Above Suspicion (1943)

Director:

Richard Thorpe

Writers:

Helen MacInnes (novel)
Keith Winter (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

May 1943 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Plot:

Oxford Professor Richard Myles and new bride Frances are off on a European honeymoon. It isn't your typical honeymoon though...

Plot Keywords:

Honeymoon | Germany | Oxford | Professor | France

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Joan Crawford	...	Frances Myles
Fred MacMurray	...	Richard Myles
Conrad Veidt	...	Hassert Seidel
Basil Rathbone	...	Sig von Aschenhausen
Reginald Owen	...	Dr. Mespelbrunn
Richard Ainley	...	Peter Galt
Cecil Cunningham	...	Countess
Ann Shoemaker	...	Aunt Ellen
Sara Haden	...	Aunt Hattie
Felix Bressart	...	Mr. A. Werner
Bruce Lester	...	Thornley
Johanna Hofer	...	Frau Kleist
Lotte Palfi Andor	...	Ottilie (as Lotta Palfi)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Madam Borget	...	Patron in Frisky Rabbit (as Mme. Borget)

Runtime:

90 min | 91 min (Turner library print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French | German | Arabic

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #9144) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Filming Locations:

Bishop, California, USA

Company:

Loew's

Trivia:

Female bit players were not allowed to wear makeup in scenes that took place in Germany, as Adolf Hitler had banned it in 1933.

Quotes:

[newlyweds Richard and Frances Myles register at a hotel under assumed names]
Walmer Hotel proprietor: Mr. and Mrs. Smith? I suppose that's all right. Mind you draw the blinds.
Richard Myles: [embarrassed] Huh?
Walmer Hotel proprietor: There's a practice blackout tonight.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Unfinished Business (1986)

Soundtrack:

Who Is Sylvia?

Above Suspecion is an Excellent piece of intrigue, fun and entertainment

Those wonderful movies of the past. The film's setting is in the days prior to the outbreak of the Second World War. Although it would have been highly unlikely that British Intelligence would have asked two non-Britishers and non-professionals to do a bit of spying for them which could turn very dangerous for them and give the whole thing away plus creating an international scandal (the World War had not yet started), yet it is always interesting to see how it would have developed. Good slick direction by Mr. Thorpe, excellent acting by Mr. McMurray and specially by Miss Crawford, excellent set design which does not forget the overcoats needed on the Brenner Pass between Austria (in the Film the country is called Southern Germany) and Itally (which did not get into the War until 1940). Good to see two decent people doing the right thing for the right cause endangering their own lives to get away from the Nazi and back to safety. Good work and fun to watch and don't forget the inimitable Mr. Veidt. He should have been in Hollywood a decade earlier.

Barzin Samimi

Tehran, Iran