The Scapegoat Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A boring teacher meets his evil identical twin, gets drunk, and wakes up stuck with the twin’s messy life, including Bette Davis as a scary mom.

🍿 The Scapegoat: Detailed Plot Synopsis

An Unlikely Encounter

John Barratt, a disillusioned English schoolteacher, is on vacation in France. Feeling adrift and dissatisfied with his mundane life, he is surprised to notice people mistaking him for someone else. His confusion culminates when he meets a French nobleman, Jacques De Gue, who is his exact physical double. Jacques, equally weary of his complicated life and failing business, sees an opportunity in their uncanny resemblance.

A Forced Identity Swap

After a night of heavy drinking orchestrated by Jacques, John wakes up to find his lookalike gone. His own identification and belongings have been replaced with Jacques’s. Mistaken by Jacques’s chauffeur, Gaston, for the Count, John is whisked away to the De Gue family’s sprawling château. Despite his protests that he is not who they think he is, nobody believes him, including the family doctor who suggests he is suffering from delusions. Faced with this bizarre situation and finding himself with no other immediate option, John is reluctantly forced to assume the identity of Jacques De Gue.

Navigating a Troubled Household

As John steps into the Count’s life, he finds himself entangled in a complex web of family dysfunction. He encounters Jacques’s unhappy wife, Francoise, his domineering, morphine-addicted mother, the Countess, his bitter spinster sister, Blanche, and his neglected young daughter, Marie-Noel. John also discovers Jacques’s mistress, Bela, in the nearby village. While trying to understand why Jacques orchestrated the swap, John, using his own character and compassion, begins to address the family’s deep-seated problems, offering kindness and attempting to fix some of the Count’s wrongdoings, including issues with the family’s glass foundry business. As he does so, he starts to find a sense of purpose in this borrowed life.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• John Barratt / Jacques De Gue (Alec Guinness): An English schoolteacher who is tricked into assuming the identity of his dissolute French count lookalike.
• Countess (Bette Davis): The domineering, bedridden, and morphine-addicted mother of Jacques.
• Francoise (Irene Worth): The unhappy and emotionally distant wife of Jacques, tied to him by family obligation.
• Bela (Nicole Maurey): Jacques’ mistress who eventually realizes John is not the man she knows.
• Blanche (Pamela Brown): Jacques’ bitter spinster sister residing at the family château.
• Marie-Noel (Annabel Bartlett): Jacques’ lonely and talented young daughter who develops a connection with John.
• Gaston (Geoffrey Keen): The loyal family chauffeur who aids John while believing him to be Jacques.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Bela: “What are you doing here? Fate has made a beautiful mistake and we are together when we might have been apart.” – Said to John Barratt at the very end, marking the ambiguous culmination of his identity swap.
• John Barratt: “I am not Jacques De Gue! My name is John Barratt!” – Barratt’s repeated, increasingly desperate assertion as he attempts to convince the French family and servants that he is not the Count.
• Countess: “Gaston, bring me my present! Now!” – The demanding Countess’s frequent command for her morphine, illustrating her addiction and imperious nature.
• Marie-Noel: “You are not like Papa. You are… kinder.” – The young daughter observes the significant difference between John Barratt’s demeanor and her real father, Jacques.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $943,000
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 The Scapegoat Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I finally saw ‘The Scapegoat’ and wow, Alec Guinness is just incredible playing two totally different guys who look exactly alike. How does he do it?! He totally nails both the shy teacher and the complicated French count. Seeing him switch between them, and then the teacher trying to *be* the count, was fascinating. It wasn’t the most action-packed movie, and yeah, parts of the plot felt a bit like ‘how did THAT happen?’, but I was hooked just watching Guinness. And Bette Davis shows up for a bit being totally extra, which was pretty fun too, even if brief. It left me thinking about identity and what you’d do if you got a sudden do-over on life. The atmosphere was thick and moody, perfect for the story. Definitely recommend it if you’re a fan of classic mysteries or just want to see a master actor at work.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of classic British cinema and thrillers”
  • “Viewers interested in identity swap stories”
  • “Admirers of Sir Alec Guinness’s acting”
  • “Those who enjoy adaptations of Daphne du Maurier’s novels”
  • “Fans of atmospheric, character-driven mysteries”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Implied family dysfunction and dark themes”
  • “Depiction of morphine addiction”
  • “Contains thematic elements of deception and murder”
  • “May be slow-paced for some modern viewers”

Professional Reviews

• Inspired by User Reviews: “Sir Alec Guinness delivers a masterclass in dual roles, navigating the complex identity swap with understated skill. While the premise stretches believability and the plot occasionally meanders, the film is lifted by its atmospheric black and white cinematography and a strong supporting cast. Bette Davis offers a memorable, albeit brief, turn as the matriarch. It’s a solid, if somewhat flawed, adaptation of Du Maurier.
• Inspired by User Reviews: “This Du Maurier thriller benefits greatly from Alec Guinness’s performance as both the mild-mannered Englishman and the dissolute French count. The split-screen work is impressive for its time, and the film creates a compelling, albeit often gloomy, atmosphere. Some plot points feel underdeveloped or contrived, and the ending leaves a few threads frustratingly loose, but the sheer quality of the acting makes it worth watching.

Audience Reactions

Viewers were captivated by Alec Guinness’s seamless portrayal of two distinct characters.: The atmospheric black and white visuals and the performances of the supporting cast, including Bette Davis’s brief but impactful role, were frequently highlighted.

Many appreciated the film’s intriguing premise and psychological elements.: While some found the plot contrived or the ending ambiguous, the overall consensus was that the strong acting made the film compelling despite its flaws.

Overall Consensus: A well-acted, atmospheric mystery showcasing Alec Guinness’s versatility, despite a sometimes convoluted plot and debated ending.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Daphne Du Maurier, who was also a co-owner of the film’s production company, insisted on Alec Guinness for the lead role over Cary Grant, as Guinness reminded her of her father, actor Gerald du Maurier.”
• “The production was reportedly challenging, with friction between cast members like Bette Davis and director Robert Hamer, who was reportedly struggling with alcoholism during filming.”
• “Sophisticated split-screen photography and editing techniques were employed to allow Alec Guinness to convincingly portray two identical characters interacting within the same frame.”
• “Noted American writer Gore Vidal contributed to the screenplay adaptation of Daphne Du Maurier’s novel.”
• “The film included location shooting in the Loire Valley in France, contrasting with studio work done at MGM British Studios in England.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Scapegoat?

Finding ‘The Scapegoat’ (1959) may require searching specialized platforms or classic film channels. Based on available information, it has been shown on Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and some reviewers mention finding it on YouTube. Check major streaming services like Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, or Vudu for potential rental or purchase options, though availability can vary by region and time. Due to its age and limited release, it might not be readily available on mainstream subscription services.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Scapegoat, you might like these similar films:

• Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949): Also stars Alec Guinness in multiple roles (eight here!), showcasing his incredible versatility in a classic British film, though a dark comedy rather than a thriller.
• Rebecca (1940): A celebrated adaptation of another Daphne Du Maurier novel, featuring psychological suspense, secrets within a grand estate, and a new person navigating a powerful, established family dynamic.
• The Prisoner of Zenda (1937): A classic adventure film centered around a man impersonating royalty due to a striking resemblance, involving political intrigue and mistaken identity.
• Dead Ringer (1964): Stars Bette Davis playing twin sisters, one poor and one wealthy, who swap identities after one dies, leading to dark consequences.
• My Cousin Rachel (1952): Another mystery adapted from a Daphne Du Maurier novel, focusing on suspicion, inheritance, and secrets within a family setting.
• Suddenly, Last Summer (1959): A tense psychological drama released the same year, dealing with dark family secrets, mental states, and intense character interactions in a stifling environment.
• Enemy (2013): A modern psychological thriller that delves into the unsettling concept of finding one’s exact double and the implications for identity and consciousness.

🛒 The Scapegoat Related Products

• The Scapegoat (Warner Archive Collection Blu-ray): Experience the classic Alec Guinness double-role performance in high definition. This Warner Archive release often includes restored transfers and potentially bonus features like trailers.
• The Scapegoat by Daphne Du Maurier (Paperback or Kindle): Read the original gripping novel by Daphne Du Maurier that inspired the film. Explore the story in deeper detail and compare it to the screen adaptation.
• Alec Guinness: A Celebration of His Classic Roles (DVD or Blu-ray Set): A collection featuring some of Sir Alec Guinness’s most iconic performances, potentially including other dual-role films like ‘Kind Hearts and Coronets’.
• Vintage French Travel Posters (Print or Canvas): Decorative art prints featuring classic travel imagery of France, reminiscent of the film’s setting in Paris and the Loire Valley.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Scapegoat features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Main Title” – performed by Bronislau Kaper
• “The Chateau” – performed by Bronislau Kaper
• “Dinner Music” – performed by Bronislau Kaper
• “Bela’s Theme” – performed by Bronislau Kaper
• “The Pool / Suicide Attempt” – performed by Bronislau Kaper

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Fatty is really smart. I became a scapegoat and became popular. The result was unexpected. I was

Okay, buckle up! This video is a super quick look at how the whole ‘scapegoat’ scenario unfolds, and honestly, becoming popular from it sounds completely unexpected and wild! Curious how that even works out?

Guy Blackmails Cops, Nolan Becomes First Scapegoat!!!#movie #shorts

Whoa, talk about a bad day! This clip highlights the intense moment someone gets pinned as the scapegoat, seemingly after some intense blackmail. It really makes you feel for Nolan being in that position, doesn’t it?

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