THE SUSPECT
US, 1944,84 minutes, Black and white.
Charles Laughton, Henry Daniell, Ella Raines.
Directed by Robert Siodmak.
The Suspect is a very enjoyable character study, crime thriller and film noir. It is a star vehicle for Charles Laughton as a meek and mild man who is goaded into killing his impossible wife - it is said that the character was based on Dr Crippen.
The film re-creates the atmosphere of London, 1902, on Hollywood stages and indicates the Hollywood fascination for this Victorian setting for thrillers, for example, The Lodger, Hanover Street, The Verdict.
While the film has a short running time and is B-budget. it is directed with some style by Robert Siodmak, director of such thrillers as The Spiral Staircase and Cry of the City.
1. Entertaining crime thriller? Character study? Film noir of the '40s?
2. The re-creation of England in Hollywood? The unhappy blend of American accents and British appearances? Musical score, style?
3. Victoriana: England, the period,- yet change? Murder, violence under the respectable surface? The investigation and the detective stories popular at the time?
4. Charles Laughton as Philip Marshall: presence and style? Meek and mild at work, his affection for his son, supporting him when he left, the cantankerous wife, Merrydew and his taking pennies and Marshall befriending him and teaching him honesty? The encounter with Mary and her asking for a job? His interest in her, going out, lying to her, the collage of their outings? His falling in love? The effect on him? His wife following him? His discussion with Mary and breaking it off?. His wife's refusal of divorce, her summoning him to her room, taking his key? The Christmas nagging? The threat to expose Mary? The build-up to bid killing her, the decision? The screenplay not showing the death? The transition to the funeral, talk after the funeral? Sympathy of friends? Mrs Simmons and her giving the medicine? The irony of the inspector coming and the vivid re-enactment of the murder on the speculation of the inspector and the camera going through all the motions? His decision to defy the inspector, to marry Mary? Simmons and his wife, the clashes with Simmons? Simmons' blackmail? His poisoning him? The irony of John and the family coming home and the body behind the couch? His love for Mary, decision to go to Canada? The inspector's final confrontation on the boat? The threat to Mrs Simmons? His leaving the boat and giving himself up? A credible characterisation?
5. The sketch of the wife, her nagging, her asking to be killed? The son and his clash with his mother, his friendship with his father, marriage, the fiancee and going to Canada?
6. Mary and her enterprise, typing, asking for a job, attracted towards Philip, the outings, wanting to be honourable, at work and her telling the story, the separation? The death and the police investigation? Her marriage, the possibilities of happiness?
7. The inspector, his pursuit of Marshall, reconstruction of the killing, speculation, getting Marshall tailed, the discussions with Simmons? The end and the confrontation?
8. Simmons as alcoholic, his mistreating hie wife? Her concern for Marshall? Story of her being accused of her husband's death?
9. A well-done thriller, motivation for crime, reconstruction of crime? Conscience?
