| | | If you knew what he knew what would you do?
Features: DVD
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.
Editor's Note
I CONFESS, from the play by Paul Anthelme, is based on a premise custom made for Alfred Hitchcock's fascination with the dilemma of an innocent man accused of a crime. Montgomery Clift plays Father Michael Logan, a priest who hears the confession of a murderer and soon finds himself framed for the crime. Circumstantial evidence mounts, painting an ever more damning picture of the priest's crime while he is bound by his priestly vows not to reveal what he has learned in confession. If other Hitchcock dramas such as SABOTEUR follow the plight of the innocent man through breakneck pursuits, I CONFESS succeeds on the strength of Clift's ability to convey the real anxiety of the moral dilemma he faces and the effects of the widening chasm between pious intentions and social disgrace. Strong performances are also given by O.E. Hasse as the bitter and murderous gardener Otto Keller and by Anne Baxter as the woman whose faith in Father Logan also threatens scandal.
Plot Summary
This lesser known Hitchcock murder drama, based upon the play by Paul Anthelme, is compelling for its stark photography and symbolism. With I CONFESS, Hitchcock puts a moral twist on the theme of an innocent man charged with a crime he didn't commit. Montgomery Clift plays a pious young priest who hears a confession from a murderer and later finds himself accused of the crime. He is then torn between his vows of silence and his need to clear himself of the charge.
| Features | Audio: English Mono | | Interactive Menus | | Scene Selection | | Subtitles: English, French, Spanish |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
| | Studio: Warner |
| Release Date: 2/14/2006 |
| Running Time: 95 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 1953 | | Catalog ID: 31863 | | UPC: 00085393186326 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English [CC], English | | Available Subtitles: French, Spanish | | Video: B&W |
Aspect Ratio | | Standard 1.33:1 [4:3] |
| Cast & Crew
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| | Professional Reviews | Los Angeles Times
"Considered by the French New Wave critics and theaters as one of Hitchcock's greatest films..." 08/29/2004 p.E11 |
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