Deception is a 1946 film directed by Irving Rapper.
Christine Radcliffe (Bette Davis) is a professional piano player. At the opening of the film she attends a recital by a cellist, Karel Novak (Paul Henreid). It seems that Christine and Karel were lovers years ago, before the war, but with the outbreak of World War II they were separated. Christine tried to get Karel over to America, but failed, and eventually she came to believe he was dead. Their reunion is joyful and they are married immediately.
This does not please famous composer Alexander Hollenius (Claude Rains), because Christine was his kept woman. Hollenius avoids the temptation to tell Karel about his relationship with Christine, but instead sets out to undermine Paul and Christine's marriage and Paul's career in a more devious way. Christine for her part tells Karel a series of increasingly absurd lies regarding her fancy apartment with its skylight and grand piano and closet full of fur coats. Gullible Karel believes all, but Hollenius still looms as a threat to Christine's happiness.
Last film score composed by Erich Wolfgang Korngold, who went back to his career as a concert composer.
Tropes:
- Book Ends: The first and last scenes between Karel and Christine both take place in his dressing room at a theater, something Christine observes at the end of the movie.
- Dies Wide Open: Hollenius, splayed out on his own stairs, after Christine shoots him.
- Dramatic Irony: A random woman says "Christine you must be the happiest woman in the world" after Karel's triumphant performance, not knowing that Christine has just killed a guy and confessed to Karel.
- Famous, Famous, Fictional: When asked in an early scene what composers he admires, Karel names Strauss, Stravinsky, and Hollenius. Of course the first two are real while the third is Christine's sugar daddy.
- "Friends" Rent Control: Discussed and ultimately averted. It seems like this trope may be in effect when Christine welcomes Karel to her palatial apartment right after she claims she was a Starving Artist. However Karel actually notices the fur coats and the fine art and calls her out on it, which is when Christine starts lying.
- Gaslighting: Hollenius, who irritates and undermines Karel and Christine in subtle ways while refusing to admit what he's doing. Right before an audition for the cello part that Karel is very stressed out about, Hollenius takes the newlyweds to dinner, and makes such a ridiculous show out of ordering dinner—yammering about the wine, asking for "trout from a good stream"—that Karel practically comes out of his shoes with irritation. At a rehearsal Hollenius goads Karel by continually interrupting his solo to complain about other players in the orchestra, until Karel stalks off in rage.
- A Glass in the Hand: Hollenius shatters the champagne glass he's clutching at Christine's wedding reception.
- Lohengrin and Mendelssohn: The Lohengrin part, aka "Here Comes the Bride", is played in uptempo jazz style by Christine's musician friends at her wedding reception.
- Love Triangle: Christine, her old boyfriend from pre-war days, and the rich sugar daddy she's taken up with after believing her boyfriend to be dead.
- The Mistress: Christine is the kept woman of rich, successful composer Alexander Hollenius.
- Poor Communication Kills: All the tragedy unfolds because Christine is unwilling to tell Karel that she was a kept woman.
- Right-Hand Cat: Hollenius isn't doing anything overtly evil in the scene, but he is petting a cat on his lap when he has his first meeting with Karel about the concerto. He's planning to offer the solo to Karel and take it away later.
-
Spiritual Sequel: To Now, Voyager, which starred Davis and Henried as Star-Crossed Lovers and also starred Claude Rains, although in that movie he was The Shrink and not the third corner of a Love Triangle. - A Tragedy of Impulsiveness: Too late, Christine realizes that Hollenius's comment about if he was going to tell Karel indicates that he probably wasn't. Not to mention that Christine shooting Hollenius led her to tell Karel about her past anyway.
