Legend has it this is Hitchcock's favourite of his films. I can see why. It is part screwball comedy, part unsettling thriller, that just comes together very well. Shadow of a Doubt is the story of a young woman who starts to suspect her beloved uncle might be a murderer. It starts out very charming with Wright's family being a delightful collection of characters who are a joy to watch interact. But as the story progresses and the clues swirl around her handsome uncle the story begins to take a dark turn with a thrilling ending. It's an encapsulation of much of what makes Hitchcock's films so compelling.
I hadn't seen this one before, shadowed no doubt by his bigger more famous films. But Shadow of a Doubt is a surprisingly engaging and entertaining film. Perhaps it is not as shocking or sexy as many of his bigger films but it is a solid watch. And once again I am taken by how well Hitchcock draws the female character at the centre of the film, making her up to the task of taking on the challenges before her. She is clearly gaslit but all going on around her but she doesn't need to be saved. She is a full protagonist in all senses of the word.
Give this one a watch if it's one you've missed, like it was for me. I can see why it held a soft spot for its director and it holds up well to this day.
Shadow of a Doubt
Starring: Teresa Wright, Joseph Cotten, Macdonald Carey, Henry Travers, Patricia Collinge, Hume Cronyn
Director: Alfred Hitchcok
Writers: Thorton Wilder, Sally Benson, Alma Reville
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