A Perfect Pairing
Wine and cinema are two of my favourite things. Each has the potential to offer interesting experiences that engage the senses and evoke emotions. Here we explore the world of wine in films, celebrating the moments when these two worlds come together. From the iconic bottle of Pommard in Hitchcock’s Notorious or the familiar sight of a decanter filled with sherry in countless old black and white films, wine often plays a significant role on the silver screen.
1940s
The Uninvited (1944)
Near the beginning of the film, Ray Milland’s character, Roderick Fitzgerald, and his sister, Pamela Fitzgerald meet Commander Beech, the current owner of the abandoned house they are interested in purchasing. Commander Beech offers them a glass of sherry as they discuss the house and its history. At least I think he does…
Notorious (1946)
The aforementioned bottle of Pommard aside, the wine bottle featured here in Alfred Hitchcock’s Notorious seems to be or refer to “Volnay-Caillerets Ancienne Cuvée Carnot” 1er Cru produced and bottled by Bouchard Père & Fils. Whether the label used in the film is the actual label or a mock-up is not entirely clear. The earliest label image I can find is the 1943 vintage which looks different to the label used in the film.
Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)
“Glass of wine?”
The film, known for its wickedly dark humor and satire, includes a scene where Louis Mazzini (Dennis Price), on the eve of his execution, is writing his memoirs and offers the prison governor a glass of wine.
The specific type of wine offered is not explicitly mentioned in the dialogue or shown on screen. This scene focuses more on the irony and humor of the situation rather than the details of the wine itself.
The Passionate Friends (1949)
There’s a scene where Trevor Howard’s character, Steven Stratton, offers a glass of sherry to Ann Todd’s character, Mary Justin. As in Kind Hearts and Coronets and other films of this era listed, the specific type or brand of sherry is not mentioned and the focus is on the interaction between the characters rather than the details of the drink. The sherry serves as a vehicle to further their conversation and the development of their relationship, rather than as a focal point in itself.
1950s
The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959)
Miles Malleson as Bishop Frankland steals the show in Terence Fisher’s 1959 version of the classic novel. Bishop Frankland makes his way through multiple glasses of sherry on screen. Although just like many of the other films on this list, just what those sherries are remains a mystery.
1960s
Unearthly Stranger (1963)
Low-budget British sci-fi which is a cut above it’s B-movie budget.
An economical 78 minutes running time filled with interesting camera shots, sparkling dialogue but a little bogged down by some creaky acting at times. Around 36 minutes in we find a majestic looking bottle on the dinner table which looks an awful lot like it could be a Riesling. But we never get to see the label in full. Answers on a postcard.
Features an early performance by Philip Stone (Grady from Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining).
