Indiscreet (1958) held a promise of adulthood for me as a kid. Not the flirting with a married man part - the scandal went right over my head! - but that an adult can consume only chocolate and milk for dinner and not get in trouble. [It looks like chocolate; it could be individually-wrapped pieces of soft cheese.]I didn’t understand that Ingrid Bergman eating this paltry meal in a tailor-made housecoat is meant to display loneliness and depression. She seems to be living the high life to a kid who has to dress for dinner and eat all her vegetables first.
A few minutes later, the Bergman character, still wearing her housecoat, has cold cream all over her face during her meetcute with Cary Grant. This scene typifies an ease of life, a lack of regimentation, that I wanted very much when I grew up.It was only later that I realized meeting him without makeup is meant to be a comic situation at Bergman’s expense since a handsome man shows up and the lady looks like a slob [or as close to it as she gets in the film; she still looks beautiful to me].
The audience is meant to contrast that first lonely meal in her house with the cheerful second one - breakfast with Grant with a fully cooked meal on a gingham tablecloth. The scene is like a Vermeer genre piece, there’s so much strategically-placed sunshine pouring in.
She’s happy. I’m not. My childhood version of this film is ruined.
Great post. How cruel to have your childhood illusions stripped away!
ReplyDeleteI love "Indiscreet." It always makes me laugh, and Ingrid Bergman's apartment is a total dream. All those colorful pictures on the walls! That was my illusion stripped away -- realizing that as a grown up I wouldn't have a fancy apartment like that. ;-)
Ha, this was a treat. I think your version sounds better. I remember my own disappointment when I grew up and found out that Airplane! was not a creepy horror film. I'm not kidding about that one.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thoughts,
ReplyDeleteI loved all the interiors in this film! I loved that he bought her, not flowers, but a painting.
The movie for me was just lovely people in beautiful clothes going in and out of gorgeous buildings. I did not pay attention to the story. :)
Rachel,
AIRPLANE is hilarious! One of my favorites from the post-classic era (i.e. after 1965). ;)
I have only recently started getting into classic movies. I spent a few weekends ago evading the heat watching several great movies, including "Gone with the Wind", on my laptop.
ReplyDeleteWhat a bummer! I hate when movies paint false portraits. I always thought the Swiss Family Robinson had an awesome treehouse in the Disney version. But if I was shipwrecked, my abode would likely be no more than a lean-to with palm leaves.
ReplyDeleteThat's life. We're given a glimpse of what could be and then it is taken away.
ReplyDeleteSongbirdtiff, thanks for dropping in! I found your blog about frugality very helpful. For more movie recommendations you can also check out my 12 Summer-themed Classic Movies blog post.
ReplyDeleteCF&TVC, if I were shipwrecked, I'd probably be dead, frankly. I don't think I'd even get to the lean-to with palm leaves part. The way things go with me, I'd probably be nipped by a shark or die of some infection onboard before the ship gets wrecked.
But I'd like to think I'm at least half as resourceful as that ingenious Swiss family. But then I don't have a pet zebra; that's probably why. :)
Caftan Woman, you said it. :)
Thanks everyone.
-- Java