Shadow of a Doubt

1943
PG
1h 48m

IMDb RATING

7.8/10

72K

YOUR RATING

Joseph Cotten, Macdonald Carey, and Teresa Wright in Shadow of a Doubt (1943)

Play trailer1:23

1 Video

99+ Photos

Film Noir Thriller

A teenage girl, overjoyed when her uncle comes to visit the family in their quiet California town, slowly begins to suspect that he is the "Merry Widow" killer sought by the authorities.A teenage girl, overjoyed when her uncle comes to visit the family in their quiet California town, slowly begins to suspect that he is the "Merry Widow" killer sought by the authorities.A teenage girl, overjoyed when her uncle comes to visit the family in their quiet California town, slowly begins to suspect that he is the "Merry Widow" killer sought by the authorities.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.8/10

72K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 2 wins & 3 nominations total

Videos1

Trailer 1:23

Shadow of a Doubt

Photos123

+ 116

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Alfred Hitchcock: On the train to Santa Rosa, California playing cards. He has the entire suit of spades in his hand, including the symbolic Ace. Being the director, he was "holding all the cards".

Goofs
While Charlie watches the cab take her family to Uncle Charlie's speech, the shadows of crew members are visible against the bushes in the background.

Quotes
Uncle Charlie: The cities are full of women, middle-aged widows, husbands dead, husbands who've spent their lives making fortunes, working and working. And then they die and leave their money to their wives, their silly wives. And what do the wives do, these useless women? You see them in the hotels, the best hotels, every day by the thousands, drinking their money, eating their money, losing the money at bridge, playing all day and all night, smelling of money, proud of their jewelry but of nothing else, horrible, faded, fat, greedy women.
Young Charlie: But they're alive. They're human beings.
Uncle Charlie: Are they? Are they, Charlie? Are they human or are they fat, wheezing animals, hmm? And what happens to animals when they get too fat and too old?

Connections
Edited into Histoire(s) du cinéma: Une histoire seule (1989)

Soundtracks
The Merry Widow Waltz
(1905) (uncredited)
Music by Franz Lehár
In the score throughout the movie

User reviews329

Review

Featured review

8/10

This is one of Hitch's best with images full of suspense , drama and tension

Handsome and uncomplicated uncle Charlie (Joseph Cotten)has come to visit his family in Santa Rosa, returning to home town after longer absence. Although he seems a good man, his young niece (Teresa Wright)slowly comes to aware he is a wanted merry widow killer and he comes to recognize her malignant suspicions. The suspicious uncle Charlie gradually becoming stronger and mysterious. Meantime two detectives (Mcdonald Carey and Wallace Ford) are investigating. Further developments ensure an exciting climax on train.

From the story by Gordon McConnell, the picture gets unlimited suspense in crescendo, tense, full of lingering frames and with the typical touches Hitchcock. Besides a literately and thoughtful dialog signed by Thornton Wilder and Alma Reville (Hitchcock's usual screenwriter and wife) though lacking humor . After his successful British films as ¨39 steps¨ and ¨Jamaica Inn¨ , Hitch was encouraged to go to America and promptly shot his first work in Hollywood hired by the great producer David O'Selznick ; later on he directed this excellent picture . Fine performance by Joseph Cotten as sunny and cynic uncle Charlie . Teresa Wright as shy and glad young is superb and enjoyable . Likable couple formed by Henry Travers and Hume Cronyn in his film debut , booth of whom speaking continuously about murders. And of course cameo role by Alfred Hitchcock , this time as a man on train playing cards. Atmospheric and perceptible music by the maestro Dimitri Tiomkin, including piano sounds . Sensational visual style in black and white cinematography by the cameraman by Joseph Valentine . This interesting movie is brilliantly directed by the Master Hitchcock, resulting to be his favorite personal. It's remade in 1958 in quite inferior remake titled ¨Step down to terror¨ by Harry Keller with Charles Drake, Rod Taylor,Jocelyn Brando and Josephine Hutchinson, furthermore a lousy Television movie. The motion picture is indispensable watching for Hithcock lovers achieving the maximum impact on his audience. Rating : Very good, engrossing and essential viewing.