Shadow of a Doubt (1943)
Grade: 66
"Shadow of a Doubt" is a suspense thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The film stars Joseph Cotten as a bitter man who has strangled several widows for their fortunes, and Theresa Wright as his niece, who is unaware of his crimes and worships him. When Cotten pays an extended visit to Wright's family, his curious behavior as well as visits from detectives lead Wright to realize that he is a murderer, putting her own life in jeopardy.
"Shadow of a Doubt" is a good film despite many nagging problems. It benefits from an excellent cast and an intelligent script. Most of the problems arise from character development and plot, and while each taken separately are minor, they combine to keep the film from being one of Hitchcock's best.
Detectives track Cotten to Wright's home. They go to much trouble and waste much time to obtain Cotten's photograph on the pretext of a magazine article. They want to detain Cotten for questioning, but they don't want to upset Wright's mother, so they wait until Wright can convince Cotten to leave town. These detectives are the nicest and most inoffensive in screen history, and I don't understand how a murderer's freedom of movement is a secondary consideration to his sister's temporary emotional state.
Hume Cronyn and Wright's father enjoy conversations about the best ways that one could murder the other. The film does need comic relief, but the droll British humor doesn't cross over well to this side of the Atlantic. Hitchcock didn't learn this lesson, as he would later make an entire film with this style, "The Trouble With Harry."
Presumably, Cotten went to visit his sister to escape detectives. You would think he would keep a low profile and remain pleasant, but instead he launches into diatribes against wealthy widows and loudly suggests at the bank that his brother-in-law is an embezzler. He is also fond of bragging of his wealth.
Spoiler alert! You've been warned!
Eventually, Wright realizes that Cotten is guilty. He all but confesses to her. Later, he makes two nearly successful attempts at her life. Still, she says nothing about this to the detective, even though he is courting her. She even agrees to get on the train with Cotten, where, of course, he makes a third attempt on her life. Despite being half his size, she manages to outwrestle him on the train.
Since it is revealed in the opening scenes that Cotten is guilty, the suspense comes from Wright's relationship with him: will she discover his crimes, then, will he succeed in killing her. It is inconceivable that Wright would not figure things out, and also inconceivable that she would be murdered. The suspense seems manufactured in scenes such as Wright rushing to the library before it closes, as if the library would not be open the next day.
One final, minor complaint. Does every film have to have a romance? This is a movie about Cotten and Wright, and a romance between Wright and a detective (who presumably is many years older than her) seems an unnecessary addition.
Hitchcock is held to a high standard, and that is the standard I judge his films by. "Shadow of a Doubt" remains a good and interesting film, but he has made many that are better.
kollers@shell.mpsi.net http://members.tripod.com/~Brian_Koller/movies.html
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