My Review of 'Suspense' (1946)

Wikipedia describes this as an ice-staking-themed film noir, which is the most original description I’ve seen lately. What’s next? Hockey-themed film noir? Curling in the Shadows?

This movie is about a guy named Joe Morgan (a regular Joe, you might say) (played by Barry Sullivan) who’s a drifter (what else?) making his way in the world, but right now he needs a job. His attempts to get one lead to a gig selling peanuts at the Ice Capades a theatrical skating show, featuring none other than a real-life skating sensation, Belita, in the part of a made-up skating sensation named Roberta. Morgan, naturally, quickly falls for her. But he’s discouraged from speaking to Roberta by his boss, Frank Leonard (played by Albert Dekker), who owns the theatre/ice rink and produces the show. Morgan’s friend Harry (the mutual friend who got him the peanut gig) tells him that Leonard and Roberta are married.

Oh, and because Leonard’s a bit bored with Roberta’s act, Morgan comes up with a great suggestion. Why not have Roberta jump through a circle of knives? So … picture that display of cutlery in Knives Out, except confined to the circumference of a circle. Which Belita/Roberta manages to leap through without killing herself or losing a limb or any other body part. And with that genius suggestion, Morgan is promoted in short order from peanut vendor to manager.

No doubt emboldened by the promotion, Morgan continues to make the moves on Roberta, who continues to say “No means no, asshole.” thwart his advances, but eventually warms up to him, for reasons that escape me. But it’s during the part when Leonard leaves town and puts Morgan in charge of the theater/ice rink. That’s right. Leonard goes off to Chicago, knowing that Morgan is attracted to Skater Lady and leaving him in charge.

However, when he returns from Chicago, Leonard gets a clue that things are warming up between Morgan and Ice Capade Skating Queen. So Leonard takes Roberta to their cabin in the mountains, where he can inflict his charms upon her without disturbance. But it is not to be. Because guess who happens to be in the neighborhood with some papers to deliver to Leonard. Who else?

Imagine the scene:

INT. CABIN – DAY

Leonard and Roberta sit together on a comfortable sofa before a rustic fireplace.

LEONARD
It’s so nice to be out in the middle of nowhere.

ROBERTA
Yes, darling. I may go skating tomorrow.

A KNOCK at the door.

ROBERTA
Who could that be? We’re in the middle of nowhere.

LEONARD
I’ll go see, sweetheart.

Leonard gets up and answers the door. Morgan enters, grinning.

MORGAN
Hey! Sorry to interrupt your vacation, but I happened to be coming this way, anyhow. So, I brought these papers.

LEONARD
(suspicious)
Yeah. I’ll bet.

END SCENE.

Anyway, that’s not the least believable part of this movie.

The next day (I think), Roberta and Morgan go off together to skate or ski or something. And Leonard hunts them down. And tries to shoot Morgan (I assume), but only ends up causing an avalanche. One in which he’s supposed to have died. But apparently they never recovered the body.

So Morgan has all these doubts about whether Leonard is actually dead. Signs that Leonard’s alive show up now and then, causing Morgan a measure of disquiet.

Oh, and some old flame of Morgan’s from New York appears and rents an apartment right across the hall from him. She has all sorts of dirt on Morgan. Plus the usual “no one can have him but me” act. Her role is limited to being annoying.

Is it really a spoiler to say that Leonard is very much alive? But won’t be for much longer.

And someone’s body gets stuffed into a rolltop desk. And, before it’s hauled off to be burned in the basement furnace, no one stops to ask, “Has this thing been completely emptied?”

And did no one think to take an ax to a rolltop desk big enough to hold the not-exactly-small body of the victim. I mean, if you’re gonna burn a desk, why not make it easier … and wouldn’t you be curious?

FLASHBACK

A sturdy YOUNG MAN holds one end of a rolltop desk, while a TALL YOUNG MAN holds the other end. Together, they move down a set of shadowy stairs.

YOUNG MAN
This thing weighs a ton. Did you check all the drawers?

END FLASHBACK

And, of course, Chekov’s the Circle of Knives plays a part in the Big Finish.

* * * * *

Directed by Frank Tuttle
Produced by Frank and Maurice King
Screenplay by Philip Jordan

Believability isn’t everything. 🙂

I couldn’t find an official trailer, so check out Eddie Muller‘s introduction to the film from TCM Noir Alley.

Eddie Muller has literally written the book on the subject of film noir. :)