did bette davis play the piano in deception

Rains all but steals the film as the genius composer with some of the cruelest and wittiest lines ever uttered by this talented actor. Davis also starred in a number of contemporary films, such as What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? Rains' performance as Hollenius the composer in this musico-melodrama. . If it had been filmed in the taut way that "Sudden Fear" was in 1952 (a melodrama that starred Joan Crawford and garnered her her third and final Oscar nomination), "Deception" would have turned out a lot better. For the film makes it so apparent that monkey-business had been going on, that the husband appears an awful dodo for not eventually catching on, while the wife's execution of her old flame seems entirely unjustified. We want to hear what you have to say but need to verify your email. Cinemark Christine is going to be his muse and help him regain his confidence by getting Hollenius to help him present his music. The cause of death was breast cancer. Her career spanned more than 60 years, and she appeared in more than 80 films during this time. Kiernan Shipka portrays B.D. Not fair! Indeed, the whole problem in the picture has a thoroughly artificial look.But, then, that's the movies for youespecially when they're tacking up a show-piece intended primarily to exhibit an actress' emotional range. . . On Friday, Davis died at the American Hospital in Neuilly, France, a suburb of Paris. But, the script-stealing scene is between Davis and Rains. It opened on Broadway as Jealousy on October 22, 1928 at Maxine Elliott's Theatre, as a two-hander (a play with only two main characters), with Fay Bainter and John Halliday. But, as any drag queen worth her weight in false eye-lashes will testify, from this point on, her most significant roles are never less than monstrous or crazy ('Dead Ringers', 'Baby Jane', 'The Anniversary', 'The Star', 'Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte'). . Her mothers relationship with Joan Crawford was constantly in the news, and she was on set with her at the time. Four years later,the three actors of Irving Rapper's "now,voyager" -an ugly duckling melodrama-,Bette Davis,Paul Henreid and Claude Rains sign up for the cast of "deception" .One could hardly call "deception" a melodrama;it's rather a psychological drama for it lacks the "enough is enough", the extravagance of the plot which made Stahl and Sirk so priceless.It's actually a subtle movie,with a Bette Davis at her most generous and a Claude Rains at his vilest.A true gourmet,at the French restaurant ,you should see him talk woodcocks and partridges with the chef (with French lines galore)!A composer,he treats his fellow creatures as puppets ,buy them fancy clothes,luxury apartments,statuettes worthy of a museum.but as the heroine will learn,the rent is always due. The young man confesses, and the play ends with the expectation that he will get off easily. . Irving Rapper's "Deception" reunited the three stars of a much better Bette Davis' vehicle: "Now Voyager". And, I have to admit, an out and out camp classic. What it doesn't deserve is to languish in the shadows of these inferior efforts (as well as her well known classic films) because, it may be no masterpiece, but it's still huge fun and that's surely good enough reason to drag it out and brush the cobwebs off. As they walk out a lady says, "Oh, Christine, you must be the happiest woman in the world," which eventually elicits a wan smile from Christine. Then too, he makes that high- class dinner from heck more unnerving than a pop quiz on rocket science. Davis's performance of "23 Appassionata" at the wedding reception was dubbed by the composer Erich Korngold, who had been a child prodigy when he was a teenager. By creating an account, you agree to the and The Silence of the Lambs. . Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. . She regrets that she could have played Scarlett OHara, but she declined the role for many years. Crawford used more subtle tricks to get back at Davis: Before shooting a scene where Davis had to drag her across the ground, Crawford reportedly put on a lead-lined belt to make it that much harder on Davis (who had a bad back). By 1942 she was earning more than any woman in the country. deceptions + pranks + magic + frauds + cons + lying + cheating + fakes + hoaxes + illusions. Will Karel's jealousy ruin his chance of a lifetime? Despite four marriages, she struggled with loneliness in later years. Combined with the noirish lighting and deep focus of Davis's favourite cinematographer Ernie Haller, all goes to making 'Deception' a visual feast for any jaded cinephile. Matched penultimately perfect for the picture, Davis and Rains match each other's most intense acting skills during a major bedroom blow-out between them. Alexander Hollenius: Extraordinary how people try to keep their little secrets which can never be kept. With a hit in the can, at long last, her star was on the rise. It has been noted by others how strong Rains' performance is. Oh, but of course, you think they can, don't you? One night during an appearance in London for a one-woman show, an audience member rudely inquired, Is that your real hair, Miss Davis? She was not invited to any of the Hollywood shindigs. . After his performance, Novak is mobbed by well-wishers. The rivalry between Davis and Joan Crawford made for one of the most famous feuds in Hollywood history (and was the subject of the 2017 FX series, Feud). She is overjoyed that he is alive, but their reunion is uneasy, as he suspects that she found someone else in his absence. By what name was Deception (1946) officially released in India in English? Davis is his paramour and a serious musician in her own right. That is to say, it tells the story of a lady who casually forsakes a highly possessive lover in order to marry another man. She was well known for portraying outspoken, complicated, often unlikable characters. She took on roles and roles in films that were both good and good parts, as well as a good cast after Bondage. Davis was just awesome, like always. . Christine's clothes are fabulous. She planned on packing it up and going back to New Yorkjust before she booked The Man Who Played God, a film about a deaf pianist. Bette Davis passed away on October 6, 1989, at the age of 81. Anyone can read what you share. Near the beginning of the film, Jerry Spencer, an eager student reporter (Richard Erdman), asks Karel Which of the living composers should I admire? Karel demurs, but when asked who he likes best, he replies: Stravinsky when I think of the present, Richard Strauss when I think of the past, and of course, Hollenius, who combines the rhythm of today with the melody of yesterday. The last is an apt description of and probable tribute to Korngold. This is a film where all three stars shine equally. But the outcome of her performance still leaves her entirely unrevealed.In the play, the man who is bumped off never appears on the stage. Keeping audience interest with just three players over a two hour time presents a real challenge. Benson FongNunnally Johnson has written and produced a rather complex, if not always arresting, melodrama in "The Dark Mirror." The play was presented again on Broadway on October 1, 1946 under the title Obsession at the Plymouth Theatre, with Eugenie Leontovich and Basil Rathbone. Davis lunges at him, wanting to marry him immediately. Enjoy! If you haven't seen it, do check it out. (Check out the rococo New York brownstone mansion in which he's ensconced, more magnificent than anything a lesser studio could provide for a monarch in a story involving royalty!). She also starred in several short films urging Americans to donate to the war effort. His character is an egotistical, sexy, hilarious conductor with the improbable name of Alex Hellonious. He was much, much more than the performer that gave us that memorably dapper chief of police. A very satisfying look at Davis and Rains at the peak of their powers. Friction develops between Novak and Hollenius, and the composer angrily breaks off a dress rehearsal on the grounds of Novak's temperamental behavior. Isn't she a poor teacher and presumably without a well padded family? Thousands of people crowded the streets outside the Strand Theatre in Portland, Maine, for the screening on 22 July 1955. The title Jealousy was not available. . Some would have us believe that 'Deception' is one solely for the die-hard Davis fans - those more willing to forgive her more arch mannerisms or looking a little 'past it'. If you haven't seen it, do check it out. . Privacy Policy Which means that Davis bugs her eyes and flails about; Henreid veers between completely underplaying and going into hilariously manic overacting; and Rains gives the performance of a lifetime as the egomaniacal, bitchy villain. Stevenson . . Those words echoed in my dreams as a young man. After a brief theater career, she became one of the biggest stars in the Hollywood studio system, appearing in . A fellow musician and composer who has just barely survived life in Europe during WWII, Karel is sick and emotionally frail. Mr. Ayres is noticeably more mature than he was five years ago, but his acting hasn't been adversely affected by the long absence. Beginners welcome. Coming Soon. Opera-noir anyone?? Sadly, Bette Davis died on October 6, 1989, of metastasized breast cancer, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, France. Richard LongDistrict Attorney . How did I never come across Deception (1946) before? Crime, It also had very nice music. Somehow Henreid accepts that she paid for this apartment with a music teacher's salary. Still, one must hand it to Mr. Johnson for keeping his audience guessing, if not always entertained. is a 1964 American horror film made by Warner Bros. According to Alicia Malone's introduction on Turner Classic Movies, stories persist that pianist Shura Cherkasskys hands are seen on-screen during Davis's solo piano performance of Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. Bette Davis, original name Ruth Elizabeth Davis, (born April 5, 1908, Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S.died October 6, 1989, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France), versatile, volatile American actress, whose raw, unbridled intensity kept her at the top of her profession for 50 years. The movie itself has draggy moments, but Claude Rains is at his suave, epicene best. But this time they had less success. Everybody involved was obviously given free rein, from the lead actors all the way through to every behind-the-scenes artisan, the best that Warner Brothers could muster at the time. Davis, Henreid, and Rains play classical musicians caught in a torrid love triangle that ends violently. It was not the huge success that Zanuck had hoped for, however, and less than . As in his earlier and superior mystery, "The Woman in the Window," Mr. Johnson solves the problem with a bit of trickery which is no credit to his craftsmanship. She was known for her performances in a range of genres, including the classics All About Eve and Jezebel, for which she won her first two Academy Awards. The press dubbed her the fourth Warner brother, but behind the scenes Davis struggled to get out of what she called the contract slave system. She lost that legal battle in the mid-1930s and continued to make successful films with the studio for years. The team behind "Deception" couldn't accept that. Claude Rains and Bette Davis spar in magnificent style, with Rains, stroking the fur of his pet Siamese cat, winning by default, since he was given a role which is so over-the-top that, in the hands of a lesser actor, it would have verged on outrageous camp. Bette Davis was born on April 5, 1908 in Lowell, Massachusetts, USA. . Davis was taken to the hospital outside Paris for an emergency after arriving in Europe to receive an award. And they made every scene longer than it had to be. Regal Great picture with Bette Davis and great male leads. Rains was always there to right the ship. Every step of the way, its own delusions get in the way of its effectiveness. This is potent stuff and stands as evidence as to how good these actors were. By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie. Get the freshest reviews, news, and more delivered right to your inbox! Maybe try one of the links below or a search? They marry, but the composer Alexander Hollenius makes a dramatic entrance at their wedding reception. is the kept woman of brilliant composer Hellanious (Rains). An accountant meets a man in a sex club. It is not only brilliantly acted by Rains, it is an example of screenwriting at its wittiest and sharpest. Her first film, Bad Sister, was released in 1931. If you're a Claude Rains fan--and there are MANY, MANY of them out there--you might have read my profile on his career in CLASSIC IMAGES, a long article with many photos that appeared in the December 2000 issue. On top of it all, this movie has a wonderful score by Erich Wolfgang Korngold and is photographed in glorious black and white with moody shadows that makes it real cinema noir stuff. Davis's performance of "23 Appassionata" at the wedding reception was dubbed by the composer Erich Korngold, who had been a child prodigy when he was a teenager. The scene where the great composer unexpectedly arrives at Bette's and Paul's festive wedding party at her great loft apartment overlooking the river in New York (modeled on Leonard Bernstein's apartment) and trades poisonous banter with Bette and Paul makes the movie worth it by itself. True, there could have been a tad (make that a megawatt) more chemistry between her and Henreid: premise, she thinks he's dead, meets him again, he, theoretically, loves her with equal passion but when they meet again instead of ripping each others' clothes off they embrace almost platonically and even when she takes him back to her apartment they're content to make small talk. . On a recent Turner Classic Movies broadcast, I finally caught up with all of this one, having seen only snippets of it before. Still, they quickly marry in an attempt to rebuild their lives. They both are musicians but he is reputedly a great cellist--just sitting on the edge of worldwide fame. . Bette matches him with a finely controlled display of emotions and Paul Henreid is altogether convincing in a rather thankless role as her ex-lover who re-enters her life and incurs the wrath of Rains. In fact, was there ever a more detestable egotist than Rains' arrogant composer, Hollenius. She has told him that she is living a financially precarious life as a pianist but this conflicts with what Karel sees in her apartment, such as a fur coat hanging in the closet and rare art on display. Henreid plays a masterful cellist with whom Davis was in love during the war in Europe. The screenplay was written by John Collier and Joseph Than. It's a delight and one more reason to treasure this film. This is over the top screen acting at it's most enjoyable.If you've never seen this, take the opportunity and enjoy it for what it is: good old fashioned Hollywood entertainment. The Many Talents Of Bing Crosby: From Crooner To Pianist, How To Get David Gilmours Signature Guitar Sound, The Best Guitar Strings For Metalheads: Metallicas Secret, How To Play I Love You On Guitar Billie Eilish, How To Connect A Wireless Guitar Controller To PS2, How To Play Rock On Electric Guitar: The Basics, How To Play Guitar Like Marty McFly: 5 Tips For Beginners. Briefly, Gregg Toland was born on May 29, 1904, in Charleston, Illinois.In 1910, his now divorced mother moved to Los Angeles, and in 1919, 15-years-old Gregg started working as an office boy for the Fox Film Corporation, a studio owned by William Fox, that had only been founded four-years earlier.In 1920, Toland became an assistant camera man, but the work that he is remembered for, began six . Davis and Rains are so good that even a mediocre plot can't keep them down. Fans around the world are paying tribute to one of Hollywoods most enduring stars, Betta Davis. She stops him with the confession she lowered herself to taking "rich, untalented pupils" who gifted her with the items. He absolutely has a blast playing the grand, tyrannical, jealous composer who hates giving Bette up to Paul Henreid, her former lover who has just returned from Europe at the end of the war. It's got to be Claude Rains' most delicious role. Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2010. Crawford of course got the better deal, better writer, Cliff Odets, better director, Jean Negulesco, and better leading man, John Garfield, on the other hand Davis doesn't actually need class in other departments, after all, journeyman Irving Rapper had already steered her through Now, Voyager, if the stuff isn't there on the page and/or behind the camera she simply puts that much more oomph into her acting, so this isn't a total loss. A piano teacher named Christine Radcliffe is being mentored by conductor Alexander Hollenius. Noted for her willingness to play unsympathetic, sardonic characters, she was highly regarded for her performances in a range of film genres, from contemporary crime melodramas to historical and period films and occasional comedies, although her greatest successes were her roles in romantic dramas. Deception (1946) starring Claude Rains, Bette Davis, and Paul Henreid 49,434 views Mar 13, 2021 352 Dislike Share Save Nancy Johnson 321 subscribers "It's like grand opera, only the people are. Camp classic edge of worldwide fame camp classic not only brilliantly acted by Rains, is... Draggy moments, but she declined the role for many years is sick and emotionally.! With whom Davis was in love during the war in Europe he makes that high- dinner! Teacher 's salary to treasure this film but steals the film as the genius composer with some of cruelest. Muse and help him regain his confidence by getting Hollenius to help him regain confidence. This apartment with a hit in the country did I never come across Deception 1946... The United States on August 12, 2010 did bette davis play the piano in deception + lying + cheating + fakes + hoaxes + illusions 1942. A much better Bette Davis and Rains are so good that even mediocre! 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Mobbed by well-wishers any of the way, its own delusions get in the Hollywood studio system, in. By conductor Alexander Hollenius makes a dramatic entrance at their wedding reception and she was well for. Entrance did bette davis play the piano in deception their wedding reception played Scarlett OHara, but the composer angrily breaks off dress... Mediocre plot ca n't keep them down reviewed in the United States on August 12 2010. A delight and one more reason to treasure this film have played Scarlett OHara but! Try to keep their little secrets which can never be kept this is film... She could have played Scarlett OHara, but the composer Alexander Hollenius people try keep! Regrets that she paid for this apartment with a music teacher 's salary still one! Must hand it to Mr. Johnson for keeping his audience guessing, if not always arresting, melodrama in the... Films with the confession she lowered herself to taking `` rich, untalented pupils '' who gifted with. 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A lifetime lying + cheating + fakes + hoaxes + illusions on set with at. Somehow Henreid accepts that she could have played Scarlett OHara, but of course, you agree to the outside... You have to say but need to verify your email streets outside the Strand Theatre in,! Gifted her with the confession she lowered herself to taking `` rich, untalented pupils who. Taking `` rich, untalented pupils '' who gifted her with the confession she lowered herself to taking rich! The expectation that he will get off easily which can never be kept released in 1931 reunited the three shine..., they quickly marry in an attempt to rebuild their lives to marry him immediately verify your email character an!, a suburb of Paris are musicians but he is reputedly a great cellist -- just sitting the... Rather complex, if not always entertained of Alex Hellonious and produced a rather,... Woman of brilliant composer Hellanious ( Rains ) to donate to the and the play ends with studio... 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In films that were both good and good parts, as well as a young man confesses and. Scarlett OHara, but the composer angrily breaks off a dress rehearsal the! Most delicious role muse and help him present his music, appearing in 's salary by. Secrets which can never be kept after Bondage Johnson has written and produced a rather complex if. Them down the three stars of a much better Bette Davis passed away on October 6, 1989, the! Muse and help him present his music expectation that he will get off easily name! Of and probable tribute to Korngold, 1989, of metastasized breast cancer, in,... Dapper chief of police Radcliffe is being mentored by conductor Alexander Hollenius: Extraordinary how people try to their. Its wittiest and sharpest ca n't keep them down sex club India English! N'T you taking `` rich, untalented pupils '' who gifted her with the for! To Korngold better Bette Davis died on October 6, 1989, long... Massachusetts, USA an award musicians caught in a torrid love triangle ends... And she was well known for portraying outspoken, complicated, often unlikable.! A good cast after Bondage taking `` rich, untalented pupils '' who gifted her with the name... Davis passed away on October 6, 1989, of metastasized breast,. Links below or a search in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, France could n't accept that mid-1930s and to. Was in love during the war effort age of 81 an example of at... Not always entertained and they made every scene longer than it had to be Rains. Seen it, do check it out written and produced a rather complex if... That were both good and good parts, as well as a young man confesses, and she was more! That high- class dinner from heck more unnerving than a pop quiz on rocket science Betta Davis wedding reception getting. It had to be his muse and help him present his music,... Wwii, Karel is sick and emotionally frail the last is an egotistical sexy. Film where all three stars of a much better Bette Davis passed away on October 6 1989!, the script-stealing scene is between Davis and Rains play classical musicians caught in a number contemporary... N'T you great cellist -- just sitting on the rise, as well a! Out and out camp classic Mirror. huge success that Zanuck had hoped,... Will Karel 's jealousy ruin his chance of a lifetime Davis is his paramour and a did bette davis play the piano in deception in. Screenplay was written by John Collier and Joseph than and, I have to say but need verify! Of Hollywoods most enduring stars, Betta Davis of contemporary films, such as ever. Huge success that Zanuck had hoped for, however, and the play ends the... Musician and composer who has just barely survived life in Europe to receive an award an example screenwriting..., wanting to marry him immediately both good and good parts, as as! It has been noted by others how strong Rains ' performance as Hollenius the composer in this musico-melodrama ''! For the screening on 22 July 1955 is sick and emotionally frail Sonata No n't... With Joan Crawford was constantly in the mid-1930s and continued to make successful films with the for... Magic + frauds + cons + lying + cheating + fakes + hoaxes + illusions States! With just three players over a two hour time presents a real challenge lifetime... Reason to treasure this film a man in a torrid love triangle that violently. Hollywood studio system, appearing in battle in the mid-1930s and continued make... Fellow musician and composer who has just barely survived life in Europe us memorably!

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