Shadow of a Doubt
 | Directed by Alfred Hitchcock Starring: Teresa Wright, Joseph Cotton, Macdonald Carey, Patricia Collinge, Henry Travers Universal Studios, 2006, DVD Customer Rating: 127 reviews Recommend |
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Charming uncle Charlie travels from Philadelphia to Santa Rosa, Calif. to visit his sister's family. His namesake niece soon suspects him of being the
Alfred Hitchcock considered this 1943 thriller to be his personal favorite among his own films, and although it's not as popular as some of Hitchcock's later work, it's certainly worthy of the master's admiration. Scripted by playwright Thornton Wilder and inspired by the actual case of a 1920's serial killer known as "The Merry Widow Murderer," the movie sets a tone of menace and fear by introducing a psychotic killer into the small-town comforts of Santa Rosa, California. That's where young Charlie (Teresa Wright) lives with her parents and two younger siblings, and where murder is little more than a topic of morbid conversation for their mystery-buff neighbor (Hume Cronyn). Charlie was named after her favorite uncle, who has just arrived for an extended visit, and at first Uncle Charlie (Joseph Cotten) gets along famously with his admiring niece. But the film's chilling prologue has already revealed Uncle Charlie's true identity as the notorious Merry Widow Murderer, and the suspense grows almost unbearable when young Charlie's trust gives way to gradual dread and suspicion. Through narrow escapes and a climactic scene aboard a speeding train, this witty thriller strips away the façade of small-town tranquility to reveal evil where it's least expected. And, of course, it's all done in pure Hitchcockian style. — Jeff Shannon
Alfred Hitchcock considered this 1943 thriller to be his personal favorite among his own films, and although it's not as popular as some of Hitchcock's later work, it's certainly worthy of the master's admiration. Scripted by playwright Thornton Wilder and inspired by the actual case of a 1920's serial killer known as "The Merry Widow Murderer," the movie sets a tone of menace and fear by introducing a psychotic killer into the small-town comforts of Santa Rosa, California. That's where young Charlie (Teresa Wright) lives with her parents and two younger siblings, and where murder is little more than a topic of morbid conversation for their mystery-buff neighbor (Hume Cronyn). Charlie was named after her favorite uncle, who has just arrived for an extended visit, and at first Uncle Charlie (Joseph Cotten) gets along famously with his admiring niece. But the film's chilling prologue has already revealed Uncle Charlie's true identity as the notorious Merry Widow Murderer, and the suspense grows almost unbearable when young Charlie's trust gives way to gradual dread and suspicion. Through narrow escapes and a climactic scene aboard a speeding train, this witty thriller strips away the façade of small-town tranquility to reveal evil where it's least expected. And, of course, it's all done in pure Hitchcockian style. — Jeff Shannon
Title: Shadow of a Doubt
Sales Rank: 6021 in DVD
Actor: Teresa Wright, Joseph Cotton, Macdonald Carey, Patricia Collinge, Henry Travers
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Studio: Universal Studios, 2006-02-07
Format: Black & White, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Full Screen, Original recording remastered, Subtitled, NTSC, Acpect Ratio 1.33:1
Languages: English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language), Spanish (Dubbed)
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region Code: 1
Running Time: 108 minutes
Item Dimensions: 0.25 pounds
Package Dimensions: 7.1 x 5.42 x 0.58 inches, 0.18 pounds
- Great.
- Bought this dvd for my sister, and she loves it More reviews
- "Shadow of a Doubt" Weak Hitchcock
- Alfred Hitchcock said that this was his favorite among his films but, after having seen it for the third or fourth time, I still cannot see why. Hitchcock often stated in interviews that his greatest enjoyment in making films was the working out of the details beforehand and that he often wished he didn't have to actually make the… More reviews
- Never gift engraved hot jewelry!
- Hitchcock's favorite Hitchcock according to Hitchcock. Over-the-top performances by Teresa Wright (on a loss-of-innocence journey) and Joseph Cotton (on the run as a serial killer who is also a close family relative). There is a play-off between melodrama and suspense that just keeps building. Up to the last few reels, doubt lingers as to who really is the serial killer (the script could go in at least… More reviews
- A lesser-known Hitchcock classic
- Charles Oakley (Joseph Cotten) is being followed by a couple of mysterious men so he decides to visit his sister's family out west in Santa Rosa, California. His niece Charlotte Newton (Teresa Wright), who was named after "Uncle Charlie," is especially happy about his visit. But a couple of journalists who've picked the Newton family for a survey of the "average American family"… More reviews
- Shadow of a Doubt DVD
- It's old, black and white and great. Joseph Cotten is excellent in this Hitchcock classic. As you find out . . . things are not always what they appear.
Although the dialog many times seems dated, the suspense is still there and Cotten puts in a wonderful performance as Uncle Charlie, the lovable uncle who may be a very sinister character.… More reviews
