Shadow of a Doubt (1943)

Shadow of a Doubt
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Written by Thornton Wilder, Sally Benson, and Alma Reville
1943/US
Skirball Productions/Universal Pictures
Repeat viewing/DVD Collection
#173 of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die

This story of evil in small town America was reportedly Alfred Hitchcock’s favorite of his films.  While I prefer others to this one, it is nonetheless excellent.

The film opens with shots of Charles Oakley (Joseph Cotten)  lying impassively on his hotel room bed surrounded by wads of money.  He is being pursued by police on suspicion of being a serial killer of widows he seduces for their money.  He decides to flee to the home of his sister Emmie (Patricia Collinge) across country in Santa Rosa, California.

The family greets news of his impending arrival with joy.  This is especially true of “Uncle Charie’s” namesake Charlotte, known as Young Charlie (Theresa Wright).  Charlie had been down in the dumps about her family’s boring existence and feels that her uncle’s arrival will liven things up.  This is more true than she could possibly foresee.

The family, especially his sister, is extremely proud of Uncle Charlie, thinking him to be some kind of business man.  He starts to integrate himself into their community.  He also starts to act very secretive and make dark pronouncements about the rottenness of the world and the people in it.  Soon detective Jack Graham (Macdonald Carey) and a policeman (Wallace Ford), posing as a journalist and photographer looking for the typical American family, start trying to insinuate themselves into the picture.

Naturally, it is love at first sight when Jack talks to Charlie.  She is resistant to believe that he could have done anything wrong.  Then she begins to put a number of disturbing clues together.  After that, she is not safe from her psychopathic, paranoid uncle.  With Henry Travers as Charlie’s father and Hume Cronyn as his murder-obsessed pal.

This is classic Hitchcock with plenty of suspense and great performances from all involved. I believe this to have been Wright’s career best.  I greatly prefer it to her Oscar-winning role in Mrs. Miniver.  Cotten transitions beautifully between a family man persona and evil personified.  I could have done without the romantic sub-plot but the era obviously could not.  Truly a must-see.

Shadow of a Doubt was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Story.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZMHpmRcOv8

Trailer