The Scapegoat (1959)
Reference View | Change View
- Unrated
- 1h 31min
- Crime, Mystery
- 06 Aug 1959 (USA)
- Movie
An English schoolteacher meets his lookalike, a French count; and unwillingly swaps identities with him.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| 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)
|
|
|
Ernie Priest | ... |
Man (uncredited)
|
|
|
Jack Sharp | ... |
Cafe Bar Patron (uncredited)
|
Directed by
| Robert Hamer | ||
Written by
| Daphne Du Maurier | ... | (novel) |
| Robert Hamer | ... | (screenplay) |
| Gore Vidal | ... | (adaptation) |
Produced by
| Michael Balcon | ... | producer |
| Dennis Van Thal | ... | associate producer |
Music by
| Bronislau Kaper | ||
Cinematography by
| Paul Beeson | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Jack Harris | ||
Casting By
| Irene Howard | ... | (uncredited) |
Production Design by
| Elliot Scott | ||
Art Direction by
| Alan Withy | ||
Costume Design by
| Olga Lehmann | ... | (dresses) |
Makeup Department
| Elsie Alder | ... | hairdresser |
| 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 |
| Tom Priestley | ... | assistant sound editor (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| Tom Howard | ... | special photographic effects |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Herbert Smith | ... | camera operator |
| Roy Gough | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Robert Franklyn | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Beryl Booth | ... | continuity |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1959) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1959) (United States) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1959) (Canada) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (1960) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1960) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1960) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1960) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1960) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Warner Home Video (2012) (United States) (DVD) (dvdr)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Westrex Recording System (recording system)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
On a vacation in France from his nondescript job and life, John Barratt encounters a titled but impoverished French nobleman who looks exactly like him. The nobleman gets John drunk, and switches places with him to take a breather from his failing business and too-complicated life. John tries to convince everyone he is not who they think he is, but he begins to get more and more involved with the count's family, including an unhappy wife, domineering mother, lonely but talented young daughter, bitter spinster sister and the expected mistress. As John gets to know them he feels he can help them with their problems, but is also becoming used to his borrowed life, which has given him a purpose for the first time.
Written by Ron Kerrigan |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | He took another man's name... lived another man's life... loved another man's woman! See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
Additional Details
| Also Known As |
|
| Runtime |
|
| Country | |
| Language | |
| Color | |
| Aspect Ratio |
|
| Sound Mix | |
| Filming Locations |
Box Office
| Budget | $943,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | This was a very troubled production. Writer and Director Robert Hamer was struggling with the alcoholism which would eventually kill him only a few years later, and had so much difficulty with Bette Davis that he had several lapses during filming, with only the support and kindness of his friend Sir Alec Guinness (who had insisted on him as director) getting him through the ordeal. Davis, whose career was in a major slump, was angry at being restricted to a cameo and was unpleasant to everyone on-set. Guinness later commented that her legendary professionalism was "largely a myth". Daphne Du Maurier, the author of the original novel, had also created difficulties by interfering with the filming and offering complaints at perceived deviations from her original story. MGM had no faith in the movie and extensively re-edited it after shooting was completed, also imposing a score which Hamer did not want composed by studio veteran Bronislau Kaper. See more » |
| Goofs | The 1950 Delahaye 135 MS Cabriolet belonging to Jean is made in France and has Paris plates but the steering wheel is on the right, indicating an export model for England or other countries that drive on the left. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Remade as The Scapegoat (2012). See more » |
| Crazy Credits | Opening credits are shown over various images of the book by Daphne Du Maurier. See more » |
| Quotes |
[last lines]
Bela: What are you doing here? John Barratt: Fate has made a beautiful mistake and we are together when we might have been apart. See more » |