The secretary of an affably suave radio mystery host mysteriously commits suicide after his wealthy young niece disappears.The secretary of an affably suave radio mystery host mysteriously commits suicide after his wealthy young niece disappears.The secretary of an affably suave radio mystery host mysteriously commits suicide after his wealthy young niece disappears.
- Steven Francis Howard
- (as Michael North)
- Cab Driver
- (unconfirmed)
- Bride's Mother
- (uncredited)
- Party Guest
- (uncredited)
- Party Guest
- (uncredited)
- Radio Program Coordinator
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe radio station call letters, WMCB, were created by inserting Michael Curtiz's initials into those of Warner Bros.
- GoofsDuring Oliver Keane's accident scene, he is seen driving a gray car at first, but when he skids off the road and tumbles down the hill, it is black.
- Quotes
Steven Francis Howard: Quite a large party, isn't it?
Althea Keane: Would you like to meet anyone?
Althea Keane: It's not very appetizing. It's Victor's birthday. Once a year his friends crawl out of the woodwork.
[Sarcastically]
Althea Keane: This year it's a SURPRISE party!
[Lights cigarette]
Althea Keane: Will he be surprised to see you?
Steven Francis Howard: [He takes her hand with the lit match] I like matches. You never have to refill them...
[He pulls her hand toward him to light his own cigartte]
Steven Francis Howard: ... and when you're through with them, you simply throw them away...
[He blows out the match]
Steven Francis Howard: ... like people.
- Crazy creditsOpening titles and closing credits are typed in a bound manuscript, and gloved hands can be seen flipping the pages. This is a nod to the scripts that Grandison writes for his radio show.
- ConnectionsReferences The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945)
Victor Grandison (known to his admirers, friends, and loving family as "Grandy") hosts a radio program which retells classic true murder cases from America's and Britain's past. He is based (like Waldo Lydecker, Sheridan Whiteside, and - to an extent - Addison DeWitt) on Alexander Woolcott, the critic and member of the Algonquin Set and radio host ("The Town Cryer") who loved to discuss old murder cases too (in THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER Woolcott/Whiteside meets Lizzy Borden/Elizabeth Sedley). Grandy is the guardian for two nieces, Audrey Totter (married to the frequently drunken Hurd Hatfield), and Joan Caulfield. Caulfield is presently abroad, but word has come back that she was killed in a fire. On top of this, Grandy's secretary has apparently committed suicide - although Totter is not quite sure it was a suicide. Shortly afterward, a man shows up (Ted North) claiming to be Caulfield's husband (and, if she is dead, heir to her estate being handled by guardian Rains). Then Caulfield shows up - back from the dead as it were - and she can't recall marrying North!
The film's villain is not difficult to fathom - Rains has no real rival figures to play against here for that honor. Jack Lambert gives good support as Rains' criminal assistant.
Several comments are made about the very witty screenplay, particularly Constant Bennett's lines. But there are other moments of humor for some of the other characters, including one for Rains which caused me to momentarily feel some compassion for him. In one of his schemes, he has to isolate a potential victim in his country mansion. His butler Kent (Harry Lewis) will probably be upstairs in his apartment that night. With his kindest looking face, Rains goes over to hard working Lewis and says that he needs to relax and gives him two tickets to his radio program on the night the mansion has to be empty. Lewis is speechless for a moment, but then says something "unexpected". "Thank you Mr. Grandison," says Lewis/Kent, "but I have to admit that I don't think I'll take them." Rains is amazed. "Why not?", he asks. "Well, you see Mr. Grandison, I know it sounds odd but I have never listened to your program at all." Rains face is beginning to redden up a bit. "The fact is Mr. Grandison," says Lewis/Kent, "Your murder stories scare me too much!" Rains has heard enough by this time. This is more than just clearing his house for his own private murder plot - it's his reputation at stake here. "Let's put it this way Kent." Rains says with white pursed lips, "Do you like your job here?" Kent took the tickets, and Rains looked satisfied if a bit less than amused.
Good film this.
- theowinthrop
- Jun 23, 2006
- How long is The Unsuspected?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime1 hour 43 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1