background, the play, gatecrashing, the party, the relationship with Barney, the clash with Sheila, her not wanting Barney to go with her, on the boat on New Years Eve?
11. John, the producer, concern about the play, about Sheila? Consoling Sheila at the end?
12. The popularity of this kind of thriller, character study, what if...?
