The Suspect **** (1944, Charles Laughton, Ella Raines, Molly Lamont, Dean Harens, Stanley C Ridges) – Classic Movie Review 2281

Director Robert Siodmak’s striking and suspenseful 1944 thriller stars Charles Laughton as unhappily married, henpecked tobacconist Philip Marshall, who is pushed to the edge under the torment of persistent nagging by his nasty wife Cora (Rosalind Ivan) in 1902 London.

He then meets young unemployed and depressed Mary Gray, whose friendship is discovered by Cora, who threatens him with exposure and scandal, driving him to kill her.

So Laughton bumps her off to clear the way for the young and attractive Cora (pretty 23-year-old ingénue Ella Raines), and all seems on the up and up. But then a blackmailing neighbour called Mr Simmons (Henry Daniell) strikes. As the poster says, ‘His was a strange SECRET! Hers was a strange LOVE!’

Director Siodmak orchestrates the impressive fog and the equally impressive actors on the Universal studios’ set of London to the most tense and mysterious effect, in this stupendous, atmospheric Edwardian suspense thriller, packed with dark, doomy overtones and uber-tension. Because of its then daring nature, it was deemed ‘not suitable for general exhibition’!

Laughton, surprisingly and disturbingly sympathetic in the Dr Crippen-style role, is superb in one of his best performances – and Raines and Daniell are both excellent too.

Also in the cast are Molly Lamont, Dean Harens, Stanley C Ridges, Raymond Severn, Eve Ambler, Maude Eburne and Clifford Brooks.

Bertram Millhauser and Arthur T Horman’s taut screenplay is based on the novel This Way Out by James Ronald. Once again, there is wonderfully moody cinematography, this time by Paul Ivano.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2281

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