I Confess (1953)

☆ ☆ ☆

I Confess (1953) – A. Hitchcock

Hitch’s obsession with guilt and innocence are on full display here (he always claimed to have a mortal fear of the police despite doing nothing wrong) and he reveals the Catholic roots of these concerns much more overtly here than elsewhere in his canon.  Montgomery Clift plays Father Logan, a priest in Quebec City (the site of a memorable field trip for my high school French class) who hears a murderer’s confession in the first five minutes of the film.  Unfortunately for him, the murderer was dressed as a priest at the time and Logan falls under suspicion – but can’t reveal the real killer because of the sanctity of the confessional!  More importantly, Logan and an “old friend” (Anne Baxter) share a secret, yes, a guilty secret, that means that they are not quite innocent and this further attracts Inspector Karl Malden’s unwanted attention. (Baxter pursuing the “unavailable” Clift, who was gay, does seem to have some Lavender Screen double meanings). Logan seems quite ready to become a martyr, either because of his faith/the principle or to expiate his own guilt – and Hitch makes a number of references to the Stations of the Cross, suggesting the trials he is being put through.  It’s all a bit turgid to be honest until an exciting chase through the Chateau Frontenac (site of a memorable h. s. dinner w/ wine) wraps things up with a bow.  Not Hitch’s best but not without interest.