Review of Shadow of a Doubt (1943) by Ivan D — 13 Apr 2010
Hitchcock brings the personification of evil in a suburban neighborhood, resulting in a great build-up of tension, but short-lived however by the sudden, contrived climax. Joseph Cotten was unforgettable as "Uncle Charlie", a performance that gives him the right to be part of Hitch's gallery of great villains.
If the film was made today, the approach to the "Uncle Charlie" character would have been left a little ambiguous, which I think Hitchcock could have pulled off, but it is an artistic license Hollywood is still not ready to allow at that period of time.
Joseph Cotten's character, "The Merry Widow Murderer" shares the same motivations as that of Chaplin's Monsieur Verdoux, but their bitter sentiments about the realities of life differs, but there is no doubt that the two were the product of a harsh, unforgiving world.
This review of Shadow of a Doubt (1943) was written by Ivan D on 13 Apr 2010.
Shadow of a Doubt has generally received very positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
