The Unsuspected

Rains and Totter are the scene stealers here, with biting tongues and wonderful energy. For all the strong acting and some rather nice dialogue, this film is all about the mystery, one that unravels more than it is solved, but as the audience it's just as fun this way. The questions turn from who and why, to will they get away with it and how. It's entertaining no matter what questions it's asking. It has some wonderful cinematography as well, something that adds to the menacing atmosphere.

Well, that was all rather far-fetched. lol But a fairly ripping chunk of noir nonetheless (even though Caulfield does seem to wander through her role a bit like Judy Garland in TWOO).

"The Unsuspected" is a murder mystery whose core story takes some time to develop. However, the film significantly gains in intrigue and engagement with the entrance of Claude Rains.

The villains are way more interesting here than the heroes, with Raines playing effectively sinister and Totter chewing some serious scenery as a catty woman jealous of Caulfield. It works pretty well for much of it, and some of it is pretty clever. The script is often very sharp ("it sounds so much like the truth it doesn't ring true") but there's what seems to be a phantom phone call toward the end that should have been impossible that kind of ruins the finish.

Sem sombra de suspeita estreava há 75 anos no Canadá. Outro murder mistery que nas mãos de um diretor qualquer seria banal, mas que exercício em estilo é isso! A primeira coisa que fiz foi descobrir quem foi o diretor de fotografia, Curtiz sempre fora um notório apreciador de sombras, mas os enquadramentos aqui iam além, aí a fotografia era do Elwood Bredell que trabalhara com Siodmak em The Killers e Phantom Lady. Um primor. Box Versátil Filme Noir Volume 9.

Nips on the corners of what I love about noir but never fully embraces it all. Kill kill kill

Confusing at first, in a good way. Audrey Totter I don't really care for, but I like Rains a lot. Once you've seen the film do a search on trivia for this movie because there's a scene that gets away with something rather interesting. Enough said.

So much greatness here as Claude Rains is a super manipulator orchestrating murder among The Unsuspected (1947) using recording techniques inspired by his murderous radio show. Brilliant on so many levels, but hat kind of keeps it from being an absolute favorite is that Michael Curtiz almost tells too much of this devious plot for the suspense to really hit you hard. Sure, the thrills are supposed to come at other angles than your usual mystery, but still....

I liked the premise but not the execution. It was convoluted and had a soap opera feeling. Acting wasn't to the level I expected.

Several familiar elements add up to a not especially surprising or original thriller, but one thick with noir atmosphere. Curtiz knows how to put together a movie, and makes no major missteps here. A slate of good performances, with the standouts being Rains and Totter. The plot is a little confusing, and doesn't entirely sort itself out by the end but it's satisfying enough. The highlight of the film is the dynamite lighting, classic deep blacks and piercing whites, with long, looming shadows.