The Suspect 1945
The Suspect
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.
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.
Videos & Photos
All 0 Videos & 15 Photoscast
Full Cast & Crew... Philip Marshall
... Mary Gray
... John Marshall
... Inspector Huxley
... Mr. Simmons
... Cora Marshall
User reviews
See All 3 Reviews23 Jun 2021 by John Chard
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
Release Date:
Jan 31, 1945 (United States)
Run Time:
1hr 25`
MMPA Rating:
NR
Original Language:
English
Production Countries:
United States
Status:
Released
Plot Keywords:
Related Movies To
The Suspect
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
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**
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.
Cast & Crew of
The Suspect
Directors & Credit Writers
... Director
... Assistant Director
Cast
... Philip Marshall
... Mary Gray
... John Marshall
... Inspector Huxley
... Mr. Simmons
... Cora Marshall
... Mrs. Simmons
... Merridew
... Sybil
... Mrs. Packer
... Mr. Packer
... Griswold (uncredited)
... Cabbie (uncredited)
EA
Eve Ashley... Background Woman (uncredited)
... Pogson (uncredited)
WB
Walter Bacon... Commuter (uncredited)
... Det. Sgt. Pennyfeather (uncredited)
... Miss Crevy (uncredited)
NC
Nina Campana... Cashier at Luigi's (uncredited)
... Child Violinist (uncredited)