Review of Suspicion (1941) by Lanning : — 13 Jan 2012

Walter, this is another one where I wish I'd written the script. Maybe my favorite Hitchcock, but I have to agree with him when he says he'd rather have had it end with Grant murdering Fontaine -- the way the book it was based on ended.

As is, the "happy" ending is a little too quick and not quite convincing, although given the constraints of having to have a "happy" ending, I think Hitchcock came up with a decent finish.

I really don't believe that Grant was checking out poisons that couldn't be traced because he wanted to kill himself due to his shame. The character really is without shame, and bordering on amoral.

And to have Fontaine voice the realization of Grant's wanting to kill himself is just too unbelievable for me. Still, the edge of your seat non-stop guessing game is masterful. Really one of Hitchcock's best jobs.