The Scapegoat (1959)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Robert Hamer

Writers:

Daphne Du Maurier (novel)
Robert Hamer (screenplay)

Release Date:

6 August 1959 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Mystery

Plot:

A French count schemes to kill his wife and implicate a mild-mannered English schoolteacher whom he resembles

Plot Keywords:

Death By Falling | Glass Blowing | Chauffeur | Imposter | Murder

Cast

Alec Guinness	...	John Barratt / Jacques De Gue
Bette Davis	...	Countess
Nicole Maurey	...	Bela
Irene Worth	...	Francoise
Pamela Brown	...	Blanche
Annabel Bartlett	...	Marie-Noel
Geoffrey Keen	...	Gaston
Noel Howlett	...	Dr. Aloin
Peter Bull	...	Aristide
Leslie French	...	Lacoste
Alan Webb	...	Inspector
Maria Britneva	...	Maid
Eddie Byrne	...	Barman
Alexander Archdale	...	Gamekeeper
Peter Sallis	...	Customs Official

Runtime:

Israel:89 min | USA:91 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

MGM British Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Du Maurier-Guinness

Trivia:

A rejected score consisting of classical selections plus original music by Douglas Gamley was recorded in England.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When the very last line is spoken by Guinness' character, his lips do not move. While it could be argued the line was part of his narration sprinkled throughout the film, the line does appear to be his direct answer to the question posed to him.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Customs Official: You have the intention of staying long in France, Mr. Barratt?
John Barratt: I don't know. That is to say that I didn't know there was any restriction apart from the question of money.

A well acted mystery about having another chance at a "new" life.

I was lucky enough to see this movie during a TCM Bette Davis Marathon. Although her part is relatively small, I was thrilled to see Sir Alec Guinness in a very unusual story. He encounters a man that is for all purposes identical to him. They drink, go to his apartment, and in the morning one is gone leaving the other one to fill in his shoes at home. At first of course he protests- saying he is John Barrat. But the Count has made sure that no one will listen by telegraphing his doctor that he's been having delusions that he's someone else. Being a man that really had no one that cared about him to begin with, he decides to go on with the charade. The plot thickens from there on. Good story & a fine supporting cast make this an interesting murder mystery. Enjoy it if you can find it. (TCM is short for Turner Classic Movies cable station.) It is worth note that this story is by the same author of Hitchcock's Rebecca- another murder mystery worth viewing & much easier to find.