Deceptions (1985)

One of the most interesting things about this movie is all the major actors who play minor parts, at a time before they were really famous in the U.S. Tobey Maguire, looking like he's about 8 years old (but who can tell, really, since he looks like he's 8 years old today), plays one of Stephanie Powers' children. Also we get Jeremy Brett, the BBC's definitive modern Sherlock Holmes, as assistant bad guy, looking really hot without his deerstalker cap. And the wonderful Judy Parfitt, who is known to American audiences primarily as the wild widower wearing cowboy boots in the BBC long-running series "As Time Goes By" of more recent fame.Not sure, but I believe that Tobey's sister is played by an equally young Salma Blair, but since neither of them is listed on the official credits, it's hard to tell.The movie has some kind of stilted moments, but the scenery and ambiance are unbeatable: Live shots of the Grand Canal in Venice, the Via Condotti in Rome, most of the great shopping streets in London, and the magnetic Stephanie Powers. It's a great way to pretend that we're millionaires traveling around Europe in style. And not a bad movie, to boot.

I enjoyed this movie so much, I have carried it around in my head for 15 years, ever since I saw it. The music was great. It was really appropriate for the story. The twist was so unexpected. It was a shock that made the movie unforgettable for me. I was expecting a straight forward romance type movie. I love romance. Stephanie Powers was fantastic. She made the movie truly memorable. I don't know if can purchase a copy of it but I am going to try so that I can watch it as many times as I want.Loved it!Charley

I rented this movie not long after it came out, something to watch on a rainy evening. It was unusually compelling, Ms Powers delivers a performance exceeding anything I have seen her do before or since, not simply as she plays two separate roles, but 'involves' the viewer in what she is enacting. I am not a fan, but this movie alone would stop me from disparaging her work. The story moves along at a fair pace with the twists and turns of a much heavier thriller without the necessity for gruesome scenes. I have been trying to buy this movie for 15 years now and the guys that have it are keeping it, and I understand why.

This happens to be one of my favorite "trash wallows" as we used to call these expensive soapers in the '80s. Unfortunately, there aren't the budgets for TV movies that there used to be. Stefanie Powers is in her prime in this dual role of a plain Jane wife of a college teacher and her glamorous jet setting twin sister. The cast includes Sherlock Holmes himself, Jeremy Brett and none other than Gina Lollabrigida. Part of the movie takes place in Venice and it's glorious!Deceptions embodies a certain '80s decadence for me - I love the scene on the yacht where all these hedonists are dancing to the Pointer Sisters. But my favorite is the night of the twins' birthday, celebrated in an Italian villa, where they dance to "Don't Let it Stop" and the shy sister starts to really get into it, juxtaposed against some nefarious doings outside the villa. It's great fun.