'Dead Ringers': Tragic story of Marcus brothers who inspired Prime Video show on twin gynecologists
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The much-awaited Amazon Prime Video series, 'Dead Ringers', featuring Rachel Weisz in the roles of identical twin gynecologists, has finally been released. According to trailers, reviews, and production notes, the show is a new take on David Cronenberg's 1988 movie of the same title. While the original story focused on twin brothers, both played by Jeremy Irons, whose mutual dependence and fascination with female anatomy led to both triumph and ruin, the Amazon series is a gender-swapped and distinctly different version. However, in addition to drawing from the body horror themes of the source material, the series also takes inspiration from reality, a factor that also influenced Cronenberg's movie.
The 1988 'Dead Ringers' follows the tragic tale of two brothers who become consumed by their dark desires, ultimately leading to their demise. Interestingly, the characters of Beverly and Elliot Mantle were based on real-life twins, Stewart and Cyril Marcus, who were women's health professionals in New York City until their mysterious deaths at the age of 45 in 1975. Cronenberg and co-writer Norman Snider drew upon the sinister circumstances of their deaths to create one of the most spine-chilling depictions of sibling rivalry in cinematic history.
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Who were the Marcus brothers?
Stewart and Cyril Marcus were renowned gynecologists who rose to prominence in the 1960s and 1970s with their groundbreaking research and pioneering medical practices. They established their own successful private practice and were also appointed as assistant professors of obstetrics and gynecology at New York Hospital. The brothers also co-directed the Infertility Clinic at Cornell Hospital, cementing their reputation as leading experts in their field. However, their success was not without its pitfalls. The Marcus twins had developed a severe addiction to barbiturates and amphetamines, which led to a decline in their practice and reputation.
Despite their colleagues urging them to seek help, the brothers attempted to recover on their own but were unsuccessful. In July 1975, their bodies were discovered in Cyril's Manhattan apartment under distressing conditions, surrounded by squalor and evidence of prolonged drug abuse. Despite initial theories of an accidental overdose or suicide pact, no trace of illicit substances was found in their bodies during the first set of tests. A second round of tests revealed the possibility that Stewart died from withdrawal, but the cause of Cyril's death remained a mystery. The investigation into their deaths raised many questions and speculation about what really happened in that apartment.
How are the stories of the Mantle and the Marcus twins related?
The competitive dynamic between the Mantle twins in 'Dead Ringers' reflects the relationship between the real-life Marcus twins, with Stewart often outshining Cyril. Jeremy Irons delivers a stunning performance as both Elliot and Bev, capturing their conflicting personalities and mannerisms. The twins often impersonate each other and share sexual partners, but their arrangement is challenged by actress Claire Niveau, whose medical anomaly and allure lead them down a path of drug use and surgical experimentation. In a dream sequence, Claire is shown eating away at the partition connecting the brothers, symbolizing their ultimate downfall.
'Dead Ringers' is available on Prime Video.