Suspicion Overview:

Suspicion (1941) was a Film Noir - Mystery Film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and produced by Harry E. Edington.

The film was based on the novel Before the Fact written by Francis Iles published in 1932.

SYNOPSIS

This Hitchcock thriller has winning performances from Grant and Fontaine. In order to escape the oppression of her rigid, wealthy parents, Fontaine embraces the attention of Grant though she knows his reputation as a cad. When his friend Bruce turns up dead, Fontaine begins to think she's next and frets about the nightly glass of milk Grant brings her. Her fears reach a crescendo on a careening drive on a twisting road.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

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Academy Awards 1941 --- Ceremony Number 14 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best ActressJoan FontaineWon
Best PictureRKO RadioNominated
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BlogHub Articles:

Shadow of Suspicion: Out of the Foxhole and Into the Noir Light with “Crossfire”

By Stephen Reginald on May 19, 2026 From Classic Movie Man

Shadow of Suspicion: Out of the Foxhole and Into the Noir Light with “Crossfire” Directed by Edward Dmytryk, Crossfire (1947) opens in the shadows of a dimly lit Washington, D.C. apartment, where a Jewish civilian named Joseph Samuels is beaten to death. Police Captain Finlay (Rober... Read full article


“Suspicion” drives a wedge between Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine

By Stephen Reginald on Oct 21, 2025 From Classic Movie Man

“Suspicion” drives a wedge between Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine Suspicion (1941) is an American mystery-suspense film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine. The supporting cast includes Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Nigel Bruce, Dame May Whitty, and Leo G. C... Read full article


"Suspicion" comes between Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine

By Stephen Reginald on Mar 31, 2021 From Classic Movie Man

"Suspicion" comes between Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine Suspicion (1941) is a psychological romance directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine. The screenplay was written by Samson Raphaelson, Joan Harrison, and Alma Reville (Mrs. Alfred Hitchcock). The movie was base... Read full article


Beyond Suspicion (1993 TVM)

By John Grant on Apr 1, 2020 From Noirish

vt Appointment for a Killing US / 92 minutes / color / Frank & Bob Films, Patricia K. Meyer, von Zerneck?Sertner, NBC Dir: William A. Graham Pr: Randy Sutter Scr: Karen Clark Story: Appointment for Murder: The Story of the Killing Dentist (1988) by Susan Crain Bakos Cine: Denis Lewiston Cast: Ma... Read full article


book: Beyond Suspicion (2006; trans 2009 Linda Coverdale) by Tanguy Viel

By John Grant on Jul 20, 2019 From Noirish

One of the review quotes on the cover of this short book says it reads like a Raymond Chandler novel, a comment of maximal piffledom; I guess the unnamed reviewer has the excuse that s/he was writing for a French literary magazine, rather than an Anglophone one, but even making that allowance may be... Read full article


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Quotes from

Lina McLaidlaw Aysgarth: I must go now or I'll be late to luncheon. Anyway, if my father saw me come in both late and beautiful, he might have a stroke.


Johnnie Aysgarth: Hello Monkeyface!


[Lina asks Johnnie how he intends to support them]
Johnnie Aysgarth: Well, if the worst comes to the worst and there's no other way out, I'll have to...
Lina McLaidlaw Aysgarth: What?
Johnnie Aysgarth: Borrow some more.


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Facts about

Alfred Hitchcock originally wanted Johnnie to be guilty, but the studio insisted that the public wouldn't accept Cary Grant as a murderer. Hitchcock's original ending had Johnny killing Lina by poisoning her milk, but then convicting himself by mailing a letter that Lina had written. Joan Fontaine said, Cary Grant "did kill me in the original cut, but at a preview, the audience simply refused to accept him as the murderer."
Joan Fontaine's performance in this movie is the only Oscar-winning performance that Alfred Hitchcock directed.
"The Screen Guild Theater" broadcast a 30 minute radio adaptation of the movie on January 4, 1943 with Joan Fontaine and Nigel Bruce reprising their film roles.
read more facts about Suspicion...
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Best Actress Oscar 1941






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