User Reviews

Claude Rains plays Victor Grandison--a mild-mannered man who tells spooky tales over the radio and, in his spare time, kills anyone who stands in his way of an inheritance. Good thriller opens with a really scary murder and keeps right on going. The script is sharp and tight with many twists and turns. All the acting is good--especially by Rains and Audrey Totter as a bitchy niece. The cast also includes two of the handsomest men in Hollywood in 1947--Hurd Hatfield (who made films into the 90s) and Michael North (who completely disappeared after this film). Director Michael Curtiz uses shadow and light very effectively and reflection of people (especially Rains). Great climatic chase too. Well worth seeing. It seems that this movie has been forgotten which is a real shame--it's one of the best film noirs from Hollywood.

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.

You just can't beat Claude Rains.....no matter how insignificant a film may be, Rains can be counted on to give a dynamic performance. This film is a showcase for his talents. Although not a handsome man, he has great charm and elegance. He doesn't disappoint here as a popular radio star whose public persona hides a very dark side. He is intent on being the recipient of the inheritance of his niece and ward, played by Joan Caulfield. A rather complex and somewhat overwrought plot leads us through his machinations to the end which doesn't come out exactly as he planned.

The cast in this film is top drawer, although Caulfield is a bit colorless as the put-upon niece. Audrey Totter is magnificent as an acid tongued member of the family who wouldn't mind getting her hands on some of the loot as well. Hurd Hatfield (Picture of Dorian Gray) is her alcoholic husband but unfortunately doesn't have a lot to do. Jack Lambert does his "I am so evil" turn as Rain's henchman and as usual does it well. Fred Clark makes an all too brief appearance as a detective. Constance Bennett, past her days as a star, is appealing as the secretary on a mission.

"The Unsuspected" is a tight little film, which might stretch credibility just a bit but is still quite enjoyable. Hey, it's got Claude Rains as the star so how can you go wrong?

****SPOILERS******

Straightforward murder mystery with an extra special cast. Rains is a "Suspense"-type radio host (all of whose broadcasts seem to run for 5 minutes) who manipulates his lovely ward (Caulfield) and her cousin (Totter, at her vinegary best) in a game of death where every inhabitant of their old house is a pawn.

Fantastic photography, particularly in the interlocking lattices that create more tension towards the end of the film. Rains is perfect as the droll host with murder up his sleave, and Michael North makes an impressive entry as a man who passes himself off as Caulfield's husband to discover the murderer of his friend, only to fall in love with his pretend wife!

Good melodrama; both me and my girlfriend were pleasantly surprised that this turned out to be such a quality little movie, and although it's not on DVD or video as far as I know, it's worth watching for on TCM.

Claude Rains is the smoothly cultured radio narrator of murder mysteries, who turns to murder out of a consuming greed for possessions, including his niece's mansion. He is like the Waldo Lydecker character portrayed by Clifton Webb in 'Laura'--a witty, decadent murderer trapped in a world of his own dark machinations.

This is one of those forgotten gems of film noir from the '40s. Director Michael Curtiz adds some stylistic touches to the proceedings, as does Woody Bredell's photography of handsome interiors. There are vivid performances from Constance Bennett as a wise-cracking producer, Joan Caulfield as his frightened niece, Audrey Totter, Hurd Hatfield and Michael North (who for some reason had a brief screen career).

Handsomely produced and based on a Charlotte Armstrong novel, it benefits greatly from classic low-key film noir lighting and the expert performances of an all-star cast. For some reason, it has fallen between the cracks as far as visiblity goes, shown only occasionally on cable TV.

Some forms of beauty are best seen from a distance and maybe that's one reason why the stunning cinematography featured in "The Unsuspected" is better appreciated by many people now than it was at the time of the movie's initial release. This dark thriller about murder, greed, blackmail, deception and guilt boasts a group of characters whose complications are only surpassed by those of the twisting plot. The film is well acted and entertaining but it's the exquisite expressionistic visual style that is its most striking attribute.

Claude Rains stars as Victor Grandison, a successful radio personality who entertains his audiences by telling them true crime stories. Victor is sophisticated and affable and lives in a mansion where a series of premature deaths occur.

Victor's secretary, Roslyn (Barbara Woodall) is found hanged in circumstances which suggest that she committed suicide and shortly after, at Victor's birthday party which had been organised by his niece Althea (Audrey Trotter), a stranger called Steven (Ted North) arrives and shocks everyone by telling them that he'd been married to Victor's ward Matilda (Joan Caulfield), who was lost in a shipwreck and was presumed to have drowned.

Steven's arrival alarms Victor who assumes that he wishes to make a claim on Matilda's substantial estate which is close to being settled in Victor's favour. Victor's concern soon proves to be unfounded however, as Steven confirms that he's actually very wealthy and has no interest in Matilda's estate.

Victor is again surprised when it emerges that Matilda has actually survived the shipwreck but when she returns to the mansion and can't remember Steven, Victor becomes increasingly suspicious of him.

Althea is later murdered seemingly by her husband Oliver (Hurd Hatfield) who himself later perishes in a car crash which is caused by brake failure and Matilda is poisoned but again survives another close brush with death. An attempt is also made on Steven's life by a killer called Press (Jack Lambert) before the identity of the serial murderer becomes generally known and a very dramatic confession duly follows.

Althea and Victor are both very calculating and strongly motivated by greed, Steven's motivation is concealed for much of the story and Matilda's gullible nature contributes to her life being put in jeopardy for a second time. Oliver had previously been a painter and Matilda's fiancé but having been seduced by Althea later became a tragic alcoholic who never got over the loss of Matilda.

Claude Rains provides a marvellously subtle portrayal of a man who is charming, conceited and very wicked and who talks on his radio show about the sense of guilt that torments the unsuspected, the person who has not yet been recognised as being culpable for their crimes and who fears that one simple error could easily lead to them having to face the full force of justice.

The opulence of the mansion in which Victor resides provides the setting for most of the action but these interiors are also inhabited by numerous lengthy shadows which frequently create ominous shapes and project a constant sense of unease and menace. This uncomfortable atmosphere is made even more disturbing by the expert use of deep focus, interesting camera angles and viewpoints which distort the audience's view of certain images.

"The Unsuspected" provides a great deal of enjoyment for crime drama fans but also, thanks to the brilliance of director Michael Curtiz and cinematographer Woody Bredell, provides an exceptional visual experience which is truly marvellous and memorable.

In 1947, Michael Curtiz set up his own production unit at Warner Bros.

The deal he struck saw this versatile director being allowed to choose his own projects and not merely be assigned films as a house director, while at the same time enjoying the full production facilities of the studio. This film was the first project of what was sadly a short-lived arrangement, chiefly because box office returns on this film were so disappointing.

The script peppered with snappy one-liners and wisecracks particularly for Audrey Totter and Constance Bennett, was by Ranald MacDougall from an adaptation by Curtiz' wife Bess Meredyth of a dime novel by Charlotte Armstrong. MacDougall had previously done the witty screenplay for the superb noir classic, MILDRED PIERCE in 1945 (also directed by Curtiz) and his gift for tart dialogue made the role of Eve Arden in that film especially memorable.

It is likely that Curtiz envisioned the story of THE UNSUSPECTED as the perfect vehicle for Claude Rains, an actor he had worked with frequently before (The Adventures of Robin Hood, Four Daughters, The Sea Hawk, Casablanca etc) and who was renowned for his distinctive, memorable voice. Victor Grandison is a famous radio star because of the hypnotic power of his voice in relating his celebrated true life crime stories and it would be difficult to imagine another actor in the role, save possibly for Basil Rathbone.

The story is complex and not entirely believable, and has several plot holes. The most serious concerns the first murder. If Grandison is able to catch an earlier train because he has used a recording of his broadcast and not performed "live", surely his so-called alibi would have been exposed by colleagues at the radio station - especially his secretary (Constance Bennett)? This is never explained.

No matter. What makes this thriller so eminently watchable are the delicious ingredients lavished on the telling - especially the superb art direction by Anton Grot who would have undoubtedly story-boarded the many memorable images as was his practise - and the distinctive camera-work of Woody Bredell.

Between them, Grot, Curtiz and Bredell bring a Germanic, expressionistic style to almost every scene and there are some amazing trick shots that must have taken days to light properly. Check out the remarkable scene near the end where, as kindly Grandison reassures his niece that all will be well, a wine glass with fizzing content is in close-up and sharp focus and we then realise it has been poisoned by Grandison.

Add to this virtuosity of film making, a beautifully atmospheric score by Franz Waxman, a fascinating cast and a star turn by Claude Rains and this overlooked gem is in a class of its own.

I have never understood why Curtiz is so under-rated. I would know his style within a few shots. His fluid camera, always roving and engaging with the action and the characters, makes CASABLANCA the classic it is and is why we always feel we have really been to Rick's café.

THE UNSUSPECTED is so enjoyable because of Curtiz holding our interest through sheer visual flair and bears frequent repeat viewing. Its weaknesses are quite forgivable when one considers its many pleasures.

I always look forward to seeing a Claude Rains film I haven't caught before. Oh well, you can't win them all. I continued watching this film because I was marveling at just how bad it was...and I realize I'm in the minority here. I do have to make a couple of exceptions to that general statement. Claude Rains is always a marvel to watch. I find him to be a rather unique character actor, and even in this very poor film, he shined.

My first problem with the film is that I found the plot to be murky. It stumbled along in a jerky fashion. I was disappointed that the main character (Rains) had become a serial murderer...making it hard for him not to be caught.

My second problem with the film was some of the worst acting I've seen in a significant film. Audrey Totter seemed to think that good acting was how she stood or how she held her arms. As far as any believable acting...well let's put it this way...what she displayed here was an unrealistic portrayal of a human being. Hurt Hatfield didn't do much better here. I was thinking that this had to be one of the earliest films of character actor Fred Clark, and indeed, it was his first credited film role.

Rains was not the only actor who did well here. Joan Caulfield was very good also.

To our reviewers who gave this film a 9...that must have been based on a hundred point scale.