Shadow of a Doubt (1943)

When her namesake Uncle (Joseph Cotton) drops by for an unsuspected visit, Charlie (Teresa Wright) becomes suspicious of his odd behavior. With the arrival of detectives to town, young Charlie is consumed with her Uncle’s actions. Is he the Merry Widow Murderer? Will Charlie live to tell the truth?

Master of suspense Alfred Hitchcock directs this thrilling cat-and-mouse game between family members. Young Charlie idolizes her uncle. He, in turn, loves her. (At times, it seems nearly incestuous.) But as Charlie’s admiration turns to fear, the film explodes with paranoia and Hitchcock turns the screw winding his audience tighter. Throw in a neighbor who enjoys trading ‘true crime’ stories with her father and Shadow of a Doubt becomes a ticking bomb.

The viewer knows something’s amiss, but Charlie’s first stumble down the back stairs chills to the core. And as Uncle Charlie’s true nature becomes more evident, the viewer is nearly breathless with anticipation. The film’s climax onboard the outbound train is a bittersweet triumph for all.

As I see it, the performances by Teresa Wright and Joseph Cotton further enhance Hitchcock’s already chilling direction. His uncompromising detail and ability to parley what is essentially a domestic drama into a taut thriller makes this work on more than one level.