Under Suspicion seems OK until the end, that's when they break with a film making (or indeed story telling) tradition and screw with the viewer in order to create a twist.

A twist that you don't see coming, not because there isn't evidence for it, not because it's not obvious, but because of the audiences POV in the film.

While the twist is for this reason unexpected it also loses the audiences trust, they have been lied to and cheated. This also has the effect of making the ending an unhappy one.

Before the ending it's enjoyable enough although we are asked to swallow some rather unlikely things including possibly the closest life and death 'save' in movie history. (not to mention a justice system that seems extremely speedy)

There would also seem to be a plot hole in that an extremely valuable and lucrative piece of evidence (possibly the reason for the crime) is seemingly sacrificed to save someone when no doubt other evidence could have proved effective.

Another hole is Angeline seeing both sides of a building while seeing fine detail far away in the dark.

A great cast of British actors in this colour film noir style thriller from the early 90s. Neeson plays a private eye in Brighton in the early 50s when they needed evidence of adultery for divorces. I won't spoil the plot but it is a good movie and very nostalgic for those who love the old British films of the 50s. Has a bit of Hitchcock about it with a hint of Albert Finney's "Gumshoe" without the black comedy. I watched this movie being shot on outside location Portmerrion of "The Prisoner" fame in 1990/1. It is a good plot and one of Neeson's early meaty roles before he hit the big time as Schindler.

I guess I must invest in a DVD player that can show region 1 and I can enjoy this movie again.

Unfortunately not out on DVD in the UK which should be rectified.

Most of "Under Suspicion" was very good but ...

A few minor shortcomings have already been noted, such as the use of Brighton locales in 1990 that had changed since 1959 and the up-market house in a setting that was nothing like Sussex (it was in Portmeirion, apparently).

In retrospect the opening scenes seemed implausible - a policeman undertaking surveillance leaving his post for a, extedned sex session with the target's wife.

But the film really fell to pieces in the last 15 minutes or so, with the frenetic house search, that frantic last-second dash to the prison and the later encounter in the prison courtyard that would never have been allowed in real life.

The ultimate twist was a jaw-dropper and made me think back to see if the actions that it revealed could have actually happened. Perhaps watching the film again would enable some of the loose-fitting pieces in the plot jigsaw to mesh, but I have my doubts.