The Dark Mirror (film)

The Dark Mirror is a 1946 American psychological thriller film directed by Robert Siodmak, starring Olivia de Havilland as twins and Lew Ayres as their psychiatrist. The film marks Ayres return to motion pictures following his conscientious objection to service in World War II. De Havilland had begun to experiment with method acting at the time and insisted that everyone in the cast meet with a psychiatrist. The film anticipates producerscreenwriter Nunnally Johnsons psychodocudrama The Three Faces of Eve 1957. Vladimir Pozners original story on which the film is based was nominated for an Academy Award.

When first released the staff at Variety magazine gave the film a mixed review, writing, The Dark Mirror runs the full gamut of themes currently in vogue at the box office from psychiatry to romance back again to the double identity gimmick and murder mystery. But, despite the individually potent ingredients, somehow the composite doesnt quite come off...Lew Ayres is cast in his familiar role as a medico a specialist on identical twins. Slightly older looking and sporting a mustache, Ayres still retains much of his appealing boyish sincerity. But in the romantic clinches, Ayres is stiff and slightly embarrassed looking. Copping thespic honors, despite a relatively light part, Thomas Mitchell plays the baffled dick with a wry wit and assured bearing that carries belief.Bosley Crowther, film critic for The New York Times, also was critical, writing, The Dark Mirror, like so many of its ilk, suffers from its authors lack of ingenuity to resolve his puzzle in a satisfying manner. As in his earlier and superior mystery, The Woman in the Window, Mr. Johnson solves the problem with a bit of trickery which is no credit to his craftsmanship. Still, one must hand it to Mr. Johnson for keeping his audience guessing, if not always entertained. ........

Source: Wikipedia