Review of Suspicion (1941) by Kenneth B — 08 Aug 2013

A solid Hitchcock suspense film. Joan Fontaine falls head over heels for the first man that shows any interest in her. She elopes and soon starts to wonder about the nature of her husband: is he truly a free spirit or is he scheming a criminal way to live as a leach. Each new "suspicion" raises the stakes (Hitchcock considered the title too "trashy").

Cary Grant does an excellent job in creating doubt for the main character but also for the viewers. Anyone going into the film with no preconceived notions is in for a surprise and tense viewing. The first thirty minutes build up the high society drama that underpins the film and then it takes off on a new life as they get in deeper and deeper into despairing debt. Joan Fontaine plays the naive but also forceful character successfully providing a well rounded character in a true spiritual struggle to find her place in her new unfamiliar territory. Their friend "Beaky" also plays the bumbling friend well and provides good, natural comedic relief.

Hitchcock provided many memorable scenes. The black and white photography is integral to a proper appreciation of the film. One of the famous scenes is where an overhead shot captures Grant carrying a glass of milk that glows in the dark up the steps to his wife. This is an essential film from Hitchcock that should be viewed and the first one that shows Grant's diversity in his acting skills beyond pure comedy and romance. Grant could not leave behind easily his goofy humor, but it appears in a new light in this film.

SPOILER:

The ending has been a source of controversy because Hitchcock was not allowed to shoot his intended ending where Grant was clearly seen poisoning his wife and his wife dutifully follows through while giving Grant a letter to deliver where she reveals her husband as her killer. Whether the studios feared the reaction of the audiences or typecasting for Grant, they would not allow him to appear as a villain. The ending as it stands can be taken in two ways: the naive mind could see it as a happy ending, or the cynical mind sees the ending as "until next time." For that reason, I think that Hitchcock provided an appropriate and effective ending.