Wednesday, June 8, 2011

A Classic Summer Thriller


If you're looking for a good throwback film for a Friday night, consider Shadow of a Doubt. This Hitchcock thriller staring Teresa Newton and Joseph Cotten debuted in 1943. Classified as film-noir, Shadow of A Doubt tells the story of a young, humble girl, "Young Charlie" who is visited by her sophisticated and esteemed "Uncle Charlie".

The plot takes a twist when two detectives arrive to ask Young Charlie some questions about the possibility of her uncle being a serial killer known as the "Merry Widow Murderer". Refusing to believe the accusations, she keeps the visit a secret but begins to notice strange behavior. Like any Hitchcock thriller, a suspenseful ending ties up all loose ends.

Pay close attention to at the beginning of the movie. Hitchcock, who himself appears in more Hitchcock films than any actor, makes a cameo about 15 minutes into the feature.

Shadow of a Doubt received unanimously positive reviews. New York Times critic Bosley Crowther loved the film, stating that "Hitchcock could raise more goose pimples to the square inch of a customer's flesh than any other director in Hollywood". I couldn't agree more.

No comments:

Post a Comment