Language in the Love Theme

The love theme, entitled “Duo” by Herrmann within a scene titled “Conversation Piece” by Hitchcock, is a musical mimicry of the ambivalent role playing of lines fed back and forth by Eve and Roger. Although we are assured of their love by the end of the film, the initial “love” between Eve and Roger is only conveyed through corny one liners, acting through their physical gestures, and a musical duet between two instruments which mimic each others melodies.

"I Like your flavor"

We find that Eve is playing multiple roles as a part of her profession and know that Roger’s profession as an advertising man requires him to play roles as well. The lines in that Eve and Roger exchange back and forth are relayed in scripted and persuasive manners. By Eve saying “You've got taste in clothes, taste in food,” Roger’s automatic and crafted reply is “Hmm, and taste in women. I like your flavor”—a line that sounds as though it could be taken straight from some type of advertisement for a woman’s perfume. Each of their intensions does not seem to be quite clear because “…language can always be manipulated to produce profit.” [17]