The 1946 noir-ish melodrama, Deception, is, essentially, an overwrought movie about a woman who likes to keep Secrets.
Bette Davis plays this deceptive woman, a pianist who unexpectedly breaks off her years-long affair with her mentor to suddenly marry a cellist (Paul Henreid) with whom she was involved in pre-war Europe.
Davis is hammy, but fabulous, and Henreid is handsome, but Intense. The goal of the film, you see, is to cultivate our sympathy and make us hope their Love Will Conquer All, etc.
Alas! Henreid, freshly arrived from a nightmarish ordeal in Europe, is suspicious of Davis’s comfortable lifestyle. He does not believe her flimsy I’m-A-Piano-Teacher explanation, and he resents being patronized. He knows a well-appointed apartment when he sees one, and where did she get that expensive piano!
As actors, Davis and Henreid always have good chemistry, although Henreid’s unpredictable temperament keeps us on edge. His emotional volatility scratches against the smooth cunning of Davis’s jilted lover and sugar daddy, Claude Rains.
Deception probably isn’t supposed to be Rains’s movie, but he marches into the story and Takes Over. Davis and Henreid, being the Pros they are, agree to Knuckle Under.
Rains’s character is a brilliant, self-absorbed, temperamental composer, a once-in-a-generation kind of genius.
He knows he’s legendary; so what if he ranks himself among giants of the music world. In one scene, he tells Davis he’s tired of their discussion and says, disparagingly, “I’d rather listen to Beethoven.”
He’s arrogant and sarcastic, pleasant only when it suits him – which isn’t often.
Yet, to his credit, he’s honest, unlike Davis. When she says she wants to believe him, he replies, “That is a luxury beyond your present means, my dear. If you want to believe other people, you’d better give up lying yourself.”
Rains has terrific lines, and an even better delivery, which is the leverage he uses to garner our reluctant empathy. His forceful presence makes Davis seem trivial.
Example: The morning after her wedding to Henreid, Davis arrives at Rains’s house to find him at the piano, hair askew, slamming the keys while he composes. When he finishes, Davis says, “It’s wonderful.”
“Extraordinary, isn’t it?” he snaps. “That music can exist in the same world as the basest treachery and ingratitude.”
Of course he’s angry. His long-time paramour suddenly marries a man of whom he’s never heard, despite all the lavish attention and gifts he’s provided, piano included.
Naturally, his misery wouldn’t be complete without his still being in love with her.
But he’s not done with Davis yet, or her husband, and he finds a twisted pleasure in Toying with them. (It’s no accident that Rains’s character often pets a Siamese cat in his home.)
Look at the scene where the three meet for a dinner at an exclusive restaurant. Rains has requested Henreid audition for him, but First! He insists on an elaborate pre-audition meal, which he savours as much as Henreid’s anxiety.
Rains-As-Dinner-Host orders for everyone, of course, and he details the meal preparations to the fawning maître d’. He gleefully frets over details: Soup or canapés? Neither, we know, will be as satisfying as Henreid’s seething humiliation.
This Meal Ordering business is magnificent; it’s a Performance in itself.
Despite its (now) highly-praised film score, Deception was the first Bette Davis film to lose money in her 14 years at Warner Bros. This was due to high production costs.
Our pal Bosley Crowther of the New York Times was dismissive of the film and Davis’s performance, but he praised Rains. “As a famous and worldly composer with some vicious attachment to a dame,” he wrote, “he fills out a fascinating portrait of a titanic egoist.”
For once we agree with ol’ Bosley. Rains gives us a treat while he’s on the screen, but when he’s absent, he leaves us with a flat, clichéd story. Davis and Henreid, as skilled as they are, can’t prop up the story on their own.
That’s because Rains fools us into believing the film is better than it is, but he takes all the magic with him when he departs. Indeed, he is the deceptive one here.
We see what you’ve done, Claude Rains. Thanks a lot.
Deception: starring Bette Davis, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains. Directed by Irving Rapper. Written by John Collier & Joseph Than. Warner Bros., 1946, B&W, 115 mins.
Thanks a lot, Silver Screenings, for shining the spotlight on an exemplary actor of his time. Claude Rains was one of my mother’s favourite actors while she was growing up and at drama school in the late 40s. She would have appreciated your judgment and this discerning post!
Wow, I did not know this movie, thanks a lot! But now that I’ve seen Rains singing and even dancing in Pied Piper I wonder if I could still be that amused 😀
Thank you for this fun post on Claude Rains’ performance in “Deception.” I have set my DVR for the upcoming viewing on TCM (November 9, 2020). All my favorites-Rains, Davis, & Henreid! I’m really looking forward to this one.
Saw this for the first time recently and thoroughly enjoyed the performances all around, but especially Rains’. Even with all the ego, arrogance and manipulation, there’s just enough wounded humanity in the character to feel for him.
That’s it! You hit the nail right on the head where Rains and Deception are concerned. Of course, Claude, being a gentleman, probably didn’t mean to steal the movie; he simply wanted to improve it and he can’t help himself. That restaurant scene is quite the treat. Yummy!
Ah yes, I think you’re right. Claude R probably didn’t mean to steal the movie, but there could be no other outcome given his talent and charm. I’m serious!
That is an excellent question. It could be she regards Henreid’s character as the Great Love of her Life, but he would be much more difficult to live with in the long run. Rains is the better choice.
Oh, you must see this film. Overall, it’s not legendary, but Claude Rains’s performance certainly is. I think he has a bit too much fun in some scenes.
This is a great article! I have never seen this movie, but I have heard a lot about it. You encapsulated it brilliantly! I know what you mean about Claude Rains’s great power to save a movie. He really can bring life to scenes, even if the rest of the movie is a little flat.
Indeed, Claude Rains has stolen many films from fine actors! I would be remiss not to mention Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s fabulous music score for Deception.
Oh yes, the score is beautiful. It seems a few critics at the time were kind of “meh” about it, but time has vindicated it. The music + Claude Rains makes this a must-see film.
Well, my goodness! What a fascinating sounding film. I’d never heard of it, but I do like Bette Davis and it intrigues me to think of her and Rains in the same film. It does sound like he has quite a lot of snarky dialogue. He’s so brilliant at snark, so that was a good choice.
Well, my goodness! What a fascinating sounding film. I’d never heard of it, but I do like Bette Davis and it intrigues me to think of her and Rains in the same film. It does sound like he has quite a lot of snarky dialogue. He’s so brilliant at snark, so that was a good choice.
Bette Davis and Claude Rains are fabulous together in their scenes. Watching these two pros is a real treat. Like you said, Rains can be the King of Snark. I hope you get the chance to see it. 🙂
Silver Screenings 
One of his best performances and one of his most enjoyable. He makes the film work and something is lost once he is no longer on screen.
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Agreed. Claude Rains is utterly fabulous here. I love the scene where he orders the meal in the restaurant.
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Thanks a lot, Silver Screenings, for shining the spotlight on an exemplary actor of his time. Claude Rains was one of my mother’s favourite actors while she was growing up and at drama school in the late 40s. She would have appreciated your judgment and this discerning post!
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Obviously your mother had impeccable taste.
Thanks for your kind comment.
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Wow, I did not know this movie, thanks a lot! But now that I’ve seen Rains singing and even dancing in Pied Piper I wonder if I could still be that amused 😀
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Oh yes, I think you could. Claude Rains’s performance here is every bit as entertaining as in The Pied Piper, but in a much different way of course.
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Haven’t seen this, but have no trouble imagining him stealing the show!
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You said it! And to steal the show from the likes of Bette Davis and Paul Henreid is quite an accomplishment.
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Thank you for this fun post on Claude Rains’ performance in “Deception.” I have set my DVR for the upcoming viewing on TCM (November 9, 2020). All my favorites-Rains, Davis, & Henreid! I’m really looking forward to this one.
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You’re in for a real treat, as far as Claude Rains is concerned. I hope you enjoy! 🙂
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Saw this for the first time recently and thoroughly enjoyed the performances all around, but especially Rains’. Even with all the ego, arrogance and manipulation, there’s just enough wounded humanity in the character to feel for him.
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Beautifully said. This character should be intolerable, but – like you said – Rains makes him empathetic.
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That’s it! You hit the nail right on the head where Rains and Deception are concerned. Of course, Claude, being a gentleman, probably didn’t mean to steal the movie; he simply wanted to improve it and he can’t help himself. That restaurant scene is quite the treat. Yummy!
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Ah yes, I think you’re right. Claude R probably didn’t mean to steal the movie, but there could be no other outcome given his talent and charm. I’m serious!
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I’ll probably never be able to see this o e but I’m dying to know—why does she dump Rains and marry the other guy?!
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That is an excellent question. It could be she regards Henreid’s character as the Great Love of her Life, but he would be much more difficult to live with in the long run. Rains is the better choice.
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My dad’s favorite, I’m definitely gonna share your blog page with him… 🧚♀🌸
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Thanks so much! Because…what’s not to love about Claude Rains, right?
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I’ve never heard of this film, although Claude’s performance must be great if he can make Bette Davis “seem trivial.”
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Oh, you must see this film. Overall, it’s not legendary, but Claude Rains’s performance certainly is. I think he has a bit too much fun in some scenes.
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Rains is indeed brilliant as the temperamental Hollenius. What a performance!
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He’s utterly riveting here, I think.
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He should have won the Oscar for either Deception or Notorious, but alas, it went to Harold Russell, the sentimental favorite.
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Just watched Invisible Man, and in the mood for more Rains, so this might well fit the bill, thanks!
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Oh yes, I think it will. He’s terrific in this film.
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Dear Ruth,
This is a great article! I have never seen this movie, but I have heard a lot about it. You encapsulated it brilliantly! I know what you mean about Claude Rains’s great power to save a movie. He really can bring life to scenes, even if the rest of the movie is a little flat.
Thank you so much for joining the blogathon!
Yours Hopefully,
Tiffany Brannan
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Thanks, Tiffany. This film is another example of Claude Rains elevatng the script. He makes it a much better film than it would be otherwise.
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Indeed, Claude Rains has stolen many films from fine actors! I would be remiss not to mention Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s fabulous music score for Deception.
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Oh yes, the score is beautiful. It seems a few critics at the time were kind of “meh” about it, but time has vindicated it. The music + Claude Rains makes this a must-see film.
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Well, my goodness! What a fascinating sounding film. I’d never heard of it, but I do like Bette Davis and it intrigues me to think of her and Rains in the same film. It does sound like he has quite a lot of snarky dialogue. He’s so brilliant at snark, so that was a good choice.
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Well, my goodness! What a fascinating sounding film. I’d never heard of it, but I do like Bette Davis and it intrigues me to think of her and Rains in the same film. It does sound like he has quite a lot of snarky dialogue. He’s so brilliant at snark, so that was a good choice.
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Bette Davis and Claude Rains are fabulous together in their scenes. Watching these two pros is a real treat. Like you said, Rains can be the King of Snark. I hope you get the chance to see it. 🙂
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Great indeed
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He is a great actor, isn’t he? He’s a joy to watch.
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Yup
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Ah, Mr. Rains. So sneaky. And we love him for it. I gotta see this movie. 🙂
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Your comment made me laugh out loud. That Claude is a sneaky one indeed.
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