DOUBLE VISION
UK/Canada, 1992, 92 minutes, Colour.
Kim Cattrall, Gale Hansen, Macha Meril, Naveen Andrews, Christopher Lee, Shane Rimmer, Barbara Windsor.
Directed by Robert Knights.
The novels of Mary Higgins Clark lend themselves to television movie adaptations. Almost twenty of them have been filmed. She is an American equivalent of the Miss Marple or Poirot stories, combining crime with a certain gentility and with good manners.
This film is not entirely typical of Mary Higgins Clark’s novels, rather more racy than her stories and writing.
Kim Cattrall portrays twins, one very sedate, the other more flamboyant and experimental. When the latter dies, the former has the opportunity to incarnate herself as the other sister with the consequent mystery and alienation of her fiancé.
The film was mainly made in England and has a very strong British supporting cast including Christopher Lee in an unusually sedate, though somewhat sinister, role. Naveen Andrews is the villain. There are guest appearances by Barbara Windsor as a madam and Shane Rimmer as the twins’ father.
1.The popularity of Mary Higgins Clark stories? Drama, intrigue, mystery, romance?
2.The American settings, the mansion in Massachusetts? The contrast with the London locations, flats, clubs, the river? The British countryside? The musical score?
3.The title, the reference to the twins?
4.The introduction to the twins, Lisa and her being the tomboy, with her sister on the water, the dangers? Reckless? In adulthood, Lisa going to London, the mystery of her life there? Caroline, staid, about to be married? Wanting her sister to be at the wedding, the phone calls, her concern?
5.The family, the father, wealth, care for his daughters, the past experience with Lisa, his wanting to disown her, his support of Caroline?
6.Caroline and her relationship with Michael, the ideal marriage? The discussions about her going to England? His agreement, his going to England?
7.Caroline and her personality, prim? The contrast with Lisa? In appearance, styles, fashions and clothes?
8.The background of Lisa’s life, modelling, photography, wanting to be in show business? Her relationship with Mr Bernard? The madam and her arranging Lisa’s life? Her relationship with Jimmy, the auditions, performances? Her death? The brutality?
9.Caroline, coming to England, the mystery of her sister’s death, wanting to find out? Her interviewing people? At the hotel, the encounter with the madam, the revelations? Her taking on the job, going to the photo shoot, going to the madam (Barbara Windsor) and the British tone? Michael arriving, the mystery of her behaviour, of her wearing clothes in Lisa’s style, seeming permissive?
10.The background characters, Mr Bernard, the aristocracy, his treatment of Lisa? The manager, the flats, her control of people? Her relationship with Mr Bernard? Wife? The photographers, the madams?
11.Jimmy, would-be actor, the Othello quotes, performance, watching Lisa and her audition? Driving the taxi? His moods? The confrontation with Caroline, knowing who she was, the confrontation? The revelation that he was the killer?
12.Satisfying ingredients for an easygoing watch on television?
