Suspicion (1941).

Suspicion (1941).  Romantic/ psychological /thriller. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Cast: Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine. It also stars Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Nigel Bruce, Dame May Whitty, Isabel Jeans and Heather Angel.

Playboy Johnnie Aysgarth,  in a whirlwind romance sweeps Lina McLaidlaw, off her feet and convinces her into marrying him, even though her family does not want her to. After their honeymoon, she soon learns that Johnnie was hoping to live off her father. She tells him that he has to get a  job and he goes to work for his cousin, estate agent Captain Melbeck .

Lina soon learns that Johnnie has been  gambling on the horses and that he has sold her family heirloom chairs. Next, She goes to visit him at work and finds out that he has been  fired from his job. Johnnie's best friend Beaky tells her that her husband is a good man, but without much success.

Johnnie convinces Beaky to finance a land development project, Lina tries to talk Beaky out of it. Johnnie overhears and warns his wife to mind her own business, but later he decides to cancel the deal. When Beaky leaves for Paris, Johnnie travels with him. Later, Lina hears Beaky's died in Paris and she begins to suspect Johnnie in his friend's death.

Soon, she begins suspect she is next on her husband's list, so he can collect on her life insurance. Johnnie brings Lina a glass of milk before bed, but she is too afraid to drink it.



She makes up a story about staying with her mother for a few days and Johnnie insists on driving her there. He drives recklessly beside a cliff. Suddenly, Lina's door opens, will she be saved?

If you are a Hitchcock fan I think you will want to see this film.  Fontaine's believable performance allows the viewer to really feel her fear. I have read some negative reviews about the surprise ending, but it is worth seeing and deciding for yourself .

Nigel Bruce (4 February 1895 – 8 October 1953), was a British character actor on stage and screen. He was best known for his portrayal of Doctor Watson in a series of films and in the radio series, The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (starring Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes). Bruce is also remembered for his roles in the Alfred Hitchcock films Rebecca and Suspicion. During his film career, he worked in 78 movies.

Happy Birthday: Joan Fontaine!

Joan Fontaine, (born October 22, 1917). Is the younger sister of actress Olivia De Havilland(pictured below), also an Academy Award winner.

Video: Joan Fontaine talks about her relationship with her sister, Olivia de Havilland (1979).



Her film debut was a small role in, No More Ladies (1935). She also performed with Fred Astaire, in his first RKO film, A Damsel in Distress (1937) without Ginger. Next, she went on to perform in the film, The Women (1939). After which her contract was not renewed.

Her luck changed one night, at a dinner party when she meet producer David O. Selznick and they began discussing the novel, Rebecca. Selznick asked her to audition for the part of Rebecca.

Video: A scene from the film Rebecca.



Rebecca, is a gothic tale about the memory of Maxims first wife Rebecca, which still affects Maxim, his new bride, and Mrs. Danvers long after her death. Rebecca marked the debut of British director, Alfred Hitchcock. In 1940, Joan was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. She did not win that year (Ginger Rogers took home the award for Kitty Foyle) but Fontaine, did win the following year for Best Actress in Suspicion, which was also directed by Hitchcock.