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Rating:  -
I Confess, 1953 film
The film takes place in Quebec, and shows a body on the floor. A man is shown walking down the street. A priest sees a man enter the church who then makes a confession for his sin of murder during a burglary. He wanted $2,000 to start a new life. Father Michael Logan heard Keller's confession, and cannot reveal this secret. We see the legislature discuss political questions like equal pay for women teachers. Two young girls saw a priest (a man wearing a cassock) leaving Mr. Villette's house, but can't identify the man. The police investigate to find who had been out late Tuesday night. Father Logan had been in the war and won the Military Cross. He alone can't give an alibi for his time that night. Inspector LaRue now has a suspect!
We learn there was a romantic triangle where a wife was in love with Father Logan. She meets him in a public place, and offers to give him an alibi. But this would break up an indissoluble marriage! Father Logan chose to be what he is and can't marry her. Mrs. Ruth Grandfer was being blackmailed by that murdered lawyer, who knew of her past association with Michael Logan, and the amazing coincidences with that murdered man. Mr. Villette was threatening to reveal her past. Ruth had told this to Father Logan before the death. [Ruth seems to bring trouble to her male companions.] The scene at the rectory shows a pre-1977 Canada where anyone can own a pistol (their crime rate was lower).
The trial shows the testimony of the witnesses. The pieces of the puzzle are placed together. The prosecutor suggests the relationship between Father Logan and Ruth provided a motive for murder. The all male jury returns a not guilty verdict due to the lack of evidence! The judge uses English Law to declare his opinion of the verdict. The crowd shows their disbelief in the verdict, being swayed by their emotional need for a sacrificial victim. Otto's wife Ann goes to talk to Father Logan, but her husband shoots her! Now the police realize there is another suspect. Otto is cornered, and shot by the police, but has time for his last confession.
There is no mention of the resulting scandal. Someone found not guilty will always be suspect by many (Lizzie Borden, OJ Simpson, Robert Blake). Wrongful convictions are almost always due to mistaken eyewitness identification, and that is all they had in this case. (No fingerprints? No traced money?) The motive is created in the minds of the police. But Father Logan was a likely suspect. [This case of an accused killer who can't tell of his alibi reminds me of Joe Hill.] Even those with an alibi aren't always believed. They are often with friends and family whose testimony is suspect. A cynic might wonder if Father Logan used the German refugee (knowing his past) to eliminate a blackmailer by suggesting he work for Mr. Villette. The intellectual puzzles in this film might have prevented commercial success in those days.
Rating:  -
Hitchcock was for me, as for so many aspiring film buffs, one of the first directors I "got into"; 20 years or so ago I went through nearly all of his films from 1935-up, but there were a couple that fell through the cracks, and this was one.
The French apparently fell in love with this when it came out; it seems to have been a favorite of many of the New Wave directors as their careers were just starting out. I'm not sure I have an answer as to why, as it seems 50 years on not to have worn as well as many of Hitch's subsequent 50s films; perhaps it has something to do with the religious aspects of the film, or the French-Canadian location shooting; or Montgomery Clift. At any rate, though the subject matter is certainly quite thought-provoking and there's a psychological character inherent in the character of a priest allowing himself to potentially face death rather than to betray the confidence of a confession, the film on the whole rang just a little hollow for me. The true murderer of the wealthy lawyer who (it will turn out) has been blackmailing the priest's former lover is known right away, and though that alone doesn't necessarily remove the suspense, the character of Otto Keller is a bit too broadly drawn and villainous....there's no doubt that he will do whatever it takes to protect himself, and thus all our focus on the moral issues lies with the priest Father Logan (Montgomery Clift). And Logan just isn't terribly interesting, isn't written in a way that really moved me; he's obstinate when questioned by the over-eager inspector in charge of the case (Karl Malden) but so vague and noncommittal that we aren't even sure (from the text of the film, anyway) that he's actually protecting the murderer out of his own fears, or because of his beliefs.
My favorite scene in the film is one that seems to provoke an opposite reaction in many, and that is the flashback where the woman who has been blackmailed by the murdered lawyer, Mm Grandfort (Anne Baxter, quite solid) recalls her past love with the priest. It's atypical Hitchcock, romantic and gauzy, and a lot of people seem to hate it, but for me it was quite magical and really made me feel for these characters in a way that the rest of the film often failed to do.
Nice photography and location shots in Quebec City, and I can't complain much about the acting; it was certainly very watchable and contained some reasonably suspenseful moments; **** would be respectable or even tops for most filmmakers, but it's lower-echelon for Hitchcock. DVD from the "Masterpiece Collection"; excellent transfer with a nice "making of" documentary.
Rating: -
" I confess " is one of the weirdest entries of the master of suspense. Because and despite you may regard it as a suspenseful movie, the film explores the last frontiers of what it must be done in case a secret of confession of a man who killed a blackmailer who was taking advantage about the loves of youth between the priest and a beautiful girl who is actually a married woman.
The puritanical ethics of the master is carved in relief. But basically, we should understand the guiltiness about the killer is a sort of divine justice over a ruthless man who employs the defamation as a way of earning the life, no matter how the prize of this attitude may mean for other people who have nothing to do with this sin of youth.
The figure of the priest in the middle of the trial is another factor of inner suspense. He has been condemned beforehand by the gaze of most of the people until the truth appears.
Once more, the public opinion like in "Dreyfus affair" has decided and judged according the elemental rules of the common sense. But when the jury declares him not guilty, Hitchcock bets for some who have not been blinded for the mere facts.
Moreover, at the moment the truth is revealed, the respectable married woman asks his husband for leaving the sordid incident at the final sequence, carving in relief the well known statement: "Ashes to ashes."
A very good performance of Montgomery Clift.
Rating: -
The Bottom Line:
For the first two thirds this is a very atmospheric and engaging "wrong man" style mystery (as only Hitch could deliver) with Monty Clift practically sweating Method intensity out of his very pores and a much better than usual Karl Malden; the film unfortunately doesn't really know how to end itself without completely flouting all logic but for a while it's an enjoyable ride.
3/4
Rating: -
I CONFESS (Laserdisc) Dir. Alfred Hitchcock
Okay, you are going to find a lot of reiews listing performances and plot, read, THEM. This version is in my TOP TEN of ALL TIME
I enjoy watching Hitchcock crafted films, because of his innuendo use of FORESHADOWING, His superficial chatter, over intrigue and suspicious eye movements, etc.
I confess is the ULTIMATE conundrum. IF you were bound, as the priest is bound, would you, breakdown? If you were presented with the evidence, no matter HOW shocking, Karl Maulden is presented with...WOULD YOU draw a different conclusion? If your first flame, died in war, and you finally let go, and then marry, then find he lives after all, would your love re-flare? IF you were desperate, and, had the opportunity to get out of the situation, tho another would be implicated...would you leave them swinging in the breeze?
EAch time I watch this film, I try to strongly identify with another character, this freshens, each viewing, and, alters the horror of the ending.
Yes, even if I had been implicated. As a compassionate priest, I would hate to see a parishioner/sexton trapped in a shoot-out with an overwhelming police force. Etc.
The MCGUFFIN, of the SEAL OF THE CONFESSIONAL, and the alibi of an implied affair with a married woman, DAMNS the Montgomery Clift Priest in the public eye. The woman, is willing to risk the security of her position as prominent public wife. The police captain is relentless as he tries to solve a murder, performed supposedly by a priest. Etc.
The black and white photography is breathtaking, the summer storm and gazebo is romantic. The sanctuary is cool and comforting. The movie...is very re-watchable!
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