La otra (The Other One). 1946. Mexico. Directed by Roberto Gavaldón. Screenplay by Roberto Gavaldón, Rian James, José Revueltas, Jack Wagner. With Dolores del Rio, Agustín Irusta, Víctor Junco. In Spanish; English subtitles. 98 min.
Gavaldón collaborated with his favorite screenwriter, José Revueltas, to create this distinctly Mexican variant on the time-honored Evil Twin plot: this time, it’s the great Dolores del Rio, returning to Mexico from her Hollywood period, who plays the central dual role, as a meek, bespectacled manicurist and her mercenary, man-eating sister. But in this case, envy proves to be a greater sin than avarice. The film was based on an unproduced screenplay commissioned for Bette Davis, who eventually made her version in 1964: Dead Ringer, directed by Paul Henreid.