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CrimeMysteryThriller

Body Double

- You can't believe everything you see.

After losing an acting role and his girlfriend, Jake Scully finally catches a break: he gets offered a gig house-sitting in the Hollywood Hills. While peering through the beautiful home's telescope one night, he spies a gorgeous woman dancing in her window. But when he witnesses the girl's murder, it leads Scully through the netherworld of the adult entertainment industry on a search for answers—with porn actress Holly Body as his guide.

Release Date : 1984-10-25

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Delphi II ProductionsColumbia Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Craig Wasson

Character Name : Jake Scully

Original Name : Craig Wasson

Gender : Male

Melanie Griffith

Character Name : Holly Body

Original Name : Melanie Griffith

Gender : Female

Gregg Henry

Character Name : Sam Bouchard

Original Name : Gregg Henry

Gender : Male

Deborah Shelton

Character Name : Gloria Revelle

Original Name : Deborah Shelton

Gender : Female

Guy Boyd

Character Name : Det. Jim McLean

Original Name : Guy Boyd

Gender : Male

Dennis Franz

Character Name : Rubin

Original Name : Dennis Franz

Gender : Male

David Haskell

Character Name : Drama Teacher

Original Name : David Haskell

Gender : Male

Rebecca Stanley

Character Name : Kimberly Hess

Original Name : Rebecca Stanley

Gender : Female

Al Israel

Character Name : Corso

Original Name : Al Israel

Gender : Male

Douglas Warhit

Character Name : Video Salesman

Original Name : Douglas Warhit

Gender : Male

B.J. Jones

Character Name : Douglas

Original Name : B.J. Jones

Gender : Male

Russ Marin

Character Name : Frank

Original Name : Russ Marin

Gender : Male

Lane Davies

Character Name : Billy

Original Name : Lane Davies

Gender : Male

Barbara Crampton

Character Name : Carol

Original Name : Barbara Crampton

Gender : Female

Larry Jenkins

Character Name : Assistant Director

Original Name : Larry Jenkins

Gender : Male

Monte Landis

Character Name : Sid Goldberg

Original Name : Monte Landis

Gender : Male

Linda Shaw

Character Name : Linda Shaw

Original Name : Linda Shaw

Gender : Female

Ty Randolph

Character Name : Tina

Original Name : Ty Randolph

Gender : Female

Denise Loveday

Character Name : Actress / Vampire Movie

Original Name : Denise Loveday

Gender : Female

Gela Nash

Character Name : Corso's Secretary

Original Name : Gela Nash

Gender : Female

Ray Hassett

Character Name : Police Officer

Original Name : Ray Hassett

Gender : Male

Rick Gunderson

Character Name : Police Officer

Original Name : Rick Gunderson

Gender : Male

Jerry Brutsche

Character Name : Police Officer

Original Name : Jerry Brutsche

Gender : Male

Michael Kearns

Character Name : Male Porn Star

Original Name : Michael Kearns

Gender : Male

Rob Paulsen

Character Name : Cameraman

Original Name : Rob Paulsen

Gender : Male

Jeremy Lawrence

Character Name : Theatre Director

Original Name : Jeremy Lawrence

Gender : Male

Rod Loomis

Character Name : TV Director

Original Name : Rod Loomis

Gender : Male

Gary F. Griffith

Character Name : Auditioning Actor

Original Name : Gary F. Griffith

Gender : Male

Emmett Brown

Character Name : Studio Guard

Original Name : Emmett Brown

Gender : Male

Phil Redrow

Character Name : Naked Man

Original Name : Phil Redrow

Gender : Male

Slavitza Jovan

Character Name : Saleslady

Original Name : Slavitza Jovan

Gender : Female

Jack Mayhall

Character Name : Jake's Replacement

Original Name : Jack Mayhall

Gender : Male

Alexandra Day

Character Name : Girl in Bathroom #1

Original Name : Alexandra Day

Gender : Female

Cara Lott

Character Name : Girl in Bathroom #2

Original Name : Cara Lott

Gender : Female

Brinke Stevens

Character Name : Girl in Bathroom #3

Original Name : Brinke Stevens

Gender : Female

Melanie Scott

Character Name : Girl in Bathroom #4

Original Name : Melanie Scott

Gender : Female

Patty Lotz

Character Name : Girl #1 (Holly Does Hollywood)

Original Name : Patty Lotz

Gender : Female

Barbara Peckinpaugh

Character Name : Girl #2 (Holly Does Hollywood)

Original Name : Barbara Peckinpaugh

Gender : Female

David Ursin

Character Name : Man #1 (Holly Does Hollywood)

Original Name : David Ursin

Gender : Male

Casey Sander

Character Name : Man #2 (Holly Does Hollywood)

Original Name : Casey Sander

Gender : Male

Wes Edwards

Character Name : Man #3 (Holly Does Hollywood)

Original Name : Wes Edwards

Gender : Male

Chuck Waters

Character Name : Jogger

Original Name : Chuck Waters

Gender : Male

Holly Johnson

Character Name : Singing Nightclub Doorman (uncredited)

Original Name : Holly Johnson

Gender : Male

Paul Rutherford

Character Name : Man in Nightclub (uncredited)

Original Name : Paul Rutherford

Gender : Male

Steven Bauer

Character Name : Assitant Director (Holly Does Hollywood) (uncredited)

Original Name : Steven Bauer

Gender : Male

Helen Shaver

Character Name : Gloria Revelle (voice) (uncredited)

Original Name : Helen Shaver

Gender : Female

Darcy DeMoss

Character Name : Barefoot Dancer in Nightclub (uncredited)

Original Name : Darcy DeMoss

Gender : Female

H. David Fletcher

Character Name : Security Guard (Bellini's)

Original Name : H. David Fletcher

Gender : Male

Marcia Del Mar

Character Name : Production Assistant

Original Name : Marcia Del Mar

Gender : Female

Janette Caldwell

Character Name : (uncredited)

Original Name : Janette Caldwell

Gender : Female

Annette Haven

Character Name : Gloria Swanson / Norma Desmond (uncredited)

Original Name : Annette Haven

Gender : Female

Frank Slaten

Character Name : Horror Film Crewmember (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank Slaten

Gender : Male

Doug Vought

Character Name : Valet Parker (uncredited)

Original Name : Doug Vought

Gender : Male

Paul Calabria

Character Name : Man with Dog

Original Name : Paul Calabria

Gender : Male

Michael White

Character Name : Security Guard (Gloria's House)

Original Name : Michael White

Gender : Male

Dennis C. Alpert

Character Name : Bar Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Dennis C. Alpert

Gender : Male

Nick Trisko

Character Name : Bar Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Nick Trisko

Gender : Male

Eddie Wong

Character Name : Bar Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Eddie Wong

Gender : Male

Reviews

J

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

De Palma Double Bubble, Toil and Trouble. Body Double is directed by Brian De Palma, he also co-writes the screenplay with Robert J. Avrech. It stars Craig Wasson, Melanie Griffith, Gregg Henry, Deborah Shelton, Guy Boyd and Dennis Franz. Music is by Pino Donaggio and cinematography by Stephen H. Burum. Brian De Palma continued his crusade to push buttons of the sensitive whilst homaging his hero Alfred Hitchcock, with this cheeky, garish, sleazy thriller. Even when moving away from Hitch like movies, he created a storm with Scarface (1983), so the critics of 1984 wondered if a return to suspense thriller territory would put the director back on an even cinematic keel? Not a bit of it! The reaction to Body Double was ridiculously over the top, apparently a misogynistic homage to the porn industry, with exploitation gore thrown in for good (bad) measure, Body Double was the devil's spawn in the eyes of critics. The public? Not so much, film was a sure fire hit at the box office. Of course today it seems all very tame, where not even a simulated drilling killing can raise the temperature of the audience, or that frank sexual language and bare bodies no longer makes cinema goers blush. On reflection now it's easy to view De Palma's movie as a visionary piece of work, a film gently poking the ribs of Hollywood and the MPAA, and as was always the case with his 70s and 80s work, he was a director who easily elicited a response from his audience. And with his box of cinematic tricks still impressive before he became over reliant on them, Body Double is a fascinatingly lurid viewing experience. That it's Vertigo and Rear Window spliced together is a given, but that doesn't make it a bad film, besides which it bears the De Palma stamp as well, undeniably so. Plot finds Jake Scully (Wasson), a struggling actor with claustrophobia, thrust into a world of murder, obsession, deceit and paranoia, for when he house sits for a newly acquired friend, he spies a sexy lady through the telescope apparently being stalked by an odd looking Native American. To reveal more would spoil the fun of anyone watching for the first time, but suffice to say that Jake has entered the realm where neo-noir protagonists wander around wondering how and why they are in this mess. It's pulpy and pappy, but in the best ways possible, and unlike many other films made by directors who ventured into similar territory, it's never boring (hello Sliver). Cast are appropriately cartoonish or animated, the twists fun if not hard to see coming, and with De Palma's visual panache cosying up nicely with Donaggio's musical score, Body Double is fine entertainment brought to us by a director with a glint in his eye. 8/10

T

The Movie Diorama

@themoviediorama

2021-06-23

Body Double infiltrates the vehemence of adult entertainment through inspired Hitchcockian thrills. De Palma was at the height of his success during the eighties. Implementing his technical flourishes within sub-genres that we’re not necessarily accessible for the average audience member. Erotic thrillers, whilst some may describe as distasteful and misogynistic, accentuated sexualisation to further enhance the lust of man. Body Double is no different. Much like the pornographic industry that is portrayed, it certainly has a sub-par screenplay that persuades you to fast-forward to the “act” in question, yet manages to lure you into the sleazy allurement of De Palma’s technically adept direction. After waltzing in on his partner cheating on him, a novice actor is recruited by a friend to house-sit a luxury abode, conveniently positioned adjacently to another property hosting a sumptuous succubus of temptation. Naturally, downbeat and fuelled by anger, he resorts to peeping and spying as she provocatively dances in front of the window before proceeding to creepily follow her the next day. As the main man himself stated, this is inspired by Hitchcock’s two greatest thrillers: ‘Rear Window’ and ‘Vertigo’. The added eroticism granting De Palma’s feature a differing (if unpleasantly salty...) flavour that uniquely defines its narrative qualities. Initially, the first act kicked off with a mundane imitation of Hitchcock’s aforementioned ‘Rear Window’, opening itself up to comparative criticisms. The introductory setup, outlining Wasson’s Jake Scully as a claustrophobic unconfident mess, sent the plot down a one-way route that, upon first thought, had minimal opportunities for a U-turn. The convenience of the telescope as Scully unashamedly invades the privacy of his new temporary neighbour and his dreadful tailing techniques complementing his mediocre onscreen acting portrayals, sent my own thoughts down the predictable avenue. Was Scully a perverted mess, or was he being set up? I thought I knew. But then De Palma trapped me. Through ornate neo-noir aesthetics and a vapid insight into the world of adult entertainment, he precariously planted a sufficient amount of false breadcrumbs to force me to second guess myself. And that I did. The mystery slowly unraveling, accompanied by a smooth monosyllabic score and Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s legendary gay anthem “Relax”, unlocking the intentions of all characters involved. Heightening the glossy lifestyle of adult performers, De Palma‘s directorial flair, mostly consisting of extended takes and distant shots, invited audiences into a tainted environment plagued by primitive regression. Tantalising voyeurism and dangerous obsession. Even hints of Argento’s influence of the giallo sub-genre. Various techniques, especially the continuous panoramic 360 revolving as Wasson and Shelton questionably embraced each other, resembled dated homages that failed to match the noir aesthetics that De Palma meticulously crafted. The conclusive ten minutes unfortunately unwrapped certain revelations in an underwhelming manner, by having the story abruptly cut with no substantial resolution. This left myself viewing the proceeding credits montage with an overbearing feeling of unsatisfactory bewilderment. Undoubtedly, Body Double is rough around the edges. Occasionally bypassing substantial development for evocative voyeuristic tendencies. But that does not deter from De Palma’s intrinsic cinematic approach, where the night life of Hollywood truly becomes illuminated.