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Suspicion

Play trailer Poster for Suspicion Released Nov 14, 1941 1h 39m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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97% Tomatometer 32 Reviews 77% Popcornmeter 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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Suspicion

Suspicion

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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Full Review 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 Full Review Bill Goodykoontz Arizona Republic Rated: 3/5 Mar 10, 2012 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Sarfaraz A Alfred Hitchcock directed the film. Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine co-star. Fontaine won the Oscar for Best Actress, which was well deserved. The film follows an affluent young woman (Fontaine) who is tempted by a compulsive gambler (Grant). He does not work and gets his money by betting, scamming, borrowing, and gambling, which bothers his wife, who previously believed her husband was self-sufficient. She gradually suspects that her husband is planning to kill his closest friend for money, and eventually to kill her for inheriting the fortune. Much of the film is uninteresting, with nothing but talks and lackluster romance chemistry. The suspense that begins more than halfway through also fades. I had waited a long time to watch this film, but the narrative disappointed me. I still give it a positive rating because of Fontaine's great performance. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/07/25 Full Review Insomniac X Ambling romantic comedy that makes a sudden turn into thriller territory when a young woman begins to suspect her roguish new husband of murder. Capably acted, and not without charm, but lacking suspense and a satisfying conclusion. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/05/25 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews
Suspicion

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Movie Info

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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