CrimeDramaThriller

The Suspect

- His Was a Strange Secret, Hers Was a Strange Love

Genial shopkeeper Philip has to endure the constant nagging of a shrewish wife while he secretly yearns for a pretty young stenographer. When the henpecking gets to be too much, Philip murders his wife and manages to make her death look like an accident. A ruthless blackmailer and a low-key detective both discover Philip's secret, and he has to decide which of them poses the more dangerous threat.

Release Date : 1945-01-31

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Universal Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Philip Marshall

Original Name : Charles Laughton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mary Gray

Original Name : Ella Raines

Gender : Female

Character Name : John Marshall

Original Name : Dean Harens

Gender : Male

Character Name : Inspector Huxley

Original Name : Stanley Ridges

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mr. Simmons

Original Name : Henry Daniell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cora Marshall

Original Name : Rosalind Ivan

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mrs. Simmons

Original Name : Molly Lamont

Gender : Female

Character Name : Merridew

Original Name : Raymond Severn

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sybil

Original Name : Eve Amber

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mrs. Packer

Original Name : Maude Eburne

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mr. Packer

Original Name : Clifford Brooke

Gender : Male

Character Name : Griswold (uncredited)

Original Name : Gerald Hamer

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cabbie (uncredited)

Original Name : Ernie Adams

Gender : Male

Character Name : Background Woman (uncredited)

Original Name : Eve Ashley

Gender : Female

Character Name : Pogson (uncredited)

Original Name : Jimmy Aubrey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Commuter (uncredited)

Original Name : Walter Bacon

Gender : Male

Character Name : Det. Sgt. Pennyfeather (uncredited)

Original Name : John Berkes

Gender : Male

Character Name : Miss Crevy (uncredited)

Original Name : Lillian Bronson

Gender : Female

Character Name : Cashier at Luigi's (uncredited)

Original Name : Nina Campana

Gender : Female

Character Name : Child Violinist (uncredited)

Original Name : Tommy Cook

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jarvis (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank Dawson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Pauline Barlow (uncredited)

Original Name : Elspeth Dudgeon

Gender : Female

Character Name : Miss Pomfret (uncredited)

Original Name : Helena Grant

Gender : Female

Character Name : Model (uncredited)

Original Name : Barbara Gray

Gender : Male

Character Name : Margaret (uncredited)

Original Name : Grayce Hampton

Gender : Female

Character Name : William Crummit (uncredited)

Original Name : Keith Hitchcock

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mr. Jevne (uncredited)

Original Name : Olaf Hytten

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mr. Chadwick (uncredited)

Original Name : Charles Knight

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lord Eldon (uncredited)

Original Name : Sidney Lawford

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hannah Barlow (uncredited)

Original Name : Vera Lewis

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mrs. Jevne (uncredited)

Original Name : Kate MacKenna

Gender : Female

Character Name : Waiter (uncredited)

Original Name : Charles McNaughton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Restaurant Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Richard Neill

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mr. Frazer (uncredited)

Original Name : Edgar Norton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Margett (uncredited)

Original Name : Hilda Plowright

Gender : Female

Character Name : Model (uncredited)

Original Name : Rebel Randall

Gender : Female

Character Name : Model (uncredited)

Original Name : Sheila Roberts

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mr. Margett (uncredited)

Original Name : John Rogers

Gender : Male

Character Name : Waiter (uncredited)

Original Name : Tony Santoro

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Brown (uncredited)

Original Name : Sally Shepherd

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mrs. Chadwick (uncredited)

Original Name : Cecil Weston

Gender : Female

Character Name : Model (uncredited)

Original Name : Katherine Yorke

Gender : Female

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

Anodyne affected affairs of the heart. The Suspect is directed by Robert Siodmak and adapted to screenplay by Bertram Millhauser and Arthur T. Horman from the novel "This Way Out" written by James Ronald. It stars Charles Laughton, Ella Raines, Dean Harens, Stanley Ridges, Henry Daniell and Rosalind Ivan. Music is by Frank Skinner and cinematography by Paul Ivano. In 1902 Edwardian London, unhappily married shopkeeper Philip Marshall (Laughton) meets beautiful Mary Gray (Raines) and a tender friendship begins to form. But once Philip's wife discovers what is going on she threatens him with exposure and scandal, forcing Philip to take drastic action... How delightfully off, that a film that features a wife murderer, an alcoholic wife beater, and blackmail, should be so restrained and actually beautiful. The Suspect in principal is about a decent man pushed to do bad things by his awful life, a man who then finds hope springs from a most unlikely source. The moral shadings here are most intricate, Laughton's Philip Marshal is a completely sympathetic and fascinating character, and so the makers deftly toy with our perceptions in the process. There's no mystery element to drive the story forward, we are only really left wondering how the finale will play out. However, the lack of mystery is not a problem, for the astute and wily Siodmak has a keen eye for suspense and he knows how to use gaslight interiors and foggy streets to represent the psychological turmoil of Philip and his life that's now drastically changing. Murder as justifiable homicide? Ridding the world of bad people is OK? Rest assured that this is far darker than it appears on the surface. Brilliantly performed by Laughton and Raines, and mounted with great atmospheric skill by Siodmak, The Suspect is a little seen gem waiting to be found by a wider audience. 8/10

JPV852

@JPV852

2021-06-23

Simple and short, but still suspenseful noirish crime-thriller features wonderful performances from Charles Laughton and Ella Raines. Managed to keep my attention until the very end and is well photographed and directed film. **3.75/5**

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2022-06-30

Charles Laughton is super in this thriller telling the tale of a man in a loveless marriage to a harridan of a women, "Cora" - really well portrayed by Rosalind Ivan, whose relentless nagging has managed to drive their son from home. When he innocently meets a young lady "Mary" (Ella Raines) his wife determines to ruin their friendship - and his career - so he sets about stopping her. Permanently! Henry Daniell is good as the suspicious "Gilbert Simmons' as is Stanley Ridges as "Insp. Huxley" who has to investigate this mischief and it moves along well until an ending with quite an unexpected twist. Still have never found a rotten Laughton film.