The Unsuspected

The Unsuspected

Year: 1947

Runtime: 103 mins

Language: English

Director: Michael Curtiz

ThrillerDramaMysteryThrillers and murder mysteriesNoir and dark crime dramas

You can’t foresee it! You can’t forget it! The secretary of an affably suave radio mystery host mysteriously commits suicide after his wealthy young niece disappears.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen The Unsuspected yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – The Unsuspected (1947)

Trace every key event in The Unsuspected (1947) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Roslyn's murder at Victor's home

In Victor Grandison's suburban New York home, his secretary Roslyn Wright is killed and her body is found hanging from a chandelier. The death is publicly ruled a suicide, shielding the killer from immediate suspicion. The chilling setup establishes Victor's influence over those around him and the narrative's dark reason behind the estate.

immediately after the murder Victor Grandison's home, suburban New York
2

A week later, The Unsuspected broadcast and a party

A week after Roslyn's death, Victor broadcasts his popular true crime radio show from his home. At the same gathering, Althea's surprise birthday party for Victor unfolds while Oliver drinks heavily in the background. Steven Howard arrives, claiming to have been Matilda's husband, introducing a dangerous ambiguity.

one week after Roslyn's murder Victor's home
3

Donovan brings the case and opens inquiries

Homicide Chief Donovan stays after the party to share a thick file on a hatchet-murder case with Victor and to observe Steven's first appearance. Victor asks Donovan to investigate Matilda's estate, signaling a potential motive and a tightening web of suspicion. The meeting marks Victor's growing need to control the story behind the murders.

during the party Victor's home
4

Matilda is alive and expected to return

Victor announces that Matilda is alive and will arrive the following day, complicating the estate plans and Steven's asserted marriage. Althea and the others weigh the possibility that Steven's claim could be real or a ruse to gain access to the fortune. The tension between truth and deception thickens the plot.

before Matilda's arrival Victor's home
5

Matilda travels: a flight to Rio

While the others strategize back home, Matilda boards a Pan American plane in Rio de Janeiro, continuing her mysterious journey toward the estate's future. The trip hints at continued manipulation around her identity and the control of her wealth. The remote travel expands the story's geographic stakes.

simultaneous with Matilda's arrival timeline Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
6

Airport meeting and amnesia

Steven meets Matilda at the airport and tells her they were married. She insists she has no memory of the marriage, despite the certificate and the judge's records. They go to a bar where the tension between memory and truth is revealed.

shortly after Matilda's arrival airport; bar
7

Press threatens Victor, then joins as ally

Press, a killer whose confession Victor recorded years earlier, confronts him with a threat. Victor plays back the confession to disarm Press and, ominously, presses him to become an in-house henchman. This shows Victor's control over evidence and coercion as tools of power.

shortly after Steven and Matilda's airport meeting Victor's home
8

Matilda and Steven confront Althea at the Grandison House

Matilda arrives with Steven at the Grandison House, only to find Althea has taken over Matilda's room because of supposed loyalty to the estate. After a tense exchange, Matilda retreats to take a bath while Steven studies the mounting deception around them. Althea's duplicity becomes more evident.

soon after Steven's arrival Grandison House
9

Plot to manage Matilda's amnesia and public image

Victor and Steven discuss how to handle Matilda's amnesia, deciding to play along with the ruse until they know what Steven wants. Victor's plan is to maintain control while figuring out who is really trying to manipulate whom. Jane Moynihan is briefly encountered and Oliver's troubles surface.

that night Grandison House / nearby bar
10

Roslyn's murder evidence surfaces

The next day, Steven travels to town and Victor discovers a photo of Roslyn in Steven's wallet. Jane Moynihan reconnects with Steven, and they have been working together to prove Roslyn was murdered. Steven provides Donovan with new evidence that Roslyn was murdered, including a phone call and a hung-up signal.

the next day town and Donovan's office
11

Althea's complicity surfaces; Roslyn's murder revealed

Althea, who had spoken with Roslyn during the murder, has concealed her role to protect Matilda's fortune. Victor records a quarrel between Althea and Oliver and then confesses to Althea that he killed Roslyn. This confrontation confirms Victor's manipulation and his direct motive for murder.

after Roslyn evidence surfaces Victor's home
12

Final trap, confession, and on-air reveal

Victor uses the recordings to frame Oliver for Roslyn's murder; Oliver dies in a car crash caused by sabotaged brakes. He also drugs Matilda to stage a dramatic showdown, but Donovan and the police intervene before a tragedy. Victor finally confesses on air, declaring himself The Unsuspected, ending the show with a chilling, definitive reveal.

finale radio studio / public auditorium

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:09

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The Unsuspected Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Unsuspected

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