A Stolen Life (VHS)

Director Curtis Bernhardt & producer Bette Davis had quite a feat on their ingenius hands creating a film of twin sisters, played by one actor, Bette Davis, together in frame after frame. Portraying identical twins in appearance only, with extremely different personalities, Kate Bosworth & Patricia Bosworth, gave Bette Davis a very early opportunity to play two different characters even as they spoke to each other.

Because Bette Davis had sued Warner Bros. in order to get better material to work with, Jack Warner had her produce this film. It shows that Davis did because the quality of the film is impeccable. The novel, script & screenplay were composed by women: Karel J. Benes wrote the novel, "Uloupeny Zivot"; Catherine Turney the script & Margaret Buell Wilder adapted it for this film. I try to imagine who, in the 1940's, had the self-discipline, acting talent & mind for production decisions but Bette Davis? Clearly in "A Stolen Life," Bette Davis is a sizzling hot performance artist in every respect.

The plot goes like this: Kate Bosworth is a kind & humble artist. Her twin sister, Pat Bosworth, is shallow, jealous & vindictive. Kate plans to hold an art show in their US east coast sea shore home. Shopping in an antique store, she crosses paths with an older sailor, Eben Folger (Walter Brennan), who interests her as a model for a portrait to paint. Folger's interested in a ship in a bottle in the antique store. After Folger refuses to sit for Kate, she buys the bottled ship & sails to the lighthouse were Folger works & lives. Using the antique bottle Folger couldn't afford, Kate persuades him to model for her & their project begins.

Bill Emerson (Glenn Ford), a fellow sailor, returns to work & live with Folger at the lighthouse. He becomes romantically interested in Kate. But Kate is reserved & overly proper. Bill makes a lunch date with Kate. In the meantime, Pat appears & immediately recognizes that Kate is smitten by Bill & doesn't like it. Bill has no idea that Kate has a twin sister.

Thus, when Pat shows early for Kate & Biil's lunch date, Bill believes Pat's convincing act being Kate. Pat's expressive & outgoing which is what Bill wants Kate to be. He's surprised that Kate (Pat's version of her) is much more fiery & affectionate during their date. In short, he falls in love with & marries Pat, the trickster.

All's not well. Their marriage is not the only disaster that creates a turn in events. While sailing, a storm at sea causes the sisters' small boat to capsize. Only one of them survives but is presumed, while unconscious to be the other. That's the fateful twist that provides a delicious element of suspense to this romantic drama.

Davis & Ford are marvelously paired. Brennan is perfectly cast. The ocean setting is magnificent. Max Steiner's background musical score which makes use of "The Sailor's Hornpipe" is gorgeous~