Review of Shadow of a Doubt (1943) by Michael C — 25 Mar 2010

In several interviews, Alfred Hitchcock noted that of all of the films he directed this was his favorite. While it isn't my favorite of the directors (that would be "Strangers on a Train"), it is certainly one of Hitchcock's classic works and deserving of such distinction.

Two things I really like about this film is the somewhat satirical and relatively light tone that is taken for much of the film for what is essentially a serial killer mystery. One of my favorite hallmarks of Hitchcock is the bizarre tone he chose in several of his pictures for what is essentially very dark and dramatic material.

You see it in a picture like "Rope", where Jimmy Stewart is discussing the practicality of murder in the same way one would discuss the purchase of new curtains for a window. And in the aforementioned "Strangers on a Train", where a psychotic spoiled young man casually discusses the murder of his own man and a stranger's wife, as if it is perfectly natural for such conversations to take place in public settings.

The scenes where "Uncle Charlie" is working to fit in comfortably with what is essentially an "All-American family" are often as comical as they are suspenseful. I enjoyed the story in this film, especially Joseph Cotten's performance as the man under suspicion who is living among the family.

Teresa Wright is also very good; she manages to shift between a steadfast young woman who stubbornly believes her uncle's innocence to a confused young woman who believes "Charlie" might have a terrible secret with relative ease.

And of course the direction is spot-on; I wouldn't expect anything less from Hitchcock. This film doesn't pack quite as much of a punch as some of my favorite Hitchcock flicks, but it is still makes for entertaining fare.