The Other (1972)

Director:

Robert Mulligan

Writers:

Tom Tryon (screenplay)
Tom Tryon (novel)

Release Date:

29 September 1972 (Sweden)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Niles and Holland are as close as twin brothers can be. Appearances can be deceiving... and deadly.

Plot:

Down in the farmcountry of the US two twins are born. One of them turns out to be good, while the other becomes rather evil.

Plot Keywords:

Twin | Murder | Accident | Evil | Death

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Uta Hagen	...	Ada
Diana Muldaur	...	Alexandra
Chris Udvarnoky	...	Niles Perry
Martin Udvarnoky	...	Holland Perry
Norma Connolly	...	Aunt Vee
Victor French	...	Angelini
Loretta Leversee	...	Winnie
Lou Frizzell	...	Uncle George
Portia Nelson	...	Mrs. Rowe
Jenny Sullivan	...	Torrie
John Ritter	...	Rider
Jack Collins	...	Mr. P.C. Pretty
Ed Bakey	...	Chan-yu
Clarence Crow	...	Russell

Runtime:

108 min | 100 min (FMC Library Print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

UK:12 (DVD rating) | UK:X (original rating) | France:-16 | USA:PG (Approved No. 23156) | Finland:K-18 | Germany:16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Murphys, California, USA

Company:

Benchmark

Trivia:

At the early stages of production, author-producer Tom Tryon wanted Ingrid Bergman for the role of Ada (the Grandmother), and Mark Lester for the dual roles of Niles and Holland. When Bergman passed, on account of a previous stage commitment, Uta Hagen was hired and brought aboard twins Chris Udvarnoky and Martin Udvarnoky.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: Although the story takes place in Connecticut, it betrays its California shooting location in the flashback scene to the boys' birthday. It is supposed to be the middle of March but all the trees in the yard are in full bloom as they never can be in late winter in New England.

Quotes:

[repeated line]
Russell: I'm King of the Mountain!

Movie Connections:

References Naughty Marietta (1935)

Wonderful, Scary, Creepy, Suspenseful and One heck of a Masterful GEM

This is one of those movies no one talks about - but if you've seen it once: it will never leave you. I saw it on the big screen as a teenager. I stayed in the theater and saw it again and then I returned the next day. Look, I am not nuts, this is one of the finest scary movies ever made. It is deceptively simple to look at. However, the cast and crew put together one fine and magical horror story.

If you miss this story, you've missed one of the quiet classics. It mixes fantasy with good story telling and is bound to leave you fascinated.

Uta Hagen gained my reverence after watching this movie. The Udvanorky Brothers did such an outstanding job: they practically carried this entire movie with a eclectic mix of childlike innocence and selfish evil that I just do not understand why they never made another movie again! This movie has made them a legend in my mind - they guide me back to the first time I saw this and I wasn't that much older than they were - that crossroads between wonderment and knowledge that stays with one for a lifetime.

This period horror piece should be lauded and respected and more - rediscovered or perhaps just discovered by the world and stand as a hallmark of fine film making and supernatural horror and mystery.