Above Suspicion (1943)

Above Suspicion is a 1943 World War II spy comedy-drama starring Joan Crawford, Fred MacMurray, Basil Rathbone, and Conrad Veidt.

In 1939 England, Richard Myles, a professor, and his new wife Frances are just about to embark on their honeymoon in Europe when they're approached by Peter, an old friend of Richard's from the Foreign Office, who wants them to go Europe to find a missing scientist to get information about a magnetic mine the Nazis are working on. At first, Richard and Frances consider the mission to be a lark, but they gradually find themselves in real danger.

This was the last movie Crawford made for MGM, as she was tired of the scripts she was getting. This also was the last film appearance for Veidt, who died of a heart attack not long after filming was completed.

For the 1995 film starring Christopher Reeve, go here.

This film contains examples of:

• Bait-and-Switch: Hassert Seidel at first seems to be the type of suspicious person Richard and Frances want to avoid, as he's following the two of them and claiming to just be a tour guide (having him played by Conrad Veidt certainly helps add to the suspicion). When Richard goes to rescue Dr. Mespelbrunn and finds Seidel there, it turns out Seidel is an Austrian spy who has also been sent to rescue Dr. Mespelbrunn.
• Bait-and-Switch Comment: After Richard and Frances register as "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" (see Smithical Marriage below), the hotel proprietor tells them to close the blinds. At Richard's puzzled glance, the proprietor explains there's a practice blackout on.
• Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Sig von Aschenhausen is an old friend of Richard's from Oxford, and at first seems very friendly and helpful, even keeping Richard and Frances from being questioned in the murder of a Nazi officer. Turns out Sig works with Those Wacky Nazis.
• Bookcase Passage: Werner, one of Richard's contacts, uses a secret bookcase passage to escape from the Nazis when they enter his house.
• Bound and Gagged:
  • Sig has Dr. Mespelbrunn tied up in his attic, though the tapping noises he makes on the floor and through the ventilator alert Richard and Frances to his presence, and Richard and Seidel end up rescuing him later.
  • Later, when the Nazis captured Frances, she gets tied up, though not gagged.
• Damsel in Distress: Though Frances is disguised as an old woman when wandering the streets, Sig recognizes her, and despite Thornley's attempts to warn her, she's taken prisoner. Richard, Thornley, and Seidel have to rescue her.
• The Film of the Book: Based on the novel by Scottish-American spy writer Helen MacInnes.
• Heroic Sacrifice: Thornley is killed by the Nazis when helping Richard and Seidel rescue Frances, but before he dies, he gives them a pass that will allow them to escape the camp.
• Hey, Wait!: Richard and Seidel, disguised as Nazi guards and with Frances hidden in their car, are driving out of the camp when one of the guards yells for them to be stopped at the gate. Turns out the guard wanted to retrieve his cigarette, which he had dropped on the back seat.
• It's Personal: Thornley turns out to be the one who shot and killed the Nazi officer at the concert Richard and Frances attend, and he admits to Richard he did so because the officer was responsible for killing his wife.
• Jumped at the Call: Even though Richard and Frances are supposed to be on their honeymoon, she's positively thrilled to ask to spy for the British government, as well as going on a mission for them.
• Smithical Marriage: In a variation on this trope, Richard and Frances are actually married, but Richard signs them in to a hotel as "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" because he wants some privacy. This makes it difficult for Peter to find them for his mission.
• Spy Speak: Used quite a bit, especially with the song "My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose", which is used as code.
• Title Drop: Frances thinks it's perfect she and Richard are going on their mission while they're on their honeymoon, and says to Richard they'll be "above suspicion".