Original Sin (2001 film)
| Original Sin | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster
|
|
| Directed by | Michael Cristofer |
| Produced by |
Denise Di Novi Kate Guinzberg Carol Lees |
| Screenplay by | Michael Cristofer |
| Based on |
Waltz into Darkness by Cornell Woolrich |
| Starring |
Antonio Banderas Angelina Jolie Thomas Jane Jack Thompson |
| Music by | Terence Blanchard |
| Cinematography | Rodrigo Prieto |
|
Production
company |
|
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
|
Release date
|
August 3, 2001 (USA) |
|
Running time
|
116 minutes 118 minutes (unrated version) |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $42 million |
| Box office | $36.4 million |
Original Sin is a 2001 erotic thriller film starring Antonio Banderas and Angelina Jolie. It is based on the novel Waltz into Darkness by Cornell Woolrich, and is a remake of the 1969 François Truffaut film Mississippi Mermaid. The movie was produced by actress Michelle Pfeiffer's production company, Via Rosa Productions.
Original Sin is set in the late 19th century Cuba during the Spanish rule, and flashes back and forth from the scene of a woman awaiting her execution by garrote while telling her story to a priest, to the actual events of that story.
Luis Vargas (Antonio Banderas) sends for American Julia Russell (Angelina Jolie) to sail to his country to be his mail-order bride. Julia departs from the ship, looking nothing like the photos she's sent prior to her voyage. Julia explains she wants more than a man who is interested in a pretty face, and that's why she's been deceptive - substituting a plain-looking woman in place of her own picture. Luis also admits to deception; he's been misleading her into believing he's a poor working man, instead of the rich owner of a coffee company.
Luis and Julia wed within hours of her setting foot in Cuba. Luis falls passionately in love with his new wife.
Meanwhile, Julia's sister Emily has been trying to contact her, worried about her after such a long trip to a strange land. Luis forces Julia to write back, fearing that if Julia continues to ignore Emily's letters, Emily will assume something terrible has befallen her sister and might send the authorities to check on her welfare. Holding off as long as possible, Julia finally pens a letter to her sister.
In order to assure that his wife has everything she wants, Luis adds Julia to his business and personal bank accounts, giving her free rein to spend as she pleases. Luis discovers Julia has run off with nearly all of his fortune, and then teams up with a detective, Walter Downs (Thomas Jane), hired by Emily to find her real sister Julia. Walter reveals to Luis he believes Julia to be an impostor and the intended wife to be dead by her hand, and that she may be working with someone. The two set out together looking for her.
...
Wikipedia