The Suspect (1944)

The Suspect (1944)

„The Suspect“ is a 1944 film noir directed by Robert Siodmak. The screenplay by Bertram Millhauser and Arthur T. Horman is based on the 1939 novel „This Way Out“ by James Ronald.

The film begins with the following written foreword: „It was an unpretentious street, but it had a pretentious name. That was the fashion in London of 1902. They called it Laburnum Terrace.“

Kindly London tobacconist Philip Marshall (Charles Laughton) lives on Laburnum Street with his adult son, John Marshall (Dean Harens), and his shrewish wife, Cora Marshall (Rosalind Ivan). Unable to stand his mother anymore, John moves out and Philip takes this opportunity to move into his son’s old room.

Later, Philip takes pity on Mary Gray (Ella Raines), a young, out-of-work stenographer, and invites her out to dinner and finds her a job as a dress shop model. The two soon begin seeing each other regularly, although she is unaware that he is married. Returning home late one evening, Philip finds his bedroom door locked, forcing him to confront Cora and ask for a divorce. She refuses and threatens to ruin his good name if he leaves her. Philip then confesses all to Mary and ends their relationship.

That Christmas, Cora tells her husband that she knows all about Mary, and even though Philip tells her that he is no longer seeing the young woman, Cora informs him that she still intends to have Mary fired from her job and evicted from her boardinghouse. Seeing no other alternative, Philip kills Cora. Although the coroner rules Cora’s death an accident, Inspector Huxley of Scotland Yard (Stanley C. Ridges) begins an investigation of the case and correctly deduces that Cora was struck in the back of her head by a cane, and did not receive the wound by accidentally tripping down a flight of stairs, as previously assumed.

With no incriminating evidence against Philip, Huxley looks for a motive and soon finds one when the tobacconist begins seeing Mary again. Huxley’s investigation is stymied, however, when Philip and Mary wed, and, under English law, she cannot be forced to testify against her husband. Philip and Mary’s marital bliss is later disrupted when Gilbert Simmons (Henry Daniell), their snobbish neighbor, informs Philip of his intention to falsely testify against him unless he is paid for his silence. Realizing that Gilbert will blackmail him into bankruptcy, Philip kills him by placing an overdose of Bayard’s Anodyne in his whiskey. With two murders haunting him, Philip then convinces Mary to move to Canada, where they can join John, who has a new job there. She agrees, but just as the couple is boarding the ship to North America, Philip is informed by Huxley that Gilbert’s body has been found and his abused wife Edith Simmons (Molly Lamont) has been charged with his murder. Unwilling to let another suffer for his crimes, Philip gets off the ship and slowly heads toward Scotland Yard to turn himself in.

A 1944 American Black & White film-noir, directed by Robert Siodmak, produced by Islin Auster, screenplay by Bertram Millhauser and Arthur T. Horman, based on James Ronald’s novel „This Way Out“ (1939), cinematography by Paul Ivano starring Charles Laughton, Ella Raines, Dean Harens, Stanley C. Ridges, Henry Daniell, Rosalind Ivan, Molly Lamont, and Keith Hitchcock. Screen debut of Eve Ashley, and final screen role of Raymond Severn. Released by Universal Pictures.

Siodmak said „we had the greatest difficulty finding anyone to act with“ Laughton. In order to control the actor, he would not give him a full script, just discuss his scene the night before shooting. He also kept Laughton occupied during the shoot by having him rehearse the other actors calling him „a brilliant director of actors“. Siodmak was warned that halfway through a film Laughton traditionally had bouts of uncertainty. When this happened during filming, Siodmark threw a prepared tantrum, then Laughton soothed him and the rest of the film proceeded smoothly.

On April 9, 1945, The Lux Radio Theatre presented an hour-long adaptation of „The Suspect“, with Charles Laughton, Ella Raines and Rosalind Ivan reprising their film roles.

Charles Bennett adapted this for the June 2, 1955, hour-long episode of NBC-TV’s Lux Video Theatre. Buzz Kulik directed the program.

Variety magazine praised the film: „In Charles Laughton’s accomplished hands, this character becomes fascinating … There is less of the bluster and none of the villainy of Laughton’s previous vehicles. He gives an impeccable performance as the kindly, law-abiding citizen. Matching his deft portrayal is Ella Raines as the youthful steno he weds after his wife’s demise.

Robert Siodmak’s turn-of-the-century story of murder and blackmail captures 1902 London atmosphere beautifully, 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? If you’ve never seen a Charles Laughton movie, this taut suspenser is a great one to start with. Laughton is both funny and charming. It’s one of the superb unsung classics that deserves to be regarded as a near masterpiece.

Cast:

• Charles Laughton – Philip Marshall
• Ella Raines – Mary Gray
• Dean Harens – John Marshall
• Stanley Ridges – Inspector Huxley
• Henry Daniell – Mr. Simmons
• Rosalind Ivan – Cora Marshall
• Molly Lamont – Mrs. Simmons
• Raymond Severn – Merridew
• Eve Amber – Sybil
• Maude Eburne – Mrs. Packer
• Clifford Brooke – Mr. Packer
• Ernie Adams – Cabbie
• Eve Ashley – Background Woman
• Jimmy Aubrey – Pogson
• Walter Bacon – Commuter
• John Berkes – Det. Sgt. Pennyfeather
• Lillian Bronson – Miss Crevy
• Nina Campana – Cashier at Luigi’s
• Tommy Cook – Child Violinist
• Frank Dawson – Jarvis
• Elspeth Dudgeon – Pauline Barlow
• Keith Ferguson – Model
• Helena Grant – Miss Pomfret
• Barbara Gray – Model
• Gerald Hamer – Griswold
• Grayce Hampton – Margaret
• Keith Hitchcock – William Crummit
• Olaf Hytten – Mr. Jevne
• Charles Knight – Mr. Chadwick
• Sidney Lawford – Lord Eldon
• Vera Lewis – Hannah Barlow
• Kate MacKenna – Mrs. Jevne
• Charles McNaughton – Waiter
• Richard Neill – Restaurant Patron
• Edgar Norton – Mr. Frazer
• Hilda Plowright – Mrs. Margett
• Rebel Randall – Model
• Sheila Roberts – Model
• John Rogers – Mr. Margett
• Tony Santoro – Waiter
• Sally Shepherd – Mrs. Brown
• Cecil Weston – Mrs. Chadwick
• Katherine Yorke – Mary

„The Suspect“ (dt.: Der Verdächtige) ist ein Film noir von 1944 unter der Regie von Robert Siodmak. Das Drehbuch von Bertram Millhauser und Arthur T. Horman basiert auf dem 1939 erschienenen Roman "This Way Out" von James Ronald.

Der Film beginnt mit folgendem geschriebenen Vorwort: "Es war eine unprätentiöse Straße, aber sie hatte einen prätentiösen Namen. Das war im London des Jahres 1902 in Mode. Man nannte sie Laburnum Terrace."