My Hitchcock week continues in earnest, and my third film by the great one is perhaps one of his lesser known works, Suspicion. It was made in 1941, and stars Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine, who won an Oscar for her performance. This film was also nominated for Best Music and even Best Picture. ... Read review
Repeated viewings can't dispel the shock of the final scene ofSuspicion, Hitchcock's ... more
classic 1941 romantic mystery--a brief but disorientating confrontation that suddenly inverts the heroine's mounting conviction that she's married a murderer, forcing ...
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Morgan Freeman and Gene Hackman star inUnder Suspicion, a suspense-filled tale of ... more
interrogation--less of a whodunit than a did-he-do-it. Freeman plays Victor Benezet, a police captain investigating the murder of a child, and Hackman is Henry Hearst, a prominent lawyer and pillar of the community who also happens to be the prime suspect. Benezet and Hearst have a history together, and Benezet is torn between showing deference for an old friend and prominent community figure and ruthlessly pursuing a man he believes to be a child murderer. Director Stephen Hopkins spins multiple versions of the same events, popping details in and out as Hearst's story changes. Hopkins also uses the unusual and satisfying technique of juxtaposing the interview room with other locations, allowing Benezet to "follow" Hearst through his movements as he questions him.Under Suspicionalso serves up the delicious eye candy of Puerto Rico during the St Sebastian festival, but the real treat is getting to watch two masters such as Hackman and Freeman square off. --Ali Davis, Amazon.com
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Repeated viewings can't dispel the shock of the final scene in this classic 1941 romantic ... more
mystery--a brief but disorienting confrontation that suddenly inverts the heroine's mounting conviction that she's married a murderer, forcing us to reconsider virtually every scene and line of dialogue that's preceded it. It's a masterful coup de grace for director Alfred Hitchcock, who has built a puzzle around the corrosive power of suspicion, threaded with deft ambiguities that toy with dramatic conventions and character archetypes in nearly every frame. As embodied by Joan Fontaine, who nabbed an Oscar in this second outing with the director, Lina McLaidlaw is a buttoned-up, bookish heiress whose prim exterior conceals longings for a more engaged emotional life. Her solution materializes in the darkly handsome Johnnie Aysgarth, a gambler, womaniser, and spendthrift who flirts, then pursues, and soon marries her. As Aysgarth, Cary Grant is both irresistible and sinister, capable of deceit and petty theft, as well asgrander designs on his bride's impending fortune.Lina's passion for Johnnie is clouded by each new revelation about his apparent dishonesty, from clandestine gambling to real estate development schemes; more troubling are clues implicating him in the death of his best friend, and the prospect that Johnnie may be slowly poisoning Lina herself. By the time we see him ascending a darkened staircase with a suspicious glass of milk, an image made all the more indelible through the spectral glow the director captures in the glass, the evidence seems damning indeed. In fact, even as Hitchcock stacks the deck against Johnnie, and takes full advantage of Grant's skill at conveying such menace, the director also dots his landscape with visual clues to Lina's own neurotic (and erotic) obsessions. The final scene forces us to reevaluate her behavior while leaving enough of a cloud over Johnnie to rob him, and us, of a complete exoneration. It's a wicked, unsettling payoff to a brilliantly executed thriller. --Sam Sutherland
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Repeated viewings can't dispel the shock of the final scene in this classic 1941 romantic ... more
mystery--a brief but disorienting confrontation that suddenly inverts the heroine's mounting conviction that she's married a murderer, forcing us to reconsider virtually every scene and line of dialogue that's preceded it. It's a masterful coup de grace for director Alfred Hitchcock, who has built a puzzle around the corrosive power of suspicion, threaded with deft ambiguities that toy with dramatic conventions and character archetypes in nearly every frame. As embodied by Joan Fontaine, who nabbed an Oscar in this second outing with the director, Lina McLaidlaw is a buttoned-up, bookish heiress whose prim exterior conceals longings for a more engaged emotional life. Her solution materializes in the darkly handsome Johnnie Aysgarth, a gambler, womaniser, and spendthrift who flirts, then pursues, and soon marries her. As Aysgarth, Cary Grant is both irresistible and sinister, capable of deceit and petty theft, as well asgrander designs on his bride's impending fortune.Lina's passion for Johnnie is clouded by each new revelation about his apparent dishonesty, from clandestine gambling to real estate development schemes; more troubling are clues implicating him in the death of his best friend, and the prospect that Johnnie may be slowly poisoning Lina herself. By the time we see him ascending a darkened staircase with a suspicious glass of milk, an image made all the more indelible through the spectral glow the director captures in the glass, the evidence seems damning indeed. In fact, even as Hitchcock stacks the deck against Johnnie, and takes full advantage of Grant's skill at conveying such menace, the director also dots his landscape with visual clues to Lina's own neurotic (and erotic) obsessions. The final scene forces us to reevaluate her behavior while leaving enough of a cloud over Johnnie to rob him, and us, of a complete exoneration. It's a wicked, unsettling payoff to a brilliantly executed thriller. --Sam Sutherland
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In 'Suspicion' wealthy sheltered Joan Fontaine is swept off her feet by charming ... more
ne'er-do-well Cary Grant. Though warned that Grant is little more than a fortune-hunter Fontaine marries him anyway. She remains loyal to her irresponsible husband as he plows his way from one disreputable business scheme to another. Gradually Fontaine comes to the conclusion that Grant intends to do away with her in order to collect her inheritance...a suspicion confirmed when Grant's likeable business partner Nigel Bruce dies under mysterious circumstances. Suspicion's stylish chills put Hitchcock on the top of the Hollywood heap...and keeps audiences on the edges of their seats to this day. So hang on for an-all suspense that's all-out Hitchcock!
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Production Year: 2002 - Thriller - Director: Bharat Nalluri, Rob Bailey, Andy Wilson - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Matthew MacFadyen, Keeley Hawes, David Oyelowo, Peter Firth, Jenny Agutter, Lisa Faulkner
Thriller - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Timothy West, Neil Morrissey, Tara Fitzgerald, Annette Crosbie, Pauline Quirke, Rob Brydon, Denise Van Outen, John Thomson, Kevin Whately, David Suchet
Production Year: 2002 - Thriller - Director: K.C. Bascombe - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Jesse James, Rachel Skarsten, Charles Powell, Linda Purl, Kevin Zegars
Advantages: Really tense, excellent performances Disadvantages: The ending is a complete let down
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Suspicion is available to buy online for £9.99 from www.dvd.co.uk. I don't know anything about the extras, I'm just reviewing the film.
Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
Starring: Cary Grant, Joan Fontaine, Cedric Hardwicke, Nigel Bruce, Auriol Lee, Leo G. Carroll
Running Time: 99 minutes
Classification: PG
... more
My Hitchcock week continues in earnest, and my third film by the great one is perhaps one of his lesser known works, Suspicion. It was made in 1941, and stars Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine, who won an Oscar for her performance. This film was also nominated for Best Music and even Best Picture. They play a charming rogue and a beautiful rich lady respectively, and I think this is a film that really should be better known, as it's rather good.
When Lina McLaidlaw (Fontaine) is whisked off her feet by the handsome Johnnie Aysgarth (Cary Grant), they get married and all seems happy. But - and you knew there would be a but - she thinks he is trying to kill her. It's not as far-fetched as it sounds, because as she delves into his past, all she finds is a string of i.o.u s, dodgy dealings and large amounts of money "won on the horses". When Johnnie's friend and business partner, Beaky (played by Nigel Bruce), dies from an overdose of Brandy, and Johnnie goes missing at that same time, her suspicions are well and truly aroused. Will she discover the truth and confront him before it is too late, or will his passion for murder mystery books tip him over the edge of a dangerous cliff?
At first, I really didn't think I would enjoy this. It all seemed very twee and old-fashioned, with Joan Fontaine being incredibly posh, Johnnie being almost too charming to be believable, and Beaky being incredibly annoying and saying "old bean" far too much. Yes you did hear me correctly - OLD BEAN! How naff is that? But as I got further into the story, I became hooked, and was dragged along by Fontaine's marvellous performance. True, she only really has to act scared all the time, but she does it with aplomb, and the chemistry between her and Grant is there for all to see. He is also great as usual, being at once both lovable and despicable, and pulling off his nastier scenes with real anger.
Alfred Hitchcock directs this film with his usual flair, and keeps the tension building up possibly even better than in any other of his films. As you discover Johnnie's sinister past, the clues start coming thick and fast, and in parts it's almost unbearably tense. Despite all the clues, you really can't believe that Cary Grant could possibly be a murderer, and yet it's all seemingly laid out in front of us. By the time you reach the finale - driving along a cliff-top at breakneck speeds, Lina looking terrified, her door flies wide open, she's falling out - it's so exciting I can't properly describe it here. Hitchcock uses black and white photography to good effect again, and there's nothing quite like Grant sneaking around the house in the dark to arouse your suspicions. The musical score is also quite creepy and sinister.
Alas, after all this fantastic work, the film has one of THE worst endings I have ever had the misfortune to watch. Yes, even worse than Van Helsing (if you've ever watched that you'll know what I mean). Without trying to give anything away in case everyone moans I've ruined it for them, is Johnnie a murderer? What do you think? Everything is summed up all too, well, nicely, and I was left crying out for something a bit more unpredictable and daring. I heard that Hitchcock himself didn't like this ending but he was forced to do it by the producers, and I can totally believe that. As well as the ridiculous story "twist", the whole thing is done in about a minute and a half, leaving the viewer feeling absolutely cheated and let down. Talk about an anti-climax.
So, I hope I haven't put you off too much by the ending, as what leads up to it is fantastic - I really would say that it's better than Strangers on a Train, even better than Rear Window, that much heralded classic. The cinematography is great, the acting is great, the tension is great, the ending is AWFUL, but the film as a whole is very good. You really should watch this film if you get a chance, but I would say if you truly want to enjoy it, switch off before they start talking at the end, and come up with your own ending - you'll be infinitely happier than this cheese-fest. (Oh, did I mention the ending wasn't very good?)
Advantages: Maintains the tension and mystery Disadvantages: Ending
...afraid, whilst not arousing the suspicion of her husband. She won an Oscar for her efforts. Cary Grant plays a surprisingly dark character. Whilst charming on the outside may or may not have a sinister inner nature. The film has only one memorable special effect, and a low budget one at that. It is a scene in which Jonnie brings his wife a glass of milk that she believes she has poisoned. The milk seems to glow, apparently this effect was achieved ... ...glass. Just goes to show you don’t need technology.
This film is based upon a book called “Before The Fact”, which attempts to look at murder from the point of view of the victim. The film is faithful to the concept, although the character of Jonny has been sanitised for Hollywood. Throughout the film the idea of Jonny as the murderer is continually built up with clue after clue. The tension is not so much whether he is a potential ...
Fantasyman 12.05.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Suspicion (DVD)
...really quite entertaining. Many people consider Rebecca or Notorious Hitchcock's best movie of the 40's. I like both films a lot, but something about Suspicion makes it my personal favorite of the decade.
This is a must-see for Hitchcock fans. Full of classic performances and of course, suspensefully directed! ...
Mohammed 10.08.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Suspicion (DVD)
Advantages: Good psychological thriller Disadvantages: Obligatory Happy Ending
On a personal level this is my favourite Hitchcock thriller and if the great man had been allowed to do it as he wanted I'm sure it would have received more critcal acclaim.
This one of Hitchcocks more cerebral offerings where acts are not carried out merely alluded to allowing the watchers imagination to fill in the blanks.
Joan Fountaine plays a wealthy woman married to a shady Cary Grant. He portrays all his smooth charm which had won him much ... ...self-centred waster who expects his in-laws to look after him but when it becomes evident that this is not the case he looks for other ways to finance his life.
After mistaken conversations and identies his apparently murderous intentions come to the mind of his wife leading to the "suspicion".
Although the end eventually ends on a happier note, Hitchcock originally wanted Cary to stay nasty to the end but the studio didn't like that so goodness ...
MissTRious 18.08.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Suspicion (DVD)
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Advantages: Good acting Disadvantages: Just doesn't seem to gel
Introduction
I love free DVDs with newspapers. I have no loyalty towards any particular paper; in fact I rarely buy newspapers because I catch up with the news on the internet, but a free DVD that I like the look of will persuade me to buy. And so I ended up with Under Suspicion, free with the Sunday Mail. I liked the look of the film because it starred Gene Hackman and Morgan Freeman, two of my favourite actors, and the topic sounded right up my street as well. Unfortunately, there is something missing from this film.
The plot
Victor Benezet plays a police captain in San Juan, Puerto Rico, investigating the death of two young girls. The second girl was found by Henry Hearst, a lawyer well-known in his community for his good deeds. Benezet calls him in to ask him some further questions, not really expecting it to take any time ...
Advantages: Great acting, especially from Hackman Disadvantages: A bland subject area is made worse by an obscure ending
‘Under Suspicion’ is a remake of the French film, ‘Garde a Vue’ which itself is a remake of JohnWainwright’s book, ‘Brainwash’, and when I heard that Gene Hackman had waited years to make the film, I decided that it could not be missed.
Henry Hearst (Hackman) is a wealthy tax lawyer who is due to be making a speech at a charity event in San Juan, Puerto Rica, to accrue funding after a hurricane had devastated the area. The previous day he had reported a young girl to the police who had been strangled and raped. The police captain, Victor Benezet, (Morgan Freeman) asks Hearst whether he could come down to the police station for an informal discussion of the previous days events before he goes on to the charity ball with his stunningly beautiful wife, Chantal (Monica Belluci). Hearst cooperates ...
The beautiful daughter of a wealthy, landed English family is charmed into elopement by a lighthearted and irreverent wastrel who succeeds in introducing the young woman to the pleasures of a more carefree outlook on life. However, as she discovers the legacy of his carefree ways--his numerous debts and pursuers--she begins to suspect a darker past and must confront the horrible implications this has for her future.
Joan Fontaine's fabulous performance as a woman who grows to fear the man she loves anchors this compelling story in which Alfred Hitchcock shows his love for playing with the audience's expectations. Perfectly cast is the dashing Cary Grant, whose lovable and charming persona is on full display while being completely transformed through Hitchcock's eerie camera work and visual innuendo to the point that the simplest gesture takes on a new and malevolent aspect. SUSPICION lives up to its title's promise, weaving dread and ambiguity into a potent psychological net. Fontaine is the beautiful daughter of a wealthy, landed English family. Grant is the lighthearted and irreverent wastrel who charms Fontaine into elopement and succeeds in introducing the young woman to the pleasures of a more carefree outlook on life. However, as Fontaine discovers the legacy of Grant's carefree ways--his numerous debts and pursuers--she begins to suspect a darker past and must confront the horrible implications this has for her future.
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