The Alfred Hitchcock movie I Confess (1953) offers a rare glimpse into the world of religious responsibility and obligation placed besides the subject matter of murder. The 1902 play Nos deux consciences (Our Two Consciences) by French author and journalist Paul Bourde (pseudonym Paul Anthelme) inspired the movie. The movie was filmed in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.
The movie begins by introducing us to a priest named Father Michael Logan from St. Marie’s Church in Quebec City, Quebec in eastern Canada. Logan, as portrayed by Montgomery Clift, Otto and Alma Keller, German immigrants, as caretaker and housekeeper on the church grounds. Otto Keller works as a part time gardener for lawyer Monsieur Villette. O.E. Hasse, Dolly Haas and Ovila Légaré portray Otto Keller, Alma Keller and Monsieur Villette, respectively.
The movie opens with a man wearing an ankle length black coat worn by Roman Catholic priests at the time I Confess was filmed; that man is shown walking away from the home of Monsieur Villette, who was dead. Otto Keller confesses to Father Logan that he, Keller, killed Villette during the course of a robbery. Otto tells his wife, Alma, of his crime and his confession, along with the oath a priest has to keep confessions confidential.
The wrong man motif kicks in when Otto heads to the Villette’s home the next day, reporting the discovery of his dead boss to the police. Inspector Larrue, as portrayed by Karl Malden, interviews Logan as a suspect in the crime after the priest is seen at Villette’s home. The situation looks worse for Father Logan when witnesses report having seen a priest at the Villette home the day before the murder was brought to the attention of the police.
With an awareness that Father Logan having spoken with Ruth Grandfort at the Villette house, Larrue contacted Prosecutor Willie Robertson at a party being hosted by Grandfort and her Quebec politician husband, Pierre Grandfort. This turn of events tends to cast further suspicion upon the priest, leading to a trial wherein Father Logan cannot candidly defend himself of the crime. The movie does a solid job of adding further, credible intrigue to the case against the priest, which adds credibility and thrilling elements to the nature for how the story will work out. Anne Baxter, Roger Dann and Brian Aherne portrayed Ruth Grandfort, Pierre Grandfort and Prosecutor Robertson, respectively.
(Director Alfred Hitchcock in cameo for the Alfred Hitchcock movie I Confess).
The building tension and the individual motives in play throughout the movie are outstanding, as is the central aspect of the priest wrestling with the religious doctrine of keeping the contents of confession confidential. The movie offers compelling circumstances wherein a spiritual mandate causes clear challenges to the personal freedom of the priest, with bad actors all around. The way that the film resolves this is immensely interesting; thus, I grant the movie I Confess as directed by Alfred Hitchcock 4-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.
Matt – Wednesday, October 5, 2022
Matt Lynn Digital 