Indiscret

A British-based light romantic comedy,adapted from a stage play,INDISCREET is basically a gossamer-thin opus which is often constrained by it's theatrical origins,but is totally redeemed by the incomparable Cary Grant and the almost-as-incomparable Ingrid Bergman.The settings,story and characters are frightfully upper-middle class,an often resistible brew,but Grant's matchless skill as a light comedian and actor,allied with immense charm and ever-youthful handsomeness,and a surprisingly deft comic performance by Bergman,not at her peak of attractiveness but still striking in her early forties,give the sometimes under-nourished script a resonance it didn't really have.The result is a enjoyable and very pleasant hour and a half.It dosen't provoke guffaws or hearty roars of laughter,more a lengthy,admiring smile throughout it's running time,but this is not to it's detriment.Stanley Donen's direction is perfectly adequate,though a greater opening out and use of exterior scenes would have reduced the sometimes static quality of the narrative.The supporting cast consists of familiar British character actors like Cecil Parker,Megs Jenkins,Phyllis Calvert and David Kossoff,always welcome contributors and they add invaluably to the fun.But it is Grant and Bergman who carry the film all the way,also making a potentially maudlin final scene(despite ending rather abruptly)rather sweet and touching.

In general, I liked Indiscreet. Starting with the film's problems, the story is very slight and some scenes are non-eventful. While not the only film to suffer from this problem, the pacing has a tendency to become very pedestrian, and finally the film's length(100 minutes) may try the viewer's patience, especially with the slow pacing. But even with its problems, it is a charming film, not as good in my opinion as An Affair to Remember but there are a lot of good things about it. Indiscreet is lovely to look at, Ingrid Bergman looks really elegant in her dresses and her apartment is drop dead gorgeous! The cinematography and scenery is also really lovely. I also really liked the score, it was haunting and beautiful and had the hypnotic power than Rachmaninov has in his piano concertos. Stanley Donen directs efficiently, and the dialogue does sparkle. As does the performances and chemistry of Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman, who are great together and each of them are believable in their roles. In terms of effective scenes, the party scene was great fun, it was a real joy to see Grant making "a fool of himself" dancing. Overall, charming if very slight, elevated by the two lead performances. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Average romance/comedy made above average by the mere presence of two legendary movie stars.The story moves along quite slow but romance comedy fans will be rewarded during the second part of the movie as the complications stir up the energy a bit.The script and screenplay could have been much better but the cinematography,despite limited settings,was good enough to capture the charm of the two lead superstars.Only for fans of the lead stars and big fans of romance/comedy movies.......

Appreciation for the 1958 romantic comedy 'Indiscreet' will likely depend on one's interest in watching the two stars, Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman, play out romantic scenarios. Though both deliver charming performances, one is left with the impression that the generic and largely unfunny script would have come apart completely in less capable hands. As it is, 'Indiscreet' is not a bad movie. The performances of the two leads, together with a few genuinely amusing moments towards the end as the couple's tangled schemes start to unravel, are enough to compensate for its deficiencies. However, for another, much finer, Bergman/Grant romance, try Alfred Hitchcock's 'Notorious.'

Anna Kalman (Ingrid Bergman) is an accomplished actress who has given up hope of finding the man of her dreams. She is talking about this subject with her sister, when in walks Philip Adams (Cary Grant). She realizes that this is the charming, smart and handsome man she has been waiting for. They begin a relationship, but she finds out that he has been keeping a secret from her. When she learns of his lie, she becomes furious and works out a plan for revenge.

Indiscreet was nominated for three Golden Globes, two BAFTAs and one Writers Guild of America award, but failed to win any of them. This is unfortunate. While not the best work from Bergman, Grant or Donen, they are a powerful triple threat... this has the twist and turns of a spy thriller with the heart of a romantic comedy.