My Review of ‘Deception’ (1946)
In Deception, Bette Davis plays Christine Radcliffe. She goes to the symphony one rainy night and discovers the great love of her life (hereafter, GLHL) plays cello with the orchestra. This GLHL is Karel (not Carol) Novak, played by Paul Henreid. (You know, Victor Laszlo.) This brings tears to her eyes, as she previously thought he was dead. (Did Henreid specialize in playing men thought to be dead? See Casablanca.) In Henreid’s case, it’s an easy assumption to make. Let’s face it. — Paul Henreid is no one’s idea of a GL of anyone’s L. Because he’s just … dull?
Anyway, they fall in love (or back in love) in the usual record time and are married just like that, despite the posh apartment Christine lives in when Karel first comes to visit. She claims it was paid for by “rich, untalented pupils”. I assume she gives piano lessons, since that’s what she plays. And, no, that’s not who’s paying the bills.
The wedding reception for this newly reunited couple is interrupted by the slightly hammy entrance of Alexander Hollanius (now, there’s a name!) and he’s played by none other than Claude Rains, who is immediately jealous of the couple, because guess who’s been keeping Christine in furs and jewelry. Yep, good old Captain Renault/Hollanius.
After his entrance, Rains makes quick work of playing one of the biggest assholes you’d ever want to see. The whole movie is based on the notion that Hollanius’ relationship with Christine was more than one of mentor and mentee. Ahem! By today’s standards that might raise an eyebrow, but by standards kept then, it would’ve been the most terrible thing, I guess. Why? I have no idea.
First of all, she thought Paul was dead (no, not that Paul), so what she does with her time while Paul’s “dead” shouldn’t matter. Secondly, the notion that women never had sex before marriage in 1940-whatever is probably a bit ludicrous. I’m not saying it wasn’t frowned upon. I’m saying I’m sure it happened anyway. And I’m sure people knew and looked the other way. Why am I sure? I don’t know. Human nature?
So Christine’s relationship with Hollanius is being held over her head by Hollanius. Some nonsense about telling Paul about her being a “kept woman” or whatever. Paul would have to be as dull as Henreid looks not to have figured that out, based largely on Hollanius’ outrageous behavior throughout the movie.
Anyway, so Hollanius gives Novak a new cello concerto to perform. But then it looks like he intends to intimidate the very sensitive and nervous Novak/Victor to the point where he quits the orchestra and possibly the music profession. Maybe even commits suicide. Christine is led to believe that he is mentoring the understudy to take his place. However, that turns out to be untrue.
In any case, despite the lies everyone tells everyone in this thing — and it is a talky movie, if it’s anything — things eventually resolve in a noir-ish fashion
Apparently some people really relish the verbal sparring ole Claude/Renault and Bette/Christine/Eyes engage in. Frankly, it struck me as slow, dreary, and talky to the point where I wondered whether to keep watching.
Plus the sight of Claude Rains ordering dinner in the most bizarre and annoying way possible wasn’t as much fun as you might imagine.
This movie was based on the play. Probably something deep and meaningful.
While film critic Dennis Schwartz generally liked the film, he did describe it as a “labored romantic melodrama” and went on to observe that “[w]ith classical music filling the background, cheesy soap opera dialogue in the forefront, histrionics taking over the concert hall, none of the characters being likable, and Bette Davis as hammy as ever, this preposterous opera-like tale is amazingly enjoyable as straight theatrical drama that is nevertheless campy and could easily have been treated as comedy.” Talk about damning with faint praise.
The best part of the movie for me were the early scenes in her apartment. Is there anyone else who’s seen this movie and noticed the scenes from Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid?
“Cleaning woman!” Ha!
“The bread’s a little old.”
PS: If you want to see Bette Davis at her best, check out this movie! :)
PS: I’d give it two, if Bette Davis weren’t in it.
*****
Directed by Irving Rapper
Screenplay by John Collier and Joseph Than (based on the play Monsieur Lamberthier by Louis Verneuil)
Produced by Henry Blanke
