I Confess Page #7

Synopsis: 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.
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Director(s): Alfred Hitchcock
Production: WARNER BROTHERS PICTURES
  1 nomination.
 
IMDB:
7.3
Rotten Tomatoes:
80%
NOT RATED
Year:
1953
95 min
1,018 Views


I went right home to the rectory.

And what time did you arrive

at the rectory?

About 11:
15.

- Did anybody witness this arrival?

- I don't believe so.

You say you arrived at 11: 15.

- What did you do then?

- I went up to my room.

- You went to bed immediately?

- No.

- What did you do?

- I went into the church.

- Did you see anybody there?

- Otto Keller.

Otto Keller has testified

to this court that he followed you...

...and that he found you kneeling

before the altar in great distress.

He has further testified that the time

was then 11:
45 or after.

Well, it could have been 11:45.

The rest isn't true.

Perhaps you are prepared,

at last, to tell us the truth.

It might have been 11:45.

The rest is not true.

Perhaps you are prepared

to give us your version of the truth.

Of course you refuse to answer...

...because I submit you did not return

to the rectory at 11: 15.

You did not return

until 11:
45 or after.

Your distress, seen by Otto Keller,

was caused by the fact...

...that you had earlier met with

Villette and been threatened by him...

...with exposure of your affair

with Madame Grandfort.

And that you'd taken the first weapon

you found and struck Villette...

...and continued to strike

until you cracked his skull wide open.

No!

I repeat, it's your duty...

...to carefully examine

all the evidence that's been given...

...and to determine whether the charge

against the accused has been proven.

Remember also that you are not

trying the accused...

...for whatever views you may hold...

...as to his relationship

with Madame Grandfort...

...except as it may affect

this charge of murder.

One final point.

The fact that the accused

is a priest under holy orders...

...should not influence your verdict

one way or the other.

You may now withdraw

to consider your verdict.

But I believe what

the prosecutor said.

Obviously, they didn't spend

just that one night together.

There must have been many more times.

Gentlemen of the jury,

are you agreed on your verdict?

- And who will speak for you?

- We are.

How say you? Is Michael William Logan

guilty of murder or not guilty?

While we attach grave suspicion

to the accused...

...we cannot find sufficient evidence

to prove...

...he actually wielded the weapon

that killed Monsieur Villette.

Therefore, our verdict is not guilty.

Hearken to your verdict

as the court recorded it.

You say Michael William Logan

is not guilty, so you say all.

- Yes.

- Yes.

- I said that cassock...

- They've ruined him.

Why couldn't they have said

"not guilty" and let it go at that?

Your Lordship, I move that

the prisoner be released.

Michael Logan, while I have

no doubt that the jury...

...must have reached their conclusion

in utmost fairness...

...and solemn regard for justice...

...I cannot help expressing my personal

disagreement with their verdict.

Michael William Logan,

you are hereby discharged.

Everybody stand up.

Michael.

Take off that collar!

Preach us a sermon, Logan!

Are you satisfied, Willy?

Are you satisfied with all this?

Do you think I've enjoyed it?

Alma. Alma!

Alma, come here! Alma!

Alma...

Stop it!

He's innocent.

My husb...

There he goes!

In the hotel.

All right. Quick, get a doctor.

It hurts.

- Could we move her inside?

- She should not be moved at all.

She shouted something. What is it

you were shouting, Mrs. Keller?

She said he was innocent.

- Villette...

- Villette?

What about Villette, Mrs. Keller?

What? What is it?

What is she saying?

She says, "Forgive me."

- Mr. Larrue.

- Have you got Keller?

He just ran

in the Chateau Frontenac, sir.

Get Farouche and his squad.

Corrigan too.

- Murphy, I do not want him to be shot.

- But, sir, he's got a gun.

I know, I know. I don't want him dead.

I want to talk to him.

- She's gone.

- Come along, Father.

- Now, what about this Keller?

- What do you mean?

He shot his wife. What was she doing?

Was she trying to warn you or save you?

Keller works as Villette's gardener.

He also works in the rectory.

- What more can you tell me about him?

- Let me try and talk to him, inspector.

Talk to him, sure. Go ahead.

But where is he?

Couldn't we have one entrance open?

At least one?

No. No. Keep these people right where

they are for their own safety, please.

Start in the basement

and work your way up.

Remember, I said, no shooting.

Now, go ahead.

Get an ambulance at once.

Well, he just shot a man,

a chef in the kitchen.

Now will you tell me anything

about him, Father?

Father, what are you trying to do?

Protect this Keller?

He's on the mezzanine going upstairs.

In the ballroom.

Tell Larrue.

Keller! Give yourself up!

Stay back!

Have them send over some tear gas.

- Keller!

- Inspector, let me go in.

Let me try and talk to him.

No.

- Keller!

- What do you want, inspector?

I want you to give yourself up.

- Why would I do that?

- Haven't you done enough harm?

I could do more, inspector.

You've already shot two people.

Isn't that enough?

And what about Villette?

- Villette?

- Yes, what about Villette?

So the priest talked.

Hey, Logan!

Where are you, Father Logan?

Keller.

There you are.

My only friend, Father Logan.

How kindly he hears my confession...

...and then a little shame,

a little violence...

...that's all it takes

to make him talk.

It was too much for you, huh?

You are a coward

like all other people, aren't you?

A hypocrite like all the rest.

Pierre, take me home.

Frank, try to get him in the shoulder,

make him drop that gun.

- It'd be easier to get him in the leg.

- His shoulder. The right shoulder.

- We're going to shoot now, Keller.

- Don't make them do it!

Father, don't go in...

Coming to speak to me?

Put the gun away. There's been

enough bloodshed already.

You must not come closer, Father.

I'll shoot you, you know.

You won't shoot me, Otto.

Why will I not shoot you?

Because you call me Otto...

...in such a friendly way,

like Alma used to call me Otto?

Where is my Alma?

- She's dead.

- No.

- You killed her.

- It is your fault.

Oh, I loved her.

It made me cry to see her work so hard.

Those poor hands.

Such beautiful hands.

- She can't be dead.

- She is.

Then I am as alone as you are.

- I'm not alone.

- Oh, yes, you are.

To kill you now

would be a favor to you.

You have no friends.

What has happened

to your friends, Father?

They mob you. They call at you.

It would be better

if you were as guilty as I am.

Then they would shoot you quickly...

...and you mustn't suffer much.

Look...

Oh, Father.

Help me. Quickly.

- Get the hotel doctor.

- And the ambulance?

Forgive me.

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George Tabori

George Tabori (24 May 1914 – 23 July 2007) was a Hungarian writer and theater director. more…

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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