The Suspect
6.7
60 Votes
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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.

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Images (Backdrops)
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
Gerald Hamer
Griswold (uncredited)
Ernie Adams
Cabbie (uncredited)
Eve Ashley
Background Woman (uncredited)
Jimmy Aubrey
Pogson (uncredited)
Walter Bacon
Commuter (uncredited)
John Berkes
Det. Sgt. Pennyfeather (uncredited)
Lillian Bronson
Miss Crevy (uncredited)
Nina Campana
Cashier at Luigi's (uncredited)
Tommy Cook
Child Violinist (uncredited)
Frank Dawson
Jarvis (uncredited)
Elspeth Dudgeon
Pauline Barlow (uncredited)
Helena Grant
Miss Pomfret (uncredited)
Barbara Gray
Model (uncredited)
Grayce Hampton
Margaret (uncredited)
Keith Hitchcock
William Crummit (uncredited)
Olaf Hytten
Mr. Jevne (uncredited)
Charles Knight
Mr. Chadwick (uncredited)
Sidney Lawford
Lord Eldon (uncredited)
Vera Lewis
Hannah Barlow (uncredited)
Kate MacKenna
Mrs. Jevne (uncredited)
Charles McNaughton
Waiter (uncredited)
Richard Neill
Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Edgar Norton
Mr. Frazer (uncredited)
Hilda Plowright
Mrs. Margett (uncredited)
Rebel Randall
Model (uncredited)
Sheila Roberts
Model (uncredited)
John Rogers
Mr. Margett (uncredited)
Tony Santoro
Waiter (uncredited)
Sally Shepherd
Mrs. Brown (uncredited)
Cecil Weston
Mrs. Chadwick (uncredited)
Katherine Yorke
Model (uncredited)
Details Of Movie
Music
Photos Paul Ivano
Revenue
Location United States of America
Producer Islin Auster
Director Robert Siodmak
User Reviews
John Chard May 16 2024 09:22:24 PM

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 June 23 2021 09:58:50 PM

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 July 01 2022 03:09:18 AM

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.