First Time Watching *SHADOW OF A DOUBT* (1943) what's up with uncle Charlie? | NOIRVEMBER

[@smythharris2635]

Uncle Charlie's cynicism about what the world is really like is a parallel of Welles as Harry Lime's scene with Cotton in the ferris wheel in The Third Man.

[@poetcomic1]

Good point.

[@TheTerryGene]

This was Hitchcock’s own personal favorite among his films. It was filmed in my hometown, Santa Rosa, California. I can’t help but feel that, while Betty Grable was the GI’s favorite pinup, Teresa Wright was the girl they wanted to come home to.

[@Divamarja_CA]

Hence her perfect casting in The Best Years of Our Lives and Pride of the Yankees.

[@naiderl]

This is probably my favorite Hitchcock movie. The family stuff feels so genuine and has so much heart that it's the perfect counterpoint to Uncle Charlie's misanthropic worldview. The tension between those two poles gives the movie an energy unlike any other. And Joseph Cotten... OMG! Also, the family's murder obsessed neighbor would go on to write Rope for Hitchcock (Hume Cronyn worked as a writer on that movie).

[@jean6872]

Joseph Cotten was perfectly cast in this movie. Hitchcock's first choice for the part of Uncle Charlie was not Joseph Cotten which must surprise many who think his casting was inspirational.

[@smakedoctor]

This is such an underrated film. The performances are outstanding. I also recommend Sabateour. It's another early Hitchcock movie.

[@garyclarke9685]

Yeah I love saboteur although the ending could have been better

[@stevemccullagh36]

@@garyclarke9685 I watched Saboteur for the first time a few days ago. It's fine, sort of a less good version of The 39 Steps. And as you say it doesn't so much end, it just... stops.

[@okay5045]

Yes I just discovered that movie recently it is excellent

[@billolsen4360]

@@stevemccullagh36 The ending is kind of like Vertigo's.

[@billolsen4360]

@@garyclarke9685 I thought the ending of Saboteur was spectacular!

[@paulpeacock1181]

Hume Cronyn is the actor who played the father’s friend talking about the perfect murders. This was his movie debut. He had a long career as a supporting actor for close to fifty years playing both good and bad guys. In the movie Brute Force, Hume played one of the most sadistic and menacing prison guards. PS he was also married for over fifty years to Tony and Oscar winning actress Jessica Tandy

[@GrouchyMarx]

Hume Cronyn was great in Brute Force. Another favorite is a WWII era drama "The Seventh Cross" (1944) starring with is wife Jessica Tandy. He got a Best Supporting nomination for that. Another good WWII era film he's in is "The Cross of Lorraine" (1943). ✌️😎

[@royjohnson3361]

He later appeared in Lifeboat (1944) and was a writer for the screenplays of Rope (1948) and Under Capricorn (1949).

[@izzonj]

Hume and Jessica were together in Cocoon, weren't they?

[@GrouchyMarx]

@@izzonj Cocoon, and they both did a most memorable but brief and funny role in the 1982 Robin Williams movie "The World According To Garp". 😎👍

[@StevenJInLA]

Jessica Tandy died in 1994. Hume remarried 2 years later in 1996.......at age 85 !

[@jimmyj1969]

The dinner scene, with uncle Charlie "breaking the 4th wall" when saying "are they?" is one of the top in Hitchcock's filmography!

[@jean6872]

A good observation. I'd have thought this went against what Hitchcock believed no director should do.

[@jimmyj1969]

@@jean6872 Hitchcock loved breaking the cinematic conventions - and he appreciated other directors who did that, too!

[@jean6872]

@@jimmyj1969 I cannot agree with you Jimmy because Alfred Hitchcock was furious when the 4th Wall was broken by one of his assistants when a scene was shot for *Vertigo* while Hitchcock was in hospital and had to rely on an assistant director to fill in for him. When Kim Novak was leaving Ernie's restaurant she broke the 4th Wall. Hitchcock, upon seeing the rush shouted, "You broke the Forth Wall!" He insisted that the scene be reshot down in the Los Angeles studio lot as the crew was no longer in San Francisco. This cost a lot of money to do as the elaborate wall paper and furnishing of the restaurant had to be recreated in the studio. Therefore, I believe breaking the Fourth Wall was no small matter to Hitchcock and from this event I get the impression that Hitchcock did not take delight in breaking conventions of film making as you suggest.

[@jimmyj1969]

@@jean6872 It depends on the movie - Hitch was a perfectionist, imagining every film in his mind in every detail, long before shooting it. So, no detail, nomatter how insignificant, which was not included in the movie he had in his mind would be allowed to be included! Such serious and provocative tricks (like breaking the fourth wall) need a very serious reason to be included in the story-telling of a film! Doing something like that on purpose is totally different than done by an assistant by accident!

[@jean6872]

@@jimmyj1969 I believe more was going on with the scene I mentioned. Hitchcock had lost control of the shooting while he was in the hospital and seriously ill. He wanted to regain control and he found a fault with the scene in Ernie's. Bringing back Kim Novak for a reshoot with all the expense of building a set of Ernie's was unnecessary and, in fact, he ruined the shot which could have been edited to avoid the breaking of the Fourth Wall. I saw the original and the remake was a mess. You can see Kim Novak's hairstyle with the curl to resemble the portrait of Carlotta Valdez all out of shape. It was a blunder caused by Hitchcock letting everyone know he was still in charge. He ruined that scene as you can see for yourself.

[@jamesharper3933]

I love how the father (Henry Travers) and his neighbor (Hume Cronyn) discuss ways of killing each other. So hilarious. Notice that Charlie arrived on the train under a black cloud of smoke. The fact that we can love an actor in one movie and hate him in another makes them great actors. You gotta do Gaslight from 1944 with Cotton, Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer. Alright, Laura!! Put Leave Her to Heaven with Gene Tierney on the list. It's a crucial.

[@jamesalexander5623]

The Father ( Henry Travers ) played Clarence the Angel in "It's a Wonderful Life".

[@izzonj]

And yet they don't recognize there's a serial killer right under their noses!

[@berkeleygirllaserbeam]

I completely agree with every single thing you just said.

[@molsongrrrl]

One of my favorite Hitchcock movies. Joseph Cotten is amazing in this film! Macdonald Carey was on Days of Our Lives forever! He played Dr Horton. I think they still use his voice as the one who says these are the days of our lives.

[@markgillis6356]

Hitchcock's cameo comes near the beginning: when Uncle Charlie is travelling by train to Santa Rosa and pretending to be ill, there is a group playing cards on the train and Hitchcock is one of them.

[@cjprince1]

The dancing at the beginning of the movie is "The Merry Widow" - also the tune young Charlie was beginning to hum before Uncle Charlie cut her off.. Also - you could indeed have seen MacDonald Carey's timeless face if you were watching Days of Our lives in the 80s... or the 60s or 70s or 90s.

[@bespectacledheroine7292]

Young Charlie and Uncle Charlie have one of my favorite dynamics I’ve ever seen and I think that’s what makes this top-tier Hitchcock for me. First off, not only do they share a name, but the very first shot you see of both is identical. Camera positioned at the same vantage point in both cases Cotten is lying face up on a bed, so is Wright. They’re both dissatisfied and preoccupied no matter how far apart, like two halves of a whole that are about to be rejoined. This blocking, the dialogue they share, all of it reinforces this duality that just fascinates me, like they’ve always been linked and always will be, but the uncle is the dark persona and the niece the light. The dark is constantly trying to blacken the light, the light trying to outshine the dark. It’s like they represent the forces of good or evil or something, I can’t place my finger on it but it’s just so captivating to watch. Uncle Charlie has moments of decency in how he treats his sister and Young Charlie moments of violent impulses like when she herself follows in her uncle’s footsteps by threatening to kill him herself. I wonder if it runs in the family between that and Charlie’s own fathers fixation on crime, innocent as his may appear. And if it is innocent it just goes to show how we can misinterpret perfectly harmless conversations when suspicions are rising elsewhere. But setting this in a classic white picket fence suburban town and including Cotten’s monologue about what one would see if they tore back the fourth wall to see how barbarians really live in our midst was a stroke of genius too; it’s not just this one family, it could be any family. But overall I think Wright deserves just as much credit as Cotten, she undergoes much. Her going from a very typically pleasant and pretty teenage girl to someone who has to carry the weight of the world (Meaning, the safety of her own family, potential guilt of one of its members, and the culpability of her silence) on her shoulders is so believable and well acted. I love her strength and agency, she holds all the secrets and all the burden and ultimately only she can best her uncle. But I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention, absolutely the relationship is very….oddly close. I noticed it at the same point with the gift of the ring. I don’t think they were trying to imply anything has ever happened, but are we supposed to think it’s nevertheless very weird? I believe so. Only adds to how uncomfortable the interactions are. But YES, Laura! I’ve been waiting for this. If I’m not mistaken I think it’ll be my favorite you’ve done so far actually.

[@epsteinisms1483]

@Bespectacled Heroine Another terrific post from you containing great insight! Love reading them all!

[@bespectacledheroine7292]

@@epsteinisms1483 Thank you very much! I try. Forgot to add the only flaw I find with it is pairing Charlie up with the detective. Very shoehorned and rote. :l

[@joebloggs396]

@@bespectacledheroine7292 Though she does put off the wedding idea he brings up. His main purpose at the end I think is just a shoulder to lean on while the secluded town remains oblivious to what happened.

[@Ceractucus]

Something I just realized: Charlie had $40000 in cash on hand, and Marion Crane stole $40000 in Psycho.

[@LeslieEscobedo-sx7ee]

I love this movie... I really thought it was interesting that Ann kinda knew that Uncle Charlie was not all he appeared to be. She didn't want to have anything to do with him... not even sit next to him.. Ann is a fabulous character..

[@xtinkerbellax3]

I love this one. Joseph Cotten is one of my old Hollywood faves.

[@hookstomper7322]

That "foul sty" speech is classic: Cotten's great baritone voice, his dead eyes...truly chilling. I was pleasantly surprised to learn he's my 5th cousin...lol.

[@doubtingthomasreviews7702]

One of my all time favorite movies and Hitchcock's favorite of his films. Loved Teresa Wright in "The Best Years Of Our Lives" and here she gives another outstanding performance. You don't hear much about Joseph Cotten nowadays, very underrated actor, great in "Citizen Kane" and "The Third Man". Such a great snapshot of small town America, prob why Hitch declared it his fav...📽

[@lemorab1]

Two of my friends grew up in Santa Rosa back in the 1940's. That Santa Rosa is gone forever. It truly was a small town paradise. The house where the family lived in "Shadow of a Doubt" is still there.

[@hyacinthlynch843]

When Hitchcock made an appearance on the Dick Cavett show, he was asked which of one his films was his favorite, his response was, 'Shadow of a Doubt.'

[@jcastromex]

This is one of Hitchcock's best. The suspense factor definitely jumped to 11 with the train scene near the ending. I'm mad about Hitch! Joe Cotton & Teresa Wright really played their parts so well. Can't wait for your next reaction. 👀

[@williamsmith-kd4bd]

Teresa Wright was the greatest actress I've ever seen. All of her performances were soul stirring. She refused to play by Hollywood rules which cost her many roles and a fortune. Monumental talent, character and delicate beauty.

[@jamesalexander5623]

She was so good in " The Best Years of Our Lives"!

[@paulpeacock1181]

And inThe Pride of the Yankees with Gary Cooper.

[@ragoligist]

Teresa Wright is one of my all-time favorite actresses.. I was stunned to recently recognize her in the 1980 movie Somewhere in Time.

[@mphrdldn]

She appeared in at least one episode of Hitchcock's television show.

[@poetcomic1]

In Best Years of Our Lives she was the quintessential lovely American girl. Her dad asks mom if 'she knows about the facts of life'. Myrna Loy as her mother says, "She has been working two years in an army hospital, she knows more than you and I ever will." She is a NEW kind of American young woman...strong, assertive and no longer a 'pretty ornament' on a man's arm.

[@markwestphal4437]

I was reading about Shadow Of A Doubt just yesterday. The writer observed that this was really Hitchcock's first "American" film since his first two movies (Rebecca, and Suspicion), while made in America, had English locations and English actors in all the roles, while Shadow is purely American. I love your commentary Mia. One of things I noticed from your clips is that whenever Uncle Charlie is shown out of the family home, he's always in "low" locations; he is chased from his boarding house room through a deserted factory, he sends that touching family telegram from a pool hall, and he has his big talk with Charlie in a seedy bar. And lastly, you just have to love love love that Charlie, small town Santa Rosa girl from a middle class average family, has a complete wardrobe by Adrian, down to the kitchen apron. New subscriber. Looking for your other videos, and forward to what's next.

[@MoviesWithMia]

I hadn’t noticed that Uncle Charlie was always shown in “low” locations! That is wild!

[@josephpaul4548]

I'm sure someone has pointed out that Henry Travers, as the father here, played Clarence the guardian angel in It's a Wonderful Life.

[@bighuge1060]

Once again, Mia; your reactions and comments to Hitchcock's movies is really enjoyable to experience. You're a true movie lover.

[@richardzinns5314]

I'm pretty sure Hitchcock was the man seated with his back to us, opposite the two guys talking on the train on which Uncle Charlie is arriving. I remember Macdonald Carey from the 1977 miniseries Roots. And apparently Hitchcock chose Santa Rosa because he wanted a typical American small town. My parents retired there, and until they died I used to visit them regularly in Santa Rosa (no longer a small town); it's amazing to glimpse what it looked like in 1943.

[@susanfisher4944]

Yes, Hitchcock was seen playing cards on the train.

[@brandonflorida1092]

Joseph Newton was played by Henry Travers who played Clarence the angel in "It's a Wonderful Life."

[@jimmyj1969]

One of Cotten's best performaces!

[@andrewsykes1697]

You can find Hitch's cameo about 16 minutes in. He's in the group playing cards on the train as Uncle Charlie travels to Santa Rosa. Dont feel bad about missing him! It took me seven viewings to spot him!!

[@yvonnehernandez4996]

Hi. Classic movie maniac here. Great movie ha? Have you seen, 'Steel Trap' also with Teresa Wright and Joseph Cotton? I'm sure you have but I throw it out there anyway. A must see

[@stevenbosch429]

Dimitri Tiomkin also wrote the music for High Noon and the song “Do Not Forsake Me O my Darling” which was a hit for Tex Ritter.

[@paulpeacock1181]

In regards to Hitchcock’s camera movement, the scene in Notorious where the camera descends down the staircase and zooms in on the key is similar to the scene where Teresa Wright descends down the staircase and the camera zooms in on the ring

[@josephhewes3923]

Theresa Wright is the quintessential girl next door. Wonderful actress.

[@celinhabr1]

I was waiting for this one ever since you started the Hitchcock reactions. So good! Thank you! Joseph Cotten is a favorite.

[@garyclarke9685]

Yes he is a superb actor then again the actress whom played Charlie was surprisingly good. Such an endearing & likable character

[@ericthered760]

Just visited and videoed his grave in Petersburg, Virginia, for the You Tube channel "Hollywood Graveyard." Major star of classic Hollywood and much underrated !

[@TheTerryGene]

Thanks!

[@tomaria100]

It was so much fun seeing your react to Laura and Shadow of a doubt. I laughed so much. Thanks, Mia!

[@TTM9691]

This may be my favorite intro to any of your videos so far! I learned so much about this movie that I never knew, of forgot! How could I not know Thornton Wilder was involved? Great to see Joseph Cotten in a bad guy part! So happy you liked this! PS: A lot of noirs take place in NYC (or other cities). I never thought of "Shadow Of A Doubt" as a full blown noir, but some of those night scenes definitely have the look, and Cotten definitely has that cynical outlook on people! :P

[@acdragonrider]

One of my absolute favorite films of all time.

[@garyclarke9685]

Yes one of Hitchcock best I think

[@antrimlariot2386]

It's great that you've chosen to watch this. I'm so excited to see a young one watch this. I haven't watched it for years but I always remember it was riveting and one of Hitch's best. You must watch THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER. One of the greatest B&W films ever made. You will never forget it.

[@kruuyai]

Just seeing how much you enjoyed the weirdness of this family, you should definitely start out the Christmas Season with Meet Me in Saint Louis. Margaret O'Brien gives an outstanding performance as Judy Garland's kookie kid sister, Tootie, from Halloween to Christmas and beyond.

[@briane3657]

Margaret O'Brien steals every scene in "Meet Me in Saint Louis" that she's in! She did that in most of her movies!

[@debralang9467]

After Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart, for me, comes Joseph Cotton. Back in the 70's, as a teenager, I even had a crush on him. :) Thanks for reacting to this film (and all the others, as well!).

[@melissacaddell2604]

I love joseph cotton as well. He is so good. This is my favorite Hitchcock film. I have seen it soooo many times. Never gets old.

[@SueProv]

Henry Travers the father played the angel in It's a Wonderful Life. This is why it was Hitchcock's favorite because it's normal family Life.

[@MoviesWithMia]

Yes!!! That’s right he did!! I hadn’t even noticed

[@babyfry4775]

So nice of you to watch and react to this. I grew up watching this with my mom. Always loved Theresa Wright and Joseph Cotton. It’s a good one. Gaslight with Joseph Cotton is a good one. Good reaction Mia.

[@melenatorr]

A lovely reaction, as always! Joseph Cotton was such a gifted actor, able to take us anywhere with him, from Holly in "Third Man" where he's innocent and naive, to something like this. All with the same complete concentration and the sort of ease that comes with the confidence of someone who understands people. Theresa Wright and Henry Travers are together again in "Mrs. Miniver"; Hume Cronyn is in another favorite Hitchcock film of mine, "Life Boat". His wife, Jessica Tandy, is the mother in "The Birds". Bot Cronyn and Tandy were primarily stage actors. Tandy was the first Blanche DuBois in "Streetcar Named Desire". So looking forward to "Laura", another family favorite! It was my introduction to Clifton Webb, a favorite of my father's, who admired him in the Mr. Belvedere movies. And you'll see Judith Anderson, too, who was Mrs. Danvers in "Rebecca". Oh, and Vincent Price.... you are in for a treat!

[@theclassicfilmloversguide1871]

Yes!!!! LOVE this film. Hitchcock has often said this film was among his favorite and best films he has ever done. The introductory shots of Teresa Wright and Joseph Cotton of them laying on their bed, looking up, creates such symbolism and connection between the two of them, and it's so subtle to me. Such a beautiful ensemble piece! I Love Your Channel, All of your film choices are Perfect!

[@garyclarke9685]

In film is in my top 5 Hitchcock films. Also regarded as Hitchcocks favourite. Glad you liked it.

[@ParkerAllen2]

Joseph Cotton was great in this, great in Citizen Kane, and great in The Third Man, three of the best films ever made - and in his entire long career Cotton was never even nominated for an academy award.

[@elaineteeter9485]

Hi Mia, I've just discovered your channel and I so enjoyed your review of one of my favorite pictures.. Your comments were delightful and I will watch your other programs. Some info about Edna May Wonacott, who played the young sister of Charlie: She was hand-picked by Hitchcock and the producer for her role while she waited for a bus. She was 9 years old and had no previous acting experience. She was placed under a 7 year contract and played in several pictures, including "The Bells of St. Mary's". She retired from films at age 20 and is now 91 years old. She was quite an actress in this film, wasn't she?

[@jokersvenomxo9149]

I first seen this film in 2017 when it was on TV. I had a nightmare that night where uncle Charlie was trying to stop me from telling people what he was doing. Nightmares at 24 over a pg film 😆 Definitely my favourite hitchcock film along with psycho 🖤

[@HuntingViolets]

According to Google, "Hitchcock's cameo in Shadow of a Doubt occurs about 16 minutes into the film, where he appears playing cards on the train carrying Uncle Charlie to Santa Rosa."

[@lynnefeuerstein1747]

Hey Mia,it was fun seeing your latest reaction,Shadow of a Doubt is one of my favorite Hitchcock films. (...and it was actually his personal favorite among his movies! ) Oh, have a couple of fyi's for you,did you notice who was playing Teresa Wright's father ? That was Henry Travers who played Clarence the Angel in It's A Wonderful Life. :) Plus as for Joseph Cotton's great performance; He said in his autobiography that Hitchcock told him that a villian can look and act like anyone else on the street and can also very charming. That's how they get their victims. As we can see he took that advice. :) Thanks again for your reactions,looking foward to "Laura" . That's my favorite Gene Tierney & Dana Andrews film!

[@frankbolger3969]

This has always been my favorite Hitchcock film, partly because Theresa Wright's "Charly" character reminds me so much of my Mom (Theresa Wright graduated from high school in my hometown.) But the film is so complete and so charming, even with it's sinister subplot. No surprise to me that it was Hitchcock's personal favorite. Although, directors and actors don't always give the sa,me, consistent answer to that question.

[@80sdreamwave32]

Love this classic Hitchcock movie need watch his blackmail movie

[@thomasbradley4505]

MacDonald Carey went on to star in the soap Days of Our Lives from the first episode in 1965 until his death in 1994

[@Mftjan2000]

By the way, when Uncle Charlie identified the music playing as "The Blue Danube" it was actually the "MERRY WIDOW WALTZ". I think you missed that because you are too young to know that song. It was a big clue.

[@thelookuplookdown]

This, along with "The Trouble With Harry", was Hitchcock's own personal favorites.Thank you for reacting to it. Michael - South Africa

[@thisworldofwater8017]

Hey Mia, I'm very confident you would really, really enjoy Strangers on a Train. As if the story - based on the novel by Patricia Highsmith, the Godmother of Uncomfortable Feelings - wasn't dark enough, Robert Walker gives possibly the most chilling Hitchcock performance ever. Many iconic shots as well.

[@Keedeeg]

"As sands flow through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives." _Ole Timeless-Face was actor MacDonald Carey from Days of Our Lives.

[@berkeleygirllaserbeam]

So happy I found your channel. It’s wonderful to see a younger person appreciating these wonderful films. I enjoy all of your reactions. This is Hitchcock’s favorite Hitchcock film. I actually live close by and many of these locations are still in Santa Rosa, including the family’s house and the train station, which is a visitor’s center now. If you’re ever up this way reach out and we can do our own tour. I have room for you to stay for a few days too, lol.

[@DanielaVilu]

You have to watch The Little Foxes! Theresa Wright's first ever screen performance and she was amazing. If you like Theresa Wright, also The Best Years of Our Lives.

[@minnidrake3342]

Loved revisiting this movie through your insightful eyes thank you happy holidays

[@wfoster-graham6648]

According to his daughter Pat, this was Hitchcock's personal favorite film.

[@donniehuynh2391]

Can’t wait to see the next reaction.

[@izzonj]

One of my favorite Hitch movies - and not only because Teresa Wright is so sweet and adorable! (If you can fan-girl, I can fan-boy!)

[@MeadeSkeltonMusic]

Joseph Cotten great actor from Petersburg, Virginia!

[@voyaristika5673]

You are SO right about Hitchcock's camera work, especially how he worked them with black and white film. I watched the 1991 version right after this and could NOT be objective because of the missing camera work. I needed Hitchcock to step in and direct. This was fun. Thank you!

[@stevemccullagh36]

The father was Clarence in It's a Wonderful Life.

[@garywilliams1948]

I hope you do Strangers on a Train , Mia !

[@DCL26]

One of my favorite movies. I am watching your review the second time. Thanks Mia!

[@MoviesWithMia]

Oh yay! Yeah this was a fantastic film!!

[@izzonj]

It's funny, Charlie's father and his friend acting like experts on murder and they don't notice the one right under their noses! Did you notice Clarence, the guardian angel!

[@bighuge1060]

And in Foreign Correspondent, Miracle on 34th Street's Kris Kringle played a hitman. An meek hitman but a hitman all the same.

[@izzonj]

@@bighuge1060 casting against type can pay off big!

[@etherealtb6021]

Joseph Cotten was such a human villain. But then Hitch excelled at that, which m are them all theore frightening! BTW, if you love Dana Andrews, you'll lose your mind over him in Laura!

[@patriciaparker2622]

Although there are significant differences, Uncle Charlie is based on Earle Nelson. Nelson was subsequently caught and executed by the Canadians. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earle_Nelson

[@babyj7795]

I love this movie. The actor that you said has a timeless face I grew up seeing him on Days of our Lives and he was an older gentleman. It tripped me out seeing him as a young man ❤

[@PrinceofArfon]

I generally view Joseph Cotton as such a good guy character because of Citizen Kane and The Third Man, that it was really unpleasant to see him in this movie. Which was exactly Hitchcock’s point. It’s a very good movie and a great performance.

[@izzonj]

Kind of like making Fred McMurray a bad guy in "Double Indemnity".

[@nicomedessantiago6428]

Fantastic video about a fantastic film. Thank YOU!

[@jeffreythornton428]

I love this movie. I love that the sweet and adorable Theresa Wright is the only one in that family, that town who saw Uncle Charlie for the psychopathic creep that he was. I loved the quiet struggle between the two of them. Other great suspense film from that era is Gaslight starring Joseph Cotton, Charles Boyer and Ingrid Bergman, also Laura and Leave her to Heaven both starring the beautiful Gene Tierney.

[@franciscogarza9633]

Shadow of a Doubt is Alfred Hitchcocks earliest classic and his own personal favorite deals it's fresh crawling thrills as deftly as it's finely shaded characters, SHADOW OF A DOUBT (1943) 100/100% Certified Approved ☑️

[@christopherleodaniels7203]

Lots of sympathetic camera moves and view points in this film. In the opening scene with Young Charlie on the bed, the closeups of the dad in the doorway are Charlie’s POV, but when it cuts to Charlie, it’s an objective shot at her eye level and not her dad’s POV. Then when the whole family’s walking down the stairs in the next scene, the camera starts out still and doesn’t move until Charlie enters the frame and starts descending, then the camera descends with them. Hitch really knew how to establish who’s movie it is, and early.

[@davidschecter5247]

Tiomkin scores some of the westerns you liked. He was the first composer to get his name on a movie marquee. Lots of notes, but a brilliant Russian composer.

[@141118]

Another great Theresa Wright movie is "The Best Years of Our Lives" also starring Fredric March, Myrna Loy (one of my favorite actresses), Dana Andrews, and Virginia Mayo. It is about three soldiers coming back from WWII and trying to integrate back into normal, civilian life. It won 7 Academy Awards. Other great Joseph Cotten movies are "The Third Man" also starring Orson Welles (one of the most atmospheric movies ever, shot in war torn Vienna), and of course "The Magnificent Ambersons" and "Citizen Kane" both directed by Orson Welles and starring Welles' Mercury Theater actors (Cotten, Agnes Morrehead, and others).

[@glennwisniewski9536]

Laura. Excellent choice. Here's a prime example of why Gene Tierney is always near the top of the most beautiful actress list.

[@fiveYqueue]

It seems that there are a lot of shots where everything seems to be sunshine and "respectability" in Santa Rosa but with shadows too. Very Hitchcock.

[@thomastimlin1724]

Teresa Wright came out of retirement in 1979 to be in the film Somewhere in Time in a supporting role. She said she took the role when offered just to be able to brag to her grandson that she worked with Superman.... Christopher Reeve.

[@NoLegalPlunder]

Some excellent movies with Joseph Cotten that spring to mind: The Steel Trap (a very tense movie), The Man With a Cloak & A Blueprint for Murder. Gaslight is really good too.

[@DCL26]

I think Alfred Hitchcock is one of the three passengers on the train that brought Uncle Charlie to town - with his back to the camera.

[@jimmyhudson3031]

Hitchcock said that the point of this film was to show that evil is universal. Even in an innocent town like this evil is lurking beneath the surface.

[@billolsen4360]

3:12 Do you recognize the actress who plays Uncle Charlie's landlady? She also was Dolly Meriwether in Gone With The Wind, one of Scarlett's disapproving friends in Atlanta. Remember at the fun raising ball where she scolds Aunt Pittypat, "Don't you DARE feint, Pittypat Hamilton! If Melanie says it's alright, then it is alright!"

[@JF-Sebastian]

The 39 Steps (1935) starring Robert Donat is an early Hitchock film I would highly recommend.

[@SueProv]

Google says40,000 back then is 640,000 today..In 1954 my parents bought a house for $15,000 so I think 40,000 was worth more. A house in 1943 was probably $3000. I just looked it up

[@slc2466]

Hitchcock's favorite and one of his most carefully-crafted films- would've been nice to see more Oscars noms (for Hitchcock, Cotton, Wright and the film) but the film has stood the test of time to now place among the best movies of its era.

[@johnts1]

Going to the bank and depositing $40,000 in ca$h in 1943? That would be the equivalent of a little over $700,000, today. WOWZERS!

[@mckeldin1961]

Your reactions are just so good! Thank you! FYI, being a fan-girl or fan-boy about contemporary stars is a bore... but when it's gushing over stars from past generations, it's exciting to hear! Your perceptions are keen... a lot has been written about the vaguely incestuous relationship between Charlie and Uncle Charlie (and how it makes Charlie almost complicit in her Uncle's crimes). I don't know if you're a David Lynch fan, but the first time I saw BLUE VELVET my mind immediately rushed to SHADOW OF A DOUBT... the same small town setting and the same hidden moral corruption... though it being a 1986 movie, it was much more explicit. Thank you again for this terrific channel... I'm really enjoying your upbeat and intelligent videos!! :)

[@garywilliams1948]

Hitchcock appears about 16 minutes into the film, on the train to Santa Rosa, playing bridge with Doctor and his wife.

[@garyclarke9685]

Ok I will look out for him. I sometimes miss him in his cameos

[@epsteinisms1483]

Trivia : same story later remade as "Step Down To Terror" in 1958. Not by Hitch, naturally. The title is in reference to the attempt on her life by sabotaging those back stairs. Australian actor Rod Taylor plays the detective. Gordon McDonell gets credit for the story!

[@BuffaloC305]

At your video's 6:30 mark, an older couple is talking and he retorts, "Listen! I'm not going to work on my vacation". He's playing cards with Hitch. You only see the shoulder and back of Hitch's head.

[@bigbow62]

This is a great movie... it's been a long time since I last watched it 🎥 I have one for you that's similar but a very different subject called... The Stranger (1946) Staring Edward G Robinson & Orson Wells Just as good if not even better, a must watch ! 😎 Also have one of Cary Grant's best movies.... Talk Of The Town (1942) This is one of my favorite Cary Grant movies... A top five for sure !

[@joedavis6029]

A great film. My wife and I love this one.

[@oaf-77]

If you’re looking for classic Christmas movies, I’d recommend ‘the shop around the corner’ and ‘the bishops wife’

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

Notorious, Strangers on a Train, Shadow of a Doubt, The 39 Steps and The Lady Vanishes are the great Hitchcocks, for me. But then again the rest are all great, too. Can't go wrong with Hitch. I even like lesser movies he did like Under Capricorn. You might enjoy Foreign Correspondent, too, which is woefully underrated.

[@susanfisher4944]

Hitchcock set this story in California because it helped the budget, (not having to travel very far from the studio in Hollywood, to film on location in Santa Rosa, CA.)

[@andrewsykes1697]

Hi Mia, you asked what $40,000 would be in today's money. Well, that's approximately $703,0000! Uncle Charlie's got a whole lotta spending loot to deposit! Even if it it is all ill-gotten gains!

[@deckofcards87]

To me, Hitchock's black and white films always looked better than his technicolour ones...Vertigo being the unique exception

[@MoviesWithMia]

Agreed