IMDb RATING
7.0/10
4.1K
YOUR RATING
After marrying her long-lost love, a musician finds the relationship threatened by a wealthy composer who is besotted with her.After marrying her long-lost love, a musician finds the relationship threatened by a wealthy composer who is besotted with her.After marrying her long-lost love, a musician finds the relationship threatened by a wealthy composer who is besotted with her.
John Alban
- Concertgoer
- (uncredited)
Russell Arms
- Music Student
- (uncredited)
Lois Austin
- Norma - Wedding Guest
- (uncredited)
Patricia Barry
- Music Student
- (uncredited)
Brandon Beach
- Concertgoer
- (uncredited)
Lulu Mae Bohrman
- Restaurant Diner
- (uncredited)
Paul Bradley
- Concertgoer
- (uncredited)
James Carlisle
- Restaurant Diner
- (uncredited)
Gertrude Carr
- Wedding Guest
- (uncredited)
James Conaty
- Well-Wisher at Concert
- (uncredited)
Marcelle Corday
- Hat Check Woman
- (uncredited)
Gino Corrado
- Waiter
- (uncredited)
Suzi Crandall
- Music Student
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaPaul Henreid could not play the cello. While he was able to fake it in the long shots, to achieve the illusion in closeup, he wore a special jacket with no sleeves and holes for two real cellists to insert their arms - one to bow, and one to accurately finger the music - while seated behind him, out of shot.
- GoofsWhile Christine, alone in her studio, is talking to Alexander Hollenius on the telephone, the highly visible shadow of a crew member is moving back and forth across the piano behind her.
- Quotes
Alexander Hollenius: [to Christine] Good evening, my dear. Why, you look positively majestic. I think I'd better remain seated.
- ConnectionsEdited into Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982)
- SoundtracksHollenius' Cello Concerto
Music by Erich Wolfgang Korngold
Performed by Paul Henreid (dubbed by Eleanor Slatkin)
Featured review
hellenious on wheels
I'll dispense with the details of the plot and move directly to Mr. Rains' performance as Hollenius the composer in this musico-melodrama.
This is his show although Davis and Henreid attempt to hold their own in this film.
His flair for manipulation and deception, hence the title, dominates the film.
He does a great job of it, driving everyone crazy with his shenanigans and jealousy.
The cinematography is well done and the story's setting in the world of post-WW II classical/modern music is interesting.
I noted that early on, for instance, as Henreid finished a performance, audience members asked him who his favorite living composer was..."Sibelius...or Shostakovich...?" No mention of Aaron Copland or the many other composers alive at the time.
Hollenius' work as a composer was a curious mix of tonal, traditional and slightly atonal influences, attempting to display "modern" music but watered down to keep the audience and us interested.
The mimicking of the piano and cello performances by all three actors was fairly well done.
I found it quite interesting too that both Davis and Rains were not "starving artists" like Henreid. Opulent apartments and lifestyles for piano teachers and composers were not common, but these two were well-off in an even garish sense.
This was not the reality of the time in the music world.
I'd recommend this film if you're a Rains or Davis fan. Henreid was not used for his full potential.
This is his show although Davis and Henreid attempt to hold their own in this film.
His flair for manipulation and deception, hence the title, dominates the film.
He does a great job of it, driving everyone crazy with his shenanigans and jealousy.
The cinematography is well done and the story's setting in the world of post-WW II classical/modern music is interesting.
I noted that early on, for instance, as Henreid finished a performance, audience members asked him who his favorite living composer was..."Sibelius...or Shostakovich...?" No mention of Aaron Copland or the many other composers alive at the time.
Hollenius' work as a composer was a curious mix of tonal, traditional and slightly atonal influences, attempting to display "modern" music but watered down to keep the audience and us interested.
The mimicking of the piano and cello performances by all three actors was fairly well done.
I found it quite interesting too that both Davis and Rains were not "starving artists" like Henreid. Opulent apartments and lifestyles for piano teachers and composers were not common, but these two were well-off in an even garish sense.
This was not the reality of the time in the music world.
I'd recommend this film if you're a Rains or Davis fan. Henreid was not used for his full potential.
helpful•132
- blitzebill
- Nov 16, 2013
- How long is Deception?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime1 hour 55 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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