The Scapegoat (1959)

Director:

Robert Hamer

Writers:

Daphne Du Maurier (novel)
Robert Hamer (screenplay)
(more)

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:

Chauffeur | Murder Mystery | Murder | Glass Blowing | Chess

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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Harold Kasket	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Hamer

Writing credits
Daphne Du Maurier		(novel "The Scapegoat")
Robert Hamer		(screenplay)
Gore Vidal		(adaptation)

Produced by
Michael Balcon	....	producer
Dennis Van Thal	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Bronislau Kaper

Cinematography by
Paul Beeson		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Jack Harris

Casting by
Irene Howard		(uncredited)

Production Design by
Elliot Scott

Art Direction by
Alan Whithy
Alan Withy

Costume Design by
Olga Lehmann		(dresses)

Makeup Department
Elsie Alder	....	hair stylist
Harry Frampton	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Hal Mason	....	production supervisor
L.C. Rudkin	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tom Pevsner	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Stephen Dalby	....	sound supervisor
Norman King	....	sound recordist
Lionel Selwyn	....	sound editor

Visual Effects by
Tom Howard	....	special photographic effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Herbert Smith	....	camera operator
Roy Gough	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Other crew
Beryl Booth	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Du Maurier-Guinness
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1959) (USA) (theatrical)

Other Companies

• Westrex Recording System  recording system

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.

another excellent Ealing film with Alec Guinness

Although most Americans have little knowledge of his work other than Star Wars, Alec Guinness produced an amazing body of work--particularly in the 1940s-1950s--ranging from dramas to quirky comedies. I particularly love his comedies, as they are so well-done and seem so natural and real on the screen--far different from the usual fare from Hollywood.

I liked this movie a lot--the acting and direction were superb. The only downside is that the movie uses a rather tired old movie cliché--that of identical strangers who switch parts. It's been done with The Prince and the Pauper as well as The Prisoner of Zenda. So to get into the movie, you really need to first suspend your sense of disbelief. Once you've done this and do not question the basic premise, you are rewarded with an excellent little film well worth your time.