"SHADOW OF A DOUBT" It Was Alfred Hitchcock's Favorite, But Was It His Best Movie?

The 1943 classic movie "SHADOW OF A DOUBT" was Alfred Hitchcock's favorite of his films, but does that make "SHADOW OF A DOUBT" his best movie? In this video, I talk about what makes a good classic movie, and where the movie works, and what might have been better. Kudos to Alfred Hitchcock, the Master of Suspense!
#classicmovies #retroreview #alfredhitchcock #hitchcock #filmcritic #blackandwhitemovies #movies

[@mikebelbin]

The most emotionally involving movie. One feels for young Charlie's disillusionment but she still manages to do something about it. She doesn't exercise justice but she does face the situation out. She's a victim and yet not a victim - like most of us.

No doubt in my mind that this is Hitchcock's finest film. (Yes, I have seen almost all of the others.) Was disappointed that you failed to mention the biggest star of this movie, Santa Rosa, CA. Beautiful, unchanged from the 1920s, unaffected by World War II, a place I would go to immediately if I had a time machine.

[@soundandfury2680]

Thanks for watching

[@virginiawilson2213]

I don’t agree with your analogy at all! Revealing the true nature of uncle Charlie early on added to the suspense of how the girl Charlie was going to handle him and keep him from killing her as well, as keeping the information from her mother. The dialogue between her father, and the friend about discovering murders, added to the flavor and the suspense of the movie! I believe this was one of Hitchcock best movies ever! I’m 78 years old, and I have seen them all! Way to go Hitch!

[@steveblundell7766]

The purpose of the two men discussing murders was to create a parallel with the real-life murderer in their midst. In young Charlie's world, murder was just something people talked about and read in the newspapers and it doesn't become any more real just because your dad and his friend discuss ways that they could murder each other. Young Charlie's world is no different from our own, we are surrounded by murder but it manifests itself only as words and sounds. The Uncle Charlie that she loves does not exist either, he is a fabrication. She effectively has to dismiss and deny the sweet but dull reality that she has always known in order to believe that evil Charlie is real, and that she could become a real murder victim

[@michaelharrington7656]

This film makes me wish he'd done more work on location instead of staying in the studio nearly all of the time. In Shadow of a Doubt we are given a greater sense of reality than is usual with Hitch.

[@soundandfury2680]

@@michaelharrington7656 I'm sure that is because Hitchcock wanted certain shots to look exactly the way he wanted. Studio sets made that possible. But yes, it would have been interesting to see more like this, although some of this move was in a studio as well. Thank you for watching.

[@therealinformalmusic]

In various forms of Bridge, Whist and even Spades (wherein spades is the highest suit) each player holds thirteen cards and it is possible, though very, very, extremely rare, for a player to hold every card of one suit. They are playing Bridge.

[@soundandfury2680]

@@therealinformalmusic Good to know

[@DanielLiebert-i1p]

NOBODY ever brings up the obvious and rather shocking fact that if Uncle Charlie left town as his niece has planned (to spare her family) that she would have been an accessory to murder. As a matter of fact right there on the train at the end he's getting widow Mrs. Potter in his sights for murder number 4.

[@georgestilin3725]

L'un des plus captivants film a suspens psychologique d'Hitchcock. A l'image de la séquence finale, de celle du restaurant ou.........dans la bibliothèque, ce sont des scènes inoubliables qui démontrent la maîtrise du maître.......du suspens !

[@user-yf7ro1qp8i]

Voglio vedere SOLO il film!!

[@ThePiratemachine]

I like "The Wrong Man" better for the reasons you say about this one. I know Hitchcock didn't like "The wrong Man." Interesting video. Thanks.

[@willieluncheonette5843]

there is no such thing as "best" Just the fact that he liked it the best is very interesting.

[@brianlawton8172]

Hitchcock best creative topeka was definitely the 1940s films. granted his 1950s movies were great too but depended more on gimmicks then intense storylines, atmospheric cinematography and memorable characters.

[@user-nt6vr8en4v]

I seen this movie but don’t remember all the movie however the uncle had his dirty secrets and perhaps a killer 😮😮

[@steveblundell7766]

In his interviews with Francois Truffaut, Hitchcock denied that Shadow of a Doubt was his favourite film.

[@soundandfury2680]

@@steveblundell7766 Really? Interesting. Thanks for pointing that out.

[@richardlee8495]

it might have been his favorite--always arbitrary, and if it was, it was-- but Rebecca, Notorious, Rear Window, North by Northwest, Psycho were infinitely better.

[@mphrdldn]

I was annoyed by the mother’s performance. I liked the waitress in the place Uncle Charlie pulled his niece into.

[@chasmarkcooke]

The absolute best of the Alfred Hitchcock movies/ranks one of three for me, the other two would be "Rope" and "Psycho!"

[@soundandfury2680]

@@chasmarkcooke Stay tuned.... a video on Psycho is on the way.

[@jeffreyrobertbutters3539]

I am glad you like the film, and that you are transparent re your lack of knowledge about Joseph Cotten, other things... but - to suggest that there was this red herring never fulfilled - did you NOT see how Uncle Charlie tried to KILL young Charlie by attempting to push her off the train? Was that NOT a set up fulfilled?! Sheesh, it's a little difficult to believe that you actually viewed this movie in preparation for this video, I hate to say - based on a few of your comments... The audience KNOWS that Uncle Charlie IS The Merry Widow Murderer within the first few moments of the film! But, THE primary tragedy of this film - is that not only has young Charlie thwarted numerous attempts on her life from her beloved uncle - it's further... her perpetual burden, of not only knowing WHO Uncle Charlie truly WAS - but that she also knows that her mother simply could not bear to know this truth! And - that young Charlie can not find comfort about all of this, even in her own household, or small townspeople (in Santa Rosa, CA). Only the poorly played detective also knows, and we are led to believe the two of them MAY have a future... I couldn't finish your video, just too many 'misses' - you just are not up to this (yet! Keep trying!!). I tuned in, because I have this wonderful film as #4 for Hitch, behind "Notorious" (1946), "Vertigo" (1958), and "Psycho" (1960). Hell, I don't even think you got the release year correct - you said 1943, I think it's 1942. Anyway, keep going! Cheers...

[@therealinformalmusic]

Shadow of a Doubt was released on 12 January, 1943.

[@soundandfury2680]

@@jeffreyrobertbutters3539 What was never fulfilled was that the people talking about murder mysteries never did any murder mystery stuff. That was all done with other characters. And yes, the movie was 1943.

[@soundandfury2680]

And I did talk about the things you said I didn't address, like Charlie trying to kill her more than once. I only making the point that in my opinion, maybe a little more ambiguity about his identity might have been better, and that I thought his actions seemed too suspicious for a man hiding from the cops. Ripping out the article for example.

[@jeffreyrobertbutters3539]

@@soundandfury2680 Young Charlie’s father, and the neighbor played (very well) by Hume Cronyn - were portrayed as foolish dupes… That Hume Cronyn’s character ‘saves’ young Charlie, by discovering the car running in the purposely (by Uncle Charlie) ‘locked’ garage - and then getting help from OTHERS - was about all anyone could reasonably expect from these two. I agree that Uncle Charlie wasn’t exactly attempting to NOT be noticed… I like the example even better, where he embarrasses his brother-in-law - at the bank. My table side ref book, by Steven Sheuer - shows the release date as 1942, and that’s what I must have remembered - over the last 4+ decades… My mistake, and - Thank You. Cheers…

[@soundandfury2680]

@@jeffreyrobertbutters3539 Finding young Charlie in the garage by accident isn't really fulfilling anything. Their love of mysteries never came into play, that was my only point there. Where the move is brilliant is the dialog and the Hitchcockian use of the camers which makes you feel like a participant rather than a viewer.