Review of Suspicion

Introduction

A wife having suspicions about her smooth husband is nothing new. When Lina (Joan Fontaine) suspects husband Johnnie (Cary Grant) of deception in all manner of things, she starts to have serious doubts about him and his love for her. Why else would this good-looking, but penniless man, be interested in her?

A number of problems crop up including him almost being prosecuted for `borrowing` £2000, for losing his job but still going out everyday and for persuading his best friend to invest in a new property development company. After the death of his friend the police come to ask Johnnie a few questions but he`s not in town. Paranoia is fuelled ever more when Lina comes across a letter from her life assurance company addressed to her husband. She`s convinced that he`s up to no good at every turn but he`s so smooth he manages to talk his way out of awkward situations. This goes on right up to the point where she thinks she`s going to die at his hands. Stand-by for neuroses overload.

Video

Suspicion is presented in the original fullframe aspect ratio but there are two versions here. The black & white original, and a new colour version. Firstly the B&W film. Having been made some 60 years ago, the transfer shows the condition of an old film and you can tell that it`s not been cleaned up. The image is quite steady most of the time with some scenes that look over bright and all in all it seems like a mixed bag. Edge enhancement too is prevalent.

Now the colour version of the film. While it`s interesting to see the colours of the day, it doesn`t work that well and I find it somewhat distracting and artificial. Flesh tones don`t come across as natural and actors look a bit more orange than usual. Dirt and edge enhancement make appearances here too.

Audio

Presented with a Dolby Digital 2.0 soundtrack I`m pleased that it wasn`t remixed with a new fangled 5.1 soundtrack. The sound here is perfunctory with dialogue remaining clear.

Features

Would the colour version of the film be considered some sort of bonus? Nope.

Conclusion

Suspicion, Hitchcock`s fourth Hollywood movie is one of his lesser, and certainly disappointing films in terms of storytelling. Paranoia fuelled relationships are interesting and no less so here with interesting performances. Joan Fontaine plays the conservative neurotically suspicious woman opposite the charismatic and handsome Cary Grant. Who else could use the pet name, "Monkey Face" for his wife as a term of endearment?

The film is told mainly from Lina`s point of view and so we`re complicit in her suspicions about her husband and we`re always wondering about him too. However, the way the film ends disappoints and makes Lina out to be some silly little girl in her misgivings. Just when we think and expect the worst, nothing happens. There`s no twist in the story, which usually leads to a surprise and by the end you`re left wondering, "is that it?". It`s too much Hollywood and not enough Hitchcock.

This isn`t a film worth buying but perhaps renting or waiting for a BBC2 screening on a slow Saturday afternoon.