I watched this movie because it had Claude Raines in it. And I was rewarded - this is a goody. Claude Rains, who never gave a bad performance in his life, is a smooth, sly, delectable scoundrel who pretends to be a loving Uncle; but before the movie is over kills one of his Nieces and tries his best to do away with the other - not to mention knocking off his Secretary and his Nephew. I think the reason it has been overlooked is that it seems like a "Laura" knockoff - the one by Otto Preminger starring Clifton Webb and Gene Tierney - and there are great similarities it even has the portrait of the beautiful "dead" girl hanging on the wall. But there are great differences in the two movies and therein lies the fun. Joan Caulfied plays the heroinewho has an amnesia - or does she? Or has someone caused Joan to think she has amnesia? But the pies de résistance is Audrey Totter who plays an amoral woman with such delicious gusto you really enjoy every scene she is in. It is fascinating to watch her be nasty as she does it with such panache. She very nearly steals the movie from Claude Raines - I know I sure missed her when she got killed - the movie wasn't nearly as exciting with her gone. All in all it is a good noir. In fact, very good for a "Laura" knockoff.
Review of The Unsuspected
