164. Shadow of a Doubt (1943)

Running Time: 108 minutes
Directed By: Alfred Hitchcock
Written By: Gordon McDonell, Thornton Wilder
Main Cast: Teresa Wright, Joseph Cotten, Henry Travers, Patricia Collinge, Hume Cronyn

HITCHCOCKTOBER FEST!: PART I

Hitchcock month gets underway with chronologically the first Hitchcock movie in the book that I have yet to watch. I had never really heard much about "Shadow of a Doubt", probably because it's often overshadowed by other Hitchcock masterpieces like "Psycho", "Rear Window" and "Vertigo". However, after watching it, you're forced to scratch your head a little bit and wonder why this one isn't more famous, as it is an absolutely brilliant film, filled with Hitchcock nuance.

The movie stars Joesph Cotten (of "Citizen Kane" fame) as Uncle Charles, a man who seems to be running from something, a clue we're given when he spots two men outside of his apartment window and gets freaked out. In trying to elude his past, he decides to visit his sister in Santa Rosa, where he'll also get a chance to visit his nieces and nephews, the eldest of which is named for him, Charlotte "Charlie" Newton (Wright). The visit gets off to a swell start and is just what the doctor ordered for the hum drum family in need of a pick me up from there seemingly routine suburban life. Charlie is entranced by her uncle and completely fascinated by every facet of his life, but soon notices that he doesn't seem to be acting right. When two "reporters" show up at the house wanting to do an interview on a typical suburban family, Charles freaks out and wants no part of it. Later, the "reporters" turn out to be detectives, tracking down the "Merry Widow Murderer" and Uncle Charles is one of the prime suspects.

There's no question about it: I loved this movie! This is one of those movies that when you finally see it, after years of being interested in film, you almost want to kick yourself for having not seen it sooner. Everything and I do mean everything worked in this movie. Hitchcock, of course shows up with his game face on and turns out a piece of suspense that will have your fingernails sweating. Where do I begin...

First of all, I'll have to make a note of Joesph Cotten, because after only having seen two of his films, he's quickly becoming a favorite. He's an actor that seems to have the quality to draw you into any film he stars in, as he just gives off the aura of a great actor, which he is. Teresa Wright was good too and in fact the entire cast did just what their role intended and played their role perfectly. Not only did every actor fit in, but every scene was great too and I can't think of one scene that could've been removed as they all seemed to be intricately placed and necessary to the development of the plot.

POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT!

Uncle Charles was such a likable character, that I couldn't help but find myself rooting for him. I think Hitchcock knew that Cotten was turning Uncle Charles into a guy you couldn't help but side with and there is a distinct point in the film, where you stop siding with Uncle Charles and start siding with his niece Charlie. I loved the good vs. evil characteristics that those two characters took on and loved the scene where they're facing each other on the porch, with Charlie standing under a porch light and Charles standing across from her in the dark...the ultimate light vs. darkness, good vs. evil sight. One other thing that I loved about this film, is the fact that it had dozens of possibilities in what direction it could've gone, plot-wise. Hitchcock took the time to lay in so many intricate little pieces, but in some cases didn't refer back to them, and they were seemingly there just to throw you off course and have your mind racing when the climax kicked in. For example, about halfway through the film, when Charles goes to the bank to deposit some cash, his meeting is interrupted by the bank manager's wife and her friend, who happens to be a widow. When we later find out the Charles is the Merry Widow Murderer, we are forced to think back to the widow he met. Would he go after her? Would Charlie catch him in the act of murder? But instead, we don't revisit that particular widow and thus she was apparently a device to keep our minds working and keep us guessing. There could've been dozens of outcomes for this movie, but ultimately I was pleased with the end result.

RATING: 10/10 Hitchcocktober Fest! gets off to a roaring start. Cannot wait to revisit this movie someday and let Joseph Cotten creep me out again! Next up is "Spellbound".

MOVIES WATCHED: 157
MOVIES LEFT TO WATCH: 844

October 6, 2010 2:29pm