- Chained for Life
-
Chained for Life 
Original film posterDirected by Harry L. Fraser Produced by George Moskov Written by Screenplay:
Ross Frisco
Nat Tanchuck
Additional dialogue:
Albert de PinaStarring Violet Hilton
Daisy Hilton
Mario Laval
Allen Jenkins
Patricia WrightMusic by Henry Vars Cinematography Jockey Arthur Feindel Editing by Joseph Gluck Distributed by Classic Pictures Inc. Release date(s) October 29, 1954[citation needed] Running time 81 min. Country 
Language English Chained for Life is a 1951 exploitation film featuring the famous conjoined ("Siamese") Hilton Twins, Daisy and Violet. It features several vaudeville acts, including juggler Whitey Roberts, a man doing bicycle stunts, and a man who plays the William Tell Overture at breakneck speed on an accordion.
The movie incorporates aspects of the twins' real life, including their singing act, a futile attempt by one sister to obtain a marriage license, and a publicity-stunt marriage.
The twins' voices are featured in three duets, including "Every Hour of Every Day" and "Love Thief".
The movie was directed by Harry L. Fraser.[1]
Contents
Plot
The movie opens with a judge (Norval Mitchell) begging the audience for help in resolving a terrible dilemma. The action moves to a courtroom, where Vivian Hamilton is on trial for the shooting death of her sister's lover. The story unfolds in flashback as various characters are called to testify.
Conjoined twins Dorothy and Vivian Hamilton (Daisy and Violet Hilton) have a successful vaudeville singing act, but their manager Hinkley (Allen Jenkins) thinks a publicity stunt will reinvigorate their career. He pays stunt shooter Andre Pariseau (Mario Laval) to fake a romance with one of the twins. Vivian, the brunette, dislikes Andre and wants nothing to do with the scheme, but Dorothy, the blonde, quips that she is too old to turn down a chance at love, and agrees to serve as Andre's love interest.
The ploy works, with "the girls" singing for standing room only crowds. But Dorothy actually falls in love with the scheming Andre, though he is secretly involved with his shooting-act partner, Renee (Patricia Wright).
Andre proposes marriage, but the couple is unable to obtain a marriage license due to allegations that the marriage would constitute bigamy. A desperate Dorothy convinces Vivian to seek separation surgery, even at the risk of their lives, so that she can pursue her dreams of love. Doctors, however, inform the women that such surgery is impossible. But, the doctors stress, there is no physical reason that Dorothy can not marry.
By consulting with a blind minister, Dorothy and Andre are able to obtain their marriage license. The wedding ceremony is performed on-stage before an audience of dignitaries including the mayor.
But the next day, Andre leaves Dorothy, claiming that he could not adjust to life as the husband of a conjoined twin. Vivian knows differently, because she has seen Andre and Renee kissing passionately and her suspicions of Andre are confirmed. Vivian is outraged that her sister was mistreated.
During Andre's shooting performance, Vivian seizes one of Andre's guns and shoots him dead before a horrified audience.
The film returns to the judge, who can not decide how to dispose of the case. Justice for Andre requires that his murderer, Vivian, be executed. But this would cost the life of the innocent Dorothy. The film ends with a plea for the viewer to resolve the dilemma.
See also
- List of films in the public domain
Notes
- ^ "Harry L. Fraser > Filmography - AllMovie". http://www.allmovie.com/artist/harry-l-fraser-90428/filmography. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
External links
- Chained for Life at the Internet Movie Database
- Chained for Life is available for free download at the Internet Archive [more]
- Chained for Life at AllRovi
Categories:- English-language films
- 1951 films
- Exploitation films
- Films directed by Harry L. Fraser
- American films
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
