Suspicion (1941)

A shy young English woman marries a charming gentleman, then begins to suspect him of trying to kill her.

Director:

Alfred Hitchcock

Writers:

Samson Raphaelson (screen play), Joan Harrison (screen play),

Stars:

Cary Grant, Joan Fontaine, Cedric Hardwicke

Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Cary Grant	...	Johnnie
Joan Fontaine	...	Lina
Cedric Hardwicke	...	General McLaidlaw (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke)
Nigel Bruce	...	Beaky
Dame May Whitty	...	Mrs. McLaidlaw
Isabel Jeans	...	Mrs. Newsham
Heather Angel	...	Ethel
Auriol Lee	...	Isobel Sedbusk
Reginald Sheffield	...	Reggie Wetherby
Leo G. Carroll	...	Captain Melbeck

Storyline

Johnny Aysgarth is a handsome gambler who seems to live by borrowing money from friends. He meets shy Lina McLaidlaw on a train whilst trying to travel in a first class carriage with a third class ticket. He begins to court Lina and before long they are married. It is only after the honeymoon that she discovers his true character and she starts to become suspicious when Johnny's friend and business partner, Beaky is killed mysteriously.

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Plot Keywords:

friend | love | money | honeymoon | train | 

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Taglines:

Alfred Hitchcock, who gave you "Foreign Correspondent" and "Rebecca", creates his most romantic mystery hit!

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 November 1941 (USA)

Also Known As:

Before the Fact

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Joan Fontaine's performance in this movie is the only Oscar-winning performance that Alfred Hitchcock directed.

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Goofs

According to the invitation shown on screen, the hunt ball is on March 7, but the telegram that persuades Lina to attend the ball is dated March 8.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Johnnie Aysgarth: Oh, I beg your pardon. Was that your leg? I had no idea we were going into a tunnel. I thought the compartment was empty.

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Connections

Featured in Telescope: A Talk with Hitchcock (1964)

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Soundtracks

"Wiener Blut, op. 354 (Viennese Blood)"
(1871) (uncredited)
Written by Johann Strauß
Arranged by Roy Webb

User Reviews

Sustained Suspense

While in many respects one of Hitchcock's lesser films, "Suspicion" has some good performances and a degree of suspense that is as sustained as in any of his films. The movie gets quite a lot out of a relatively simple plot.

Joan Fontaine gives an excellent performance as Lina, a quiet young woman who finds herself swept away by, and suddenly married to, the charming but irresponsible Johnnie, played by Cary Grant. Not long afterwards, she begins to question his behavior and his intentions, and soon she is terribly afraid, both of what he might have done and of what he might do. Whenever she manages to overcome one of her fears, no sooner does she do so than her husband gives her a new reason for suspicion. There really isn't much more to it than that, but Hitchcock gets a lot out of this basic premise. The tension keeps building, and Fontaine's performance allows the viewer to feel all of her fear and anxiety. Not everyone likes the way that it all ends, but it is worth seeing and deciding for yourself what you think about it.

The rest of the cast have mostly limited roles, but give good performances that add to the portrayal of the main characters. Especially good is Nigel Bruce, who provides a few lighter moments as one of Johnnie's old cronies.

While lacking the complexity and excitement of Hitchcock's best pictures, "Suspicion" is still a good example of his ability to keep the audience in lasting suspense. Most Hitchcock fans will want to see it.