Suspicion

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Suspicion

Released Nov 14, 1941

1h 39m

Mystery & Thriller

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97%

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33 Reviews

77%

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10,000+ Ratings

Charming scoundrel Johnnie Aysgarth (Cary Grant) woos wealthy but plain Lina McLaidlaw (Joan Fontaine), who runs away with him despite the warnings of her disapproving father (Cedric Hardwicke). After their marriage, Johnnie's risky financial ventures cause Lina to suspect he's becoming involved in unscrupulous dealings. When his dear friend and business partner, Beaky (Nigel Bruce), dies under suspicious circumstances on a business trip, she fears her husband might kill her for her inheritance.

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Critics Consensus

Not even notorious studio meddling can diminish the craft and tantalizing suspense of Suspicion, a sly showcase for Joan Fontaine's nervy prowess and Alfred Hitchcock's flair for disquiet.

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Edwin Schallert

Los Angeles Times

At times even the audience believes as the woman does. At other times doubt intrudes. This is where Suspicion shines as especially deft and adroit, and loyal also to Hitchcock precedent for keeping both characters and spectators guessing.

Apr 20, 2019

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TIME Magazine

Suspicion is good Alfred Hitchcock-up to the last few minutes. In those final minutes the picture falls apart at the seams.

Oct 25, 2017

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Bill Goodykoontz

Arizona Republic

Rated: 3/5

Mar 10, 2012

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Suspicion is not the best of the Alfred Hitchcock/Cary Grant films and despite the film's ending, it's still in the upper tier of the Hitchcock's filmography.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 27, 2023

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

The Master of Suspense definitely knows how to pick a winning project; delusion and coincidence turn out to be incredibly powerful tools in his hands.

Rated: 10/10

Aug 15, 2020

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock delivers a slow-moving yet consistently watchable drama that boasts brief instances of thriller-like plot twists...

Rated: 3/4

Apr 11, 2020

Full Review

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helder f

The story is good and has interesting twists, but the movie is terribly slow. Lina falls in love with Johnnie who soon persuades her to marry him. After they elope, she starts realizing that she does not know much about him. With the help of his friend, she understands that he tends to lie and gamble. The movie becomes then a series of moments and new pieces of information that make her grow more and more suspicious of him. This process becomes boring over time, and a bit nerve wracking. I mean, how much more information does she need to make up her mind? The end of the movie is rushed and unexpected- and possibly not the original ending. And by all means not what the story leads up to. In fact, From what is written elsewhere and from the original story, the original ending was supposed to be very different.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

12/28/24

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Dan R

The genius of Hitchcock is still obvious today when 1941's 'Suspicion' is still such an incredible film. SYNOPSIS: 'A shy young heiress marries a charming gentleman, and soon begins to suspect he is planning to murder her.' History tells us that this film faced much studio meddling but Hitchcock is still able to pile on the tension in a way that only he knows how, skilfully building to the sensational finale. The film starts off quite light with a charming edge but slowly darkens so gradually you won't even notice it shift from light romance into a psychological thriller. It's incredible how this film still works 80 years after its release. An absolute classic of a movie. 9/10

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/30/24

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Rare T

This was what Katy Perry was talking about when she sang Hot N Cold.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/15/24

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Abe A

Almost a 4. The end was a disappointment--Hitchcock chickened out and gave the movie a generic Hollywood ending. This was better than Rear Window, and could have been a masterpiece of suspense if the end hadn't been a damp squid. My impression from this and Rear Window is that Hitchcock movies always end happily, and that detracts enormously from whatever suspense is built into the plot because you know it will end well. He just couldn't resist following the generic Hollywood script.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/24

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James G

So underrated! Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine are phenomenal in this

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/29/24

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X O

Strange film. Hitchcock's very earliest films? Why would Joan Fontaine win an Oscar for her role in this? She really needs to let her down. I've been watching lots of 1940s films recently. The music is so weird. Terribly strange. Seems very unorchestrated. It kills what could be possible.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/05/23

Full Review

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Alfred Hitchcock

Director

Cary Grant

Johnnie Aysgarth

Joan Fontaine

Lina McLaidlaw Aysgarth

Cedric Hardwicke

General McLaidlaw (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke)

Nigel Bruce

Gordon Cochrane 'Beaky' Thwaite

Dame May Whitty

Mrs. Martha McLaidlaw

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Synopsis

Charming scoundrel Johnnie Aysgarth (Cary Grant) woos wealthy but plain Lina McLaidlaw (Joan Fontaine), who runs away with him despite the warnings of her disapproving father (Cedric Hardwicke). After their marriage, Johnnie's risky financial ventures cause Lina to suspect he's becoming involved in unscrupulous dealings. When his dear friend and business partner, Beaky (Nigel Bruce), dies under suspicious circumstances on a business trip, she fears her husband might kill her for her inheritance.

Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Producer: Alfred Hitchcock
Screenwriter: Anthony Berkeley, Samson Raphaelson, Joan Harrison, Alma Reville
Distributor: RKO Radio Pictures
Production Co: RKO Radio Pictures Inc.
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 14, 1941, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 27, 2016
Runtime: 1h 39m

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