The Unsuspected 1947

     This film noir is the based on a novel written by Charlotte Armstrong.  Roslyn Wright is the secretary of radio personality Victor Grandison.  She is found hanged in the posh mansion occupied by Grandison.  It’s believed she committed suicide.  Victor also recently lost his niece Matilda Frazer in a boating accident.  Later, Victor’s other niece Althea is hosting a surprise birthday party for Victor.  Steven Howard visits the mansion and he says that he and Matilda married before her disappearance?  Victor asks Detective Donovan to investigate Howard's background.  He doesn’t believe Matilda is married to Steven?  Soon afterward, Matilda arrives at the airport and she comes to the house.  She doesn’t remember getting married, she didn't drown and she was rescued from the water.

     I thought this was good.  I wasn’t sure if Matilda was married to Steven or not?  She could’ve had amnesia from her near drowning experience and trauma?  I liked the styling of the cars and the hairstyles and clothing of the women.  I didn’t know how this was going to end??  3 ½* (I liked this movie)  

103 min, Drama directed by Michael Curtiz with Claude Rains, Joan Caulfield, Audrey Totter, Constance Bennett, Hurd Hatfield, Ted North, Fred Clark, Harry Lewis, Jack Lambert, Ray Walker, Nana Bryant, Water Baldwin. 

Note:  Imdb 7.1 out of 10, 81% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, TCM overall rating 4 ½* out of 5*, Amazon 4.5* out of 5* with 46 reviews.

Special Note:  Filmed in Grand Central Station, Manhattan, New York City, New York and Warner Brothers Burbank Studios, 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California. Bess Meredyth wrote the screenplay and she is the wife of director Michael Curtiz.  The Unsuspected was originally a magazine serial and then published as a novel in January of 1946.  Warner Brothers bought the film rights prior to the magazine publication.  This film is considered to be impressive because of its emphasis on the noir style.  I noticed a mistake in this film.  A man is driving a grey car and he runs off the road because Victor cut the brake line.  When he drives up an embankment, the car is the right color but when he runs off the road on the opposite side, the car is black.  It must be that the first car was an expensive model and the second car was just an inexpensive heap??