Rent The Unsuspected (1947)

Forties Noir. - The Unsuspected review by Steve

Improbable but entertaining murder mystery with a lavish production budget which allows its trio of female stars to model some chic gowns on the elaborate sets. Which Michael Curtiz gives a striking film noir look. There's a touch of Columbo as we see the killer in the opening scene and then wait for the law to catch up.

So there's no spoiler in disclosing that Claude Rains plays a suave psycho-killer who murders an alarming number of his household residents without attracting much attention from the cops. It takes an interested gentleman detective to uncover his depravity. Rains is a bit too insidiously malevolent to watch with any pleasure though.

And those female stars: Joan Caulfield is the demure beauty Claude is looking to turn into a large inheritance; Audrey Totter, who must have been sewn into her clothes, is best as a sexy poor relation; and Constance Bennett sparkles as the sophisticated comic relief. The male roles struggle to make much impact among all this glamour.

It's one of those films where wealthy cosmopolitans stand around their lavish mansion while swapping supercilious bonmot in their evening wear. And wait their turn to die. If you can suspend disbelief, there's some fun to be had. And in our age of digital surveillance it's cute to watch the villain snare his victims using huge slabs of recordable vinyl.