What can you say about something this flabbergasting? If your film preferences run toward the preposterous, camp, or 'silliest plots', then this is assuredly for you! Warner Bros gave it the full treatment, Production values ~ Performers ~ Photography ~ Music, all first quality and all wrapped up in unbelievable mush. Korngold's lush music score certainly deserved a better vehicle than this crazy story.
Oscar winning Photographer Ernst Haller, known for superb work in "Gone With the Wind", Jezebel", and two of my cinematic favorites: "Humoresque" and The Glass Menagerie" (among many)...with 'Deception', he works brilliantly alongside stylish English born Director Irving Rapper ~ together they give this way over-wrought story a great look, at times saving it, but never completely.
It also looks as if home educated screenwriter John Collier, was well aware this story, based on Louis Verneuil's 'Monsieur Lamberthier' from the 1920s, was by this time, heading out of date. Collier, being a writer known for his slightly bizarre fantasy stories and poetry, must have been torn between treating it as black comedy (Verneuil was known for his comedies) or melodrama of the most strained kind.
Claude Rains, while always impressive, must have been born for this role. His flamboyant turns are quite astounding to watch. It's easy to imagine him at home, chuckling out loud while reading such lines from his script. Take a close look at his characters 'abode', even Royalty could look out of place in this remarkable 'museum'. While the main leads are certainly excellent, it's his picture all the way.
Don't watch if you want serious, classic 40's drama. If you're after unintentional laughs or simply good performances, then this could work quite well for you....The TCM print screened in Australia was fair only.
Oscar winning Photographer Ernst Haller, known for superb work in "Gone With the Wind", Jezebel", and two of my cinematic favorites: "Humoresque" and The Glass Menagerie" (among many)...with 'Deception', he works brilliantly alongside stylish English born Director Irving Rapper ~ together they give this way over-wrought story a great look, at times saving it, but never completely.
It also looks as if home educated screenwriter John Collier, was well aware this story, based on Louis Verneuil's 'Monsieur Lamberthier' from the 1920s, was by this time, heading out of date. Collier, being a writer known for his slightly bizarre fantasy stories and poetry, must have been torn between treating it as black comedy (Verneuil was known for his comedies) or melodrama of the most strained kind.
Claude Rains, while always impressive, must have been born for this role. His flamboyant turns are quite astounding to watch. It's easy to imagine him at home, chuckling out loud while reading such lines from his script. Take a close look at his characters 'abode', even Royalty could look out of place in this remarkable 'museum'. While the main leads are certainly excellent, it's his picture all the way.
Don't watch if you want serious, classic 40's drama. If you're after unintentional laughs or simply good performances, then this could work quite well for you....The TCM print screened in Australia was fair only.