Review of Shadow of a Doubt (1943) by Byron B — 10 Dec 2009
Wright and Cotten are very strong leads. I couldn't get past the weird fact that she was named Charlie after him though, and their relationship was eerily a little inappropriate early in the movie.
Also Wright's romantic scenes with the detective were overly melodramatic. The movie is a thriller with some unusual elements. It isn't really about a slow reveal of Cotten's character's true nature.
That is pretty evident to anyone paying attention from the beginning. It is more about a slow build of impending danger and Wright's character discovering the truth. Travers as the father of the Newton family and Cronyn as his perfect murder obsessed friend are amusing.
The younger Newton children are charming and precocious, though it doesn't seem as if the brainy little bookworm fits the family in a way. I didn't appreciate Collinge as the mother of the Newton family.
I had a hard time figuring out what the waltz that plays multiple times in the story had to do with the mystery. I guess that comes from losing touch with that form of popular entertainment. That clue dates the film.
Hitchcock does give us brief glimpses of hints of things to come like the subtle facial expressions and unintentional hand muscle movements of Joseph Cotten. A different sort of cat and mouse game.
This review of Shadow of a Doubt (1943) was written by Byron B on 10 Dec 2009.
Shadow of a Doubt has generally received very positive reviews.
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