#88: Shadow of a Doubt
Part of the Top 150 Films series
Shadow of a Doubt is a deftly crafted, psychological thriller that tells the story of a teenage girl and her relationship with her charming uncle Charlie. In true Hitchcockian fashion, “Uncle Charlie” may not be the man he actually seems to be. Hitchcock allows our doubts and uncertainties (as well as those of the characters) to creep into our respective minds from its opening moments and keeps everyone on their toes throughout its runtime. Oddly amusing in places (especially with regard to young Charlie’s siblings and neighbours), the film nevertheless doesn’t skimp on the tension, with innocent trips to the library and death-defying sequences on trains equally on edge. Joseph Cotten and Teresa Wright are extraordinary, giving both Charlies significant depth and nuance sometimes missing from other cat-and-mouse Hitchcock thrillers. Shadow of a Doubt was reputedly Hitchcock’s favourite of his films, and it’s also a perfect introduction to his filmography.
