Review of Shadow of a Doubt (1943) by Jessy G — 13 Jul 2008
There's a reason why Hitch called this his favorite film: it's that good. This relatively "simple" film about a dusty American town and "average family" that it shaken to excitement upon the arrival of young Charlie's (Teresa Wright's) beloved Uncle Charlie (Joseph Cotten) begins innocently enough.
Yet, in typical Hitchcock fashion, lurking below the placid surface is a sinister reality that "shakes up" the family, especially young Charlie, more than anyone could have anticipated. This story is a well-done dramatization of American cynicism and foregrounds a "villain" that is also "hero" (think Psycho in a sense, too).
There are some magnificent camera shots and interesting motifs running throughout (as Hitch is known for). This film also proves that Wright and Cotten are two tremendous actors who have seemingly, and sadly, been forgotten over time, despite their rich amount of work.
This review of Shadow of a Doubt (1943) was written by Jessy G on 13 Jul 2008.
Shadow of a Doubt has generally received very positive reviews.
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