The Unsuspected (1947)

The secretary of an affably suave radio mystery host mysteriously commits suicide after his wealthy young niece disappears.

Director:

Michael Curtiz

Writers:

Ranald MacDougall (screen play), Bess Meredyth (adaptation)

Stars:

Claude Rains, Joan Caulfield, Audrey Totter

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Joan Caulfield	...	Matilda Frazier
Claude Rains	...	Victor Grandison
Audrey Totter	...	Althea Keane
Constance Bennett	...	Jane Moynihan
Hurd Hatfield	...	Oliver Keane
Ted North	...	Steven Francis Howard (as Michael North)
Fred Clark	...	Richard Donovan
Harry Lewis	...	Max
Jack Lambert	...	Mr. Press
Ray Walker	...	Donovan's Assistant
Nana Bryant	...	Mrs. White
Walter Baldwin	...	Judge Maynard
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Charles Horvath	...	Cab Driver (unconfirmed)

Storyline

A girl has been murdered. A woman cannot remember a man who claims to be her husband. Her uncle hosts a radio murder mystery show called "The Unsuspected". Who killed the girl? Why? And who is this mystery husband?

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Plot Keywords:

framed for murder | body in a trunk | radio | secretary | presumed dead | 

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Taglines:

YOU CAN'T FORSEE IT! YOU CAN'T FORGET IT!

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Genres:

Drama | Film-Noir | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Franz Waxman is the credited composer of the very effective score, en route to winning two consecutive Oscars, for Sunset Blvd. (1950) and A Place in the Sun (1951).

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Goofs

The radio station studio microphone shows periods after each of the initials, WMCB. Actual radio station or radio network studio microphones had no period after each identifying initial.

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Quotes

Steven Francis Howard: You don't look like you could deny yourself anything
Althea Keane: I generally get what I want

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Crazy Credits

Opening title and credits are typed in a bound manuscript, and we see someone's gloved hands flipping the pages.

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Connections

References The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945)

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Soundtracks

I May Be Wrong (but I Think You're Wonderful!)
(uncredited)
Music by Henry Sullivan
Lyrics by Harry Ruskin
Briefly sung by Audrey Totter

User Reviews

an overlooked, forgotten gem

Bravo, TCM, for showing this. I haven't seen it since I was in my teens thirty years ago. It is similar but in many ways superior to Laura. The major flaw of Laura is that it is impossible to believe that Clifton Webb has a great, overriding physical passion for Gene Tierney. There is no such nonsense in The Unsuspected. This is a highly atmospheric, evocative and literate noir set in the sophisticated world of radio and literary circles. We have a powerful, understated performance from Rains alternating between the likeable and sinister. He was one of the very few actors who could pull this kind of thing off (i.e. Notorious, Deception).I take great exception to a previous comment here about a "throwaway cast." Throwaway? Audrey Totter? Constance Bennett? Hurd Hatfield? The too little seen Fred Clark? Hardly throwaway! Totter's performance is etched in acid and this, with her job in Tension, is the best of this fabulous lady's career! She and Bennett here play both sides of the bitch coin. Totter is the nasty side, Bennett the amusing and brittle side. Both of theses dames bring life to dialogue that even on paper would be smart. If you love Warner Brothers, Rains, Totter, Bennett, or noir in general, this is a tasty treat.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 October 1947 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Unsuspected

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Michael Curtiz Productions, Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1