I Confess (1953)

Set in the Canadian province of Quebec, a Catholic priest (Montgomery Clift) hears the confession of a murderer (O.E. Hasse). When the priest becomes the primary suspect in the murder, he is bound by his vows not to reveal what he heard in the confessional. Based on the play OUR TWO CONSCIENCES by Paul Anthelme (although the screenplay cleans it up to be more acceptable to 1950s morality) and directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Its premise is near irresistible so I was sorry I didn't like the film better. It seemed more heavy handed than usual for a Hitchcock film. I missed the glints of humor that infuses almost all his film making. As the priest, Clift's performance is enervated even when he's required to show emotion. Still, in spite of being second tier Hitchcock, the film is compelling in its presentation even though one is constantly aware of the script's contrivances. As the priest's ex-inamorata, Anne Baxter overcompensates for Clift's drained performance by nearly jumping out of her skin! The effective score is by Dimitri Tiomkin. With Karl Malden, Brian Aherne and Dolly Haas.