Otto Kellar and his wife Alma work as caretaker and housekeeper at a Catholic church in Quebec. Whilst robbing a house where he sometimes works as a gardener, Otto is caught and kills the owner. Racked with guilt he heads back to the church where Father Michael Logan is working late. Otto confesses his crime, but when the police begin to suspect Father Logan he cannot reveal what he has been told in the confession.
Directed by
Alfred Hitchcock
Written by
Paul Anthelme (play); George Tabori (screenplay); William Archibald (screenplay).
Starring
Montgomery Clift (Fr. Michael William Logan); Anne Baxter (Ruth Grandfort); Karl Malden (Inspector Larrue); Brian Aherne (Willy Robertson); Roger Dann (Pierre Grandfort); Dolly Haas (Alma Keller); Charles Andre (Fr. Millars); O.E. Hasse (Otto Keller); Judson Pratt (Det. Murphy); Ovila Légaré (Villette); Gilles Pelletier (Fr. Benoit). Please contact SFC to add other cast members and characters.
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Another Clever Hitchcock Gem
Mark Banks (United Kingdom)
Opinion: Recommended
When I sat down to watch 'I Confess' it had been a couple of years since I'd last watched a Hitchcock film, and I have to say watching the film was a real breath of fresh air from the majority of the other films that I've watched in that time - Hitchcock is truly a clever film-maker; blending art, suspense and story together seamlessly to create films that are a pure joy to watch. When one thinks of the tens of millions of dollars that are spent on developing films these days to make them more exciting and watchable, the simplicity of Hitchcock really does put them to shame. Anyway, I digress. At the heart of 'I Confess' - intriguing plot aside - is Fr Michael's complete faithfulness to his vocation and vow of silence with respect to the confessional. At no point is Fr Michael even seen to be contemplating breaking his vow. This acts to great effect both morally and spiritually as well as with respect to the overall plot of the film. The way that Fr Michael's relationship with Ruth (Anne Baxter - top left in pictures above) is explained out is quite pleasing too - walking a fine line so that at no time, though he comes close, could Fr Michael be seen to be unfaithful to his calling. This is a film that all of the family will enjoy watching. They don't make films like this anymore, but I pray that one day they will again.
