Although very popular at the time, Hitchcock’s thriller is best remembered today for winning Joan Fontaine as Oscar she should have won for Rebecca, and for the dud ending. Listening to it now you really wish that Hitchcock used the ending he wanted (or claimed he wanted) – having the Cary Grant character (here played by Brian Aherne) turn out to be a murder gives the story real emotional impact, and also logic. Without that, the ending is kind of depressing – you don’t want Fontaine to wind up with this suicidal loser, who is never going to pull his socks up.
Maybe it worked a bit more with Cary Grant than Aherne – Grant is simply more charismatic and charming, whereas Aherne comes across as a second-rate con-man. Fontaine also struggles to convey adoration effectively through voice alone – she needs to do her simpering-look thing. Nigel Bruce does his usual blustering thing in support.
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