Review of Shadow of a Doubt (1943) by Greg C — 17 Apr 2008

Yeah, "Shadow of a Doubt" is missing the moodiness of "Psycho", ambiguity of "The Birds", claustrophobia of "Rear Window", mystery of "Vertigo", vibrancy of "North by Northwest" and lightweightness of "The Trouble with Harry", but it is a strangely gripping and charming movie in Hitchcock's oeuvre.

Like most Hitchcock films, the premise of the film is very simple: mysterious Uncle Charlie decides to pay a visit to his extended family living in a small town. After a while, as his secret is revealed, all family will suffer dire consequences. For me, the most interesting thing about the film is its well-constructed details, or Hitchcock's trademark subtleties that enhance and add layer to the depth to the experience. From start to end, the film is built on dualities, with each scene and character having its complement. There are two Charlies, uncle & niece, having sharp contrasts albeit a mystic bond with each other. The film begins with uncle Charlie in Philadelphia and his niece Charlie in Santa Rosa, both lying on their beds thinking uncle Charlie to visit Santa Rosa. Two Charlies meet twice at the Till Two Diner. There are two detectives. There are two murder suspects. There are two discussions of perfect murder techniques. There are two train scenes at uncle Charlie's arrival and departure, etc...

Along with these cool pairings, what makes the story more chilling is that it is set in a middle-class, all-American family atmosphere and more importantly the concept of "bringing menace to a tranquil, idyllic small town environment" (unlike many other Hitchcock films). The main focus is put on the psychological interplay between young Charlie and her enigmatic and sophisticated uncle. The main suspense element doesn't come from whether uncle Charlie is "Merry Widow Murderer" or not. Hitchcock makes us realize that he is a vicious, self-interested and gritty sociopath from the very beginning. He didn't resort to gimmicky twists and turns. Instead, the suspense comes from another elements: will uncle Charlie kill his niece as soon as she discovers his "secret"?, Is he going to arrange his escape out of town ahead of the FBI agents?, and like that.

To sum up: Being Hitchcock's first true Hollywood film using American writers and actors as well as real American settings, "Shadow of a Doubt" is a wonderful thriller that works on many different levels. Like most Hitch's films there are complex character studies and visual clues scattered throughout the film. Pay special attention to dualities and little details. Definitely deserves multiple viewings...