Movie Review: Wives Under Suspicion (1938)
Synopsis: Work-obsessed District Attorney Jim Stowell nearly forgets his wife, Lucy's, birthday and is then shot by someone related to one of the people he prosecuted. Realizing he needs to change his ways, Jim promises to take Lucy on a much-needed vacation but then cancels that plan when given the opportunity to prosecute a wealthy professor who shot his wife after finding her in the arms of another man. As the case progresses, Jim sees similarities between the professor's marriage and his own and begins to suspect Lucy is having an affair.
Who's in it? The movie stars Warren William, Gail Patrick, Ralph Morgan, William Lundigan and Constance Moore.
Review: I came across Wives Under Suspicion last night and, since I am both a fan of actor Warren William and director James Whale, I decided to add it to my library. I watched it this morning and it turned out to be an intriguing film.
There are a couple things I found I really liked about this movie. One of them was how the film portrayed Jim (William). He wasn't necessarily a bad guy. He genuinely loved Lucy (Patrick), to the point he was quick to realize when he wasn't giving her enough of his attention. Yet, at the same time, he seemed almost addicted to his work, unable to pass up a case if it was sensational and gave him a chance at sending another man to the electric chair.
Lucy, meanwhile, was about as loyal as a wife could get. After having her birthday ruined (and Jim confessing he wouldn't have remembered it if he wasn't told about it) and her vacation plans cancelled by her husband, it would have been easy enough to forgive her if she did end up having an affair. Yet, even when she looked guilty of doing just that, I didn't know if she was actually cheating or if it was just a misunderstanding.
Jim's transition into jealous husband was also timed perfectly, with a steady but still gradual transformation. I liked how he starts out not believing a word of the professor's (Morgan) confession only to start seeing the same cracks in his marriage, especially in front of Lucy's mirror. Between that and the overall stress of the trial, it was hard to tell just how much he would end up mimicking the man he was trying to convict.
Because of the above, the movie's ending was also something left up in the air until the very end. It was unclear if Jim would eventually become a murderer himself, if Lucy would end up leaving him or if there would somehow be a happy ending. Considering many movies like this have predictable endings, it was a pleasant surprise.
Final Opinion: It was a film that exceeded my expectations both because of a somewhat unique plot and the way the story was told. It's worth taking the time to watch if you get a chance.
My Grade: A
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Here are some reviews of other movies starring Warren William:
Movie Review: The Case of the Curious Bride (1935)
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