Rent Indiscreet (1958)

Lightweight Comedy. - Indiscreet review by Steve

Chic but dated sex comedy which reunites its all time great stars, Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman, 12 years after Notorious. In 1958, he was 54 and she was 43, so they are middle aged lovers, but still illuminate the screen, and are glamorously photographed in Technicolor. It's based on a play set in New York, but transferred to London.

Bergman plays a famous stage actor who has never met the right man. As soon as Grant (a NATO diplomat!) enters her stylish apartment, it's obvious that he's the one. And there is an instant rapport. Except he's married. Or claims to be, so no woman will ever tie him down. It's very like the Doris Day- Rock Hudson comedies which began the following year.

Including the use of split screen for their telephone conversations. Of course the humour is all about the complications of their illicit relationship, which is ordinary now. But the stars shine bright, and there's a clever and genuinely funny last scene when the provoked thespian uses her legendary acting skills to turn the tables.

It's a glossy production of a luxurious affair, where the rich lovers dine in fine restaurants wearing fashionable clothes, and crisscross the landmarks of London. The rules of fifties film romance now seem arcane. But they do sit on a bed at the same time! It's a period piece which eventually generates some pretty good farce.