SUSPICION
UK, 1987, 96 minutes, Colour.
Anthony Andrews, Jane Curtin, Martin Clunes, Betsy Blair, Michael Hordern.
Directed by Andrew Grieve.
Suspicion is a update and more or less faithful remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s' 1941 classic Suspicion. The films screenplay is solidly based on the original - and was adapted by one of the stars, Jonathon Lynn (who plays Beaky) and Barry Levinson, writer and director of such films as Dinah, The Tin Men, Rain Man, Avalon. Anthony Andrews is more immediately sinister and under suspicion than Cary Grant in the original. Jane Curtain, an American, is much more robust than was Joan Fontaine-in the original.
The screen play is easily adapted to the present - but it is hard to respond to the relationship between Johnny and Lina because of the seeming lack of chemistry between the stars. Betsy Blair and Michael Hordern appear very briefly as Lina's parents. Vivian Pickles is the murder mystery novelist. Many of the sequences of the original are recreated - especially the sinister glass of milk sequence (which, of course, has much greater power in black and white photography). It was said at the time that censorship required Johnny not to be a villain. This 1987 production follows the lead of the original with Johnny being under suspicion but misunderstood.
1. Entertaining telemovie? Suspense and romance thriller? Remake of the original? Fidelity to the atmosphere and the screenplay of the original? Comparison of cast, updating in time?
2. Designed for the television audience? English locations, colour photography? The editing and pace - for suspicion? The echoing of the classic sequences - especially the glass of milk sequence, the dangerous driving?
3. The title, the focus on Johnny, Lena's attitudes? The audience sharing her attitudes - sufficient and insufficient evidence? Johnny being misunderstood?
4. Lena, in the train, quite and reclusive, reading psychology, at the riding? At home, the family introducing her to Johnny? Her going to church, going for the walk, his romantic advances and her response? Listening to her parents talk about her and her impulsive response to him? His standing her up? Coming to the dance, going for the drive, the proposal? Her Father's portrait? The wedding - and her father's disapproval? the lavish honeymoon, the lavish home? Her worry about money? The revelation about his not having a job? The gift of the chairs and the reconciliation with her father? Thinking he'd given up gambling and Beaky telling the story? Thinking he was employed and discovering from his cousin that he had taken the money? Her growing suspicions? Beaky and the drinking? Following them to the cliff - and relieved that Beaky was alive? The getting back of the chairs? Her ability and inability to respond to Johnny's dishonesty? Responding to his charm? Her father's death and the funeral, the will? Her growing suspicion, the news of Beaky's death, the police coming, the discussions with the novelist about
Polson? The glass of milk? Her decision to go to her mother, writing the letter and tearing it up? Her going for the drive, her fear? Johnny and the revelation of the truth - a future with him?
5. Johnny as the affluent conman - with a touch of the cad? Charm? Meeting Lina in the train, getting the money from her for the ticket? Getting photographed? Meeting Lina, going for the walk, in love with her? Coming to the dance? The proposal, the marriage? The honeymoon and the house? Borrowing money and the letter? The chairs and his reaction, selling them? Beaky's revelation of the truth? His reaction to Beaky? Buying the gifts - and the return of the chairs? The job, his failing and not telling Lina, telling lies about the reason? The drive - and his getting Beaky involved with the property development, saving his life in the car? Deciding to stop the business after the clash with Lina? Going to London - and the truth that he went to Liverpool and was not responsible for Beaky's death? Listening to the novelist stories? Her discussions about who was capable of committing murder? The glass of milk, his final reaction to Lina, the drive - and his confession of love and dependence on her?
6. The glimpse of Lina's parents, her mother and her concern? Her father and his behaviour at the meal, aristocrat? The ball, disdain for Johnny? The wedding, the gift of the chars, his death?
7. The novelist, friendship with Lina? The meal and the discussion about poisons? Her discernment of people able to commit murder? Looking after Lina in her collapse? telling Lina that she had told Johnny the stories? The meal, her brother the doctor and the discussion?
8. Beaky, his arrival, Johnny not telling Lina about him? The naive English wealthy man? The danger of the drinking? Friendship with Johnny, spilling the beans, taunting him about the chairs? Going into business, not understanding it? The danger on the cliff? The news of his death?
9. The police and the interrogations - Lina's response (and the audience sharing it)?
10. Satisfying romantic thriller? The experience of suspicion?
