Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (1956)

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (1956). The film, considered film noir, was the last American film directed by Lang.

Newspaper publisher Austin Spencer, who is against capital punishment, invites, novelist Tom Garrett, to witness an execution. Later, Austin explains to Tom, that he believes that Thompson, is using circumstantial evidence to win death sentences, because he wants to be the next governor.

Tom proposes to Austin's daughter Susan, and she wants to announce the wedding date, but Tom editor wants him finish his novel first. Austin, wants to find an unsolved crime, plant evidence that will point at a innocent man, then reveal at last minute that the evidence was planted.

Soon after, Austin reads in the newspaper that an exotic dancer, Patty Gray, has been strangled. Austin learns from a police detective, that Patty's friends, Sally Moore and Terry LaRue, saw her drive away with a man.

Tom meets Sally, after spilling a drink on her on purpose and later visits her at the club to offer to pay for cleaning her dress. Sally, is so thrilled to have a wealthy boyfriend that she does not notice when Tom takes her body makeup. Susan sees a picture of Tom and Sally, in the newspaper and questions him about the picture, then breaks off their engagement.

Tom and Austin, go to the scene of the crime, where Austin takes a picture of Tom leaving his cigarette case as a false clue. That night at the club, Terry worries that Tom may be Patty's killer, she decides to call police lieutenant Kennedy, to inform him about her upcoming date with Tom.

Austin, takes pictures of all his activities as proof of his innocence, Tom cleans his car of all fingerprints, applies body makeup to the car seats and leaves a stocking in his glove compartment. When Tom picks up Sally for their date, the police arrest him. The police interrogate Tom, who answers their questions truthfully. When he is indicted for murder, Susan wants Austin to intervene, and wonders why her father does not seem concerned.

Thompson is ready to try the case in court, but his assistant, Bob Hale, is in love with Susan and wants to help her prove Tom's innocence. At the trial, Thompson tells the court that Tom, proposed to Susan just five days before Patty's murder, and killed the dancer to hide his affair with her.

As "evidence," he talks about a large cash withdrawal Tom made from his bank on the same day that Patty went to work with a lot of cash, as well as pipe ashes found in Tom's garbage, even though Tom does not smoke.

As the jury deliberates, Austin heads over to Thompson's to reveal their plot, but.. along the way is hit by a car and all the evidence is burned. After Austin's death, Tom tells the true story to his lawyer, Jonathan Wilson, who tells the judge, but the judge cannot stop the trial. Susan and Jonathan, search Austin's safe for the pictures, but find none. When the police go through the burned photographs, Susan is convinced of Tom's innocence, and tries to convince the newspaper editors to sway public opinion in Tom's favor.

No pardon is granted and the night before Tom's execution, Susan begs Bob to investigate further. He learns that Patty, stole money from her boyfriend who then threatened to kill her. Unfortunately, the boyfriend died years earlier. A lawyer arrives at Thompson's office, with a just-discovered note that Austin left in his safe-deposit vault, which clears him of all guilt. But.. is he really Innocent?

I thought this was a very interesting film that it gets you thinking about how someone really could be killed for something they didn't do. Beyond a Reasonable Doubt, also has one of the best final twists which comes as a complete surprise.

Please click here to read Patti's review on the film Beyond Reasonable Doubt.

Barbara Nichols (December 10, 1928 – October 5, 1976), began modeling for pinup magazines in the early-1950s. In the mid-1950s, she moved to Hollywood and began performing as second leads in films: Miracle in the Rain (1956), The King and Four Queens (1956), The Naked and the Dead (1958), The Pajama Game (1957), Pal Joey (1957), Sweet Smell of Success (1957), That Kind of Woman (1958), Where the Boys Are (1960).

Nichols was considered a minor rival to Marilyn Monroe, along with Jayne Mansfield, Mamie Van Doren, Cleo Moore, Greta Thyssen, Diana Dors and Sheree North. One of her few starring roles was in the 1965 science fiction film, The Human Duplicators.

Nichols was also a frequent guest star on many television series including: It's a Great Life, The Jack Benny Television Show, The Twilight Zone, The Untouchables, Batman, and The Beverly Hillbillies. Her last film was Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood in 1976.

Suspicion (1941).

Suspicion (1941).  Romantic/ psychological /thriller. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Cast: Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine. It also stars Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Nigel Bruce, Dame May Whitty, Isabel Jeans and Heather Angel.

Playboy Johnnie Aysgarth,  in a whirlwind romance sweeps Lina McLaidlaw, off her feet and convinces her into marrying him, even though her family does not want her to. After their honeymoon, she soon learns that Johnnie was hoping to live off her father. She tells him that he has to get a  job and he goes to work for his cousin, estate agent Captain Melbeck .

Lina soon learns that Johnnie has been  gambling on the horses and that he has sold her family heirloom chairs. Next, She goes to visit him at work and finds out that he has been  fired from his job. Johnnie's best friend Beaky tells her that her husband is a good man, but without much success.

Johnnie convinces Beaky to finance a land development project, Lina tries to talk Beaky out of it. Johnnie overhears and warns his wife to mind her own business, but later he decides to cancel the deal. When Beaky leaves for Paris, Johnnie travels with him. Later, Lina hears Beaky's died in Paris and she begins to suspect Johnnie in his friend's death.

Soon, she begins suspect she is next on her husband's list, so he can collect on her life insurance. Johnnie brings Lina a glass of milk before bed, but she is too afraid to drink it.



She makes up a story about staying with her mother for a few days and Johnnie insists on driving her there. He drives recklessly beside a cliff. Suddenly, Lina's door opens, will she be saved?

If you are a Hitchcock fan I think you will want to see this film.  Fontaine's believable performance allows the viewer to really feel her fear. I have read some negative reviews about the surprise ending, but it is worth seeing and deciding for yourself .

Nigel Bruce (4 February 1895 – 8 October 1953), was a British character actor on stage and screen. He was best known for his portrayal of Doctor Watson in a series of films and in the radio series, The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (starring Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes). Bruce is also remembered for his roles in the Alfred Hitchcock films Rebecca and Suspicion. During his film career, he worked in 78 movies.

Happy Birthday: Joan Fontaine!

Joan Fontaine, (born October 22, 1917). Is the younger sister of actress Olivia De Havilland(pictured below), also an Academy Award winner.

Video: Joan Fontaine talks about her relationship with her sister, Olivia de Havilland (1979).



Her film debut was a small role in, No More Ladies (1935). She also performed with Fred Astaire, in his first RKO film, A Damsel in Distress (1937) without Ginger. Next, she went on to perform in the film, The Women (1939). After which her contract was not renewed.

Her luck changed one night, at a dinner party when she meet producer David O. Selznick and they began discussing the novel, Rebecca. Selznick asked her to audition for the part of Rebecca.

Video: A scene from the film Rebecca.



Rebecca, is a gothic tale about the memory of Maxims first wife Rebecca, which still affects Maxim, his new bride, and Mrs. Danvers long after her death. Rebecca marked the debut of British director, Alfred Hitchcock. In 1940, Joan was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. She did not win that year (Ginger Rogers took home the award for Kitty Foyle) but Fontaine, did win the following year for Best Actress in Suspicion, which was also directed by Hitchcock.