Our next film is 1958's "Indiscreet", starring Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman. An actress becomes knowingly involved with a married man. They go on happily until a secret threatens to rip them apart. The film's supporting cast includes Cecil Parker, Phyllis Calvert, David Kossoff, and Megs Jenkins.
Theater star Anna Kalman (Bergman) has come home to London early from a vacation. Nobody is expecting her, and her apartment is not ready when she arrives. Her sister and brother-in-law arrive, hoping to use the apartment to change into evening clothes as they are going to a dinner. They try and get Anna to go with them, but she doesn't want to go anywhere.
They say they have a guest coming up to change his clothes as well, a Mr. Philip Adams (Grant), who will also be giving a speech at the dinner. When he walks in, everything changes for Anna.
She is transfixed by him. She even forgets that she has cold cream on her face.
They both feel a strong attraction for one another. It's instant, and their chemistry is electric. Anna agrees to attend the dinner once she's asked by Philip.
During Philip's speech, Anna watches intently, her gaze never wavering from Philip.
Later at her apartment, Anna suggests they get together for a date. Philip tells her that he's married, but separated, and can't possibly get a divorce from his wife. Anna doesn't let that bother her, and says she's willing to go if he is.
After he leaves, Anna spends the rest of the evening thinking about Philip.
Over time, their relationship deepens. Their delight in each other is evident with each passing week. He flies back and forth from Paris, where he works, and they spend every moment together.
One day, Philip tells Anna that he's being temporarily transferred to New York for some assignment. Anna begs him not to go. She asks him to get a divorce and marry her. When he hesitates, she begs his forgiveness for asking. Later, Anna's sister and brother-in-law come over to change clothes again for a dinner they're all supposed to be going to. While the ladies are changing, Alfred and Philip go to Alfred's club.
Over a game of Snooker, Alfred tells Philip that he's had him investigated by Scotland Yard and they've come up with an interesting fact. Philip isn't married at all. Philip tells Alfred that he's used the excuse of his being married because he doesn't actually like the idea of marriage, but he loves Anna. He plans on surprising her the next night (she thinks he'll be sailing for New York) at midnight.
Before Philip arrives at the apartment in his evening clothes, Anna's sister Margaret tells Anna that she read the Scotland Yard report on Philip and that he isn't married.
She's furious! She tells them how she was on her knees begging his forgiveness because she asked him to marry her. "On my knees!" shouts Anna.
"How dare he make love to me and not be a married man!" she screams as she thunders across the floor to her bedroom and slams the door.
(This 16-second clip is one of my favorite Ingrid Bergman moments in the film, possibly my favorite Ingrid Bergman moment of all time.)
When she reemerges from the bedroom, she tells Alfred and Margaret that they are going to go ahead with the evening as if nothing has changed. She is going to think up something to get back at him.
During the dinner, an eighthsome reel is played and Philip enthusiastically wants to participate. He has the group join him as he shouts, whoops, and hollers around the dance floor.
Their separate reactions to each other couldn't be more different. While she's at the dinner/dance, Anna hatches a plan.
During the dinner, she receives a rose from an old boyfriend. She decides to make Philip jealous by pretending to have plans with this guy.
She has a phone conversation with "David", and this makes Philip jealous to no end.
After her brother-in-law tells her that Philip's planning to surprise her, she gets her butler, Carl, to pretend to be David. She wants him coming out of her bedroom just as Philip and she are together and the clock strikes midnight.
Unfortunately for Anna, Philip comes to her and tells her that they can get married. Carl comes out on his cue, and Philip gets understandably upset. Anna is crushed when Philip leaves the apartment.
Philip later comes back and he and Anna clear the air after a lot of explaining of each other's actions.
Philip proposes marriage again, and Anna joyfully accepts through her tears of happiness. Cast rundown:
David Kossoff...........................Carl Banks
Megs Jenkins...........................Doris Banks And that's all for Indiscreet. Several men, including Clark Gable, were associated with the male lead for this movie. When Cary Grant became involved, he would settle on no one but Ingrid Bergman for his costar. They had not worked together since 1946's "Notorious". As always, if you wish to leave a comment, please remember our posting rules.
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