Obsession, A Cheating Couple Tormented

Many times one cannot blame the murderer...at least in films.  As in life, in movies, the victim so often deserved their fate.  A cheating spouse, the slick boyfriend/girlfriend of that spouse...they have it coming. We may not advocate murder, but some people just need killing.  You probably know many of them.  Our feature today is 1949's "Obsession" (aka "The Hidden Room"), directed by Edward Dmytryk and filmed at Pinewood Studios in England.

We like Clive (Robert Newton), a gentleman who smokes cigar and sips wine at a men's club in London. One night, the wealthy doctor, supposedly on a long business trip, arrives home to catch his lovely wife, Storm (Sally Gray) and her lover Bill (Phil Brown), an American. Uh oh, Clive has a gun.  Does he shoot them? That would be too easy and below what is expected of a gentleman. No...he slaps Storm, she leaves the room, and at gunpoint takes Bill away. To where and to do what with?  Kill him? Not so simple. See, Clive has it all worked out and has figured out how to commit the perfect murder. Now Clive owns the cheating Storm.  He watches her closely and she dares not cross him fearing he is a killer.  But is he?  Storm believes Clive has murdered her lover.

Well, guess what. Clive is not yet a killer...but intends to be.  The gentleman is keeping the gadabout American alive in a room in bomb out ruins in London.  No one will hear him scream and Bill is also chained.  Uh oh for Bill...Clive is an amateur mad scientist and is working on disposal of body techniques.  So why is Clive not killing Bill? The gentleman torments his wife's lover while feeding him and providing daily martinis.  Months go by and...well, Clive seems to have the perfect plan. But wait!  Inspector Finsbury (Naunton Wayne) shows up on routine inquiries.  Here is all you have to know; Insp. Finsbury is the English version of Colombo.  Enough said.

Why is Clive keeping Bill alive?  Has Clive really figured how to get away with the perfect murder?  Does Bill have any shot at escaping and surviving to the end credits?  This film is reminiscent of the old Hammer films before they switched to horror.  Clever, witty, and perhaps a lesson to all those figuring on cheating on a spouse who is smarter than you.  See "Obsession" and decide for yourself if you like the ending.