Obsession (AKA “The Hidden Room”)
Directed by Edward Dmytryk
Written by Alec Coppel from his book
1949/UK
Independent Sovereign Films
First viewing/Hulu Plus
[box] Supt. Finsbury: Interested in murder, Doctor?
Dr. Clive Riordan: In an amateur sort of way, yes.
Supt. Finsbury: Don’t be modest. All murderers are amateurs, you know…. The only professionals in the game are those that try to catch the murderers.[/box]
This Hitchcockian psychological thriller is a bit short on thrills but this in made up for by a superb performance from Robert Newton.
Psychiatrist Clive Riordan (Newton) is fed up with the infidelities of wife Storm (Sally Gray). He is waiting as she and her latest flame American Phil Brown (Bill Cronin) come home from a night on the town. After Storm walks out following a quarrel, Clive informs Bill that he has planned the perfect murder. We next see Bill chained up in what looks to be the basement of Clive’s surgery. Naunton Wayne (Caldicott of Chalders and Caldicott) arrives as a Scotland Yard Inspector about half way through. I won’t give away any more of the story.
I have made no secret of my admiration of Robert Newton. The man is an absolute chameleon, perhaps most famous for his portrayal of rotters such as Bill Sykes in Oliver Twist and Long John Silver in Treasure Island (1950). Here he plays a methodical upper-class physician with utter believability. It’s a pleasure just to watch him listen to the other actors. Naunton Wayne is effective as well.
Bill Kronin was OK but nothing special as the American. I think he brought down the film a bit. The characters could have used more development in general. The film did keep my interest though. Worth seeing once. It is currently available on YouTube,
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