1001 Movies Club - Shadow of A Doubt (1943)

#164. Shadow of A Doubt (1943)

Why It's In The Book: "When interviewed by admirer and famous acolyte François Truffaut, Alfred Hitchcock referred to Shadow of A Doubt as his favourite film. Tellingly, it's also one of his least flashy works, a quiet character study set in the heart of suburbia. Although the heart of suburbia is still rotten with murder and deceit, Hitchcock emphasizes traditional suspense beats over intricate set pieces, stocking the story with just as much uneasy humor as suspense… Hitchcock actually shot Shadow of a Doubt on location, in the small town of Santa Rosa, California, the better to tear apart the flimsy façade and expose the bland, safe suburbs for the hotbed of secrets it no doubt is. The script, written by Thornton Wilder with input fro Hitchcock's wife Alma Reville, takes perverse glee in destroying preconceived notions of quiet, small town life… Dimitri Tiomkin's score keeps the suspense ratcheted up, particularly his “Merry Widow” waltz." -1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die

Member Ratings

Michaël Parent - 10/10
"Alfred Hitchcock's Shadow of a Doubt isn't less than a masterpiece and a personal favourite from Hitch's great filmography."
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Klaus Ming - 9/10
"Arguably one of Hitchcock's finest."
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Siochembio - 8.5/10
"Definitely a Hitchcock film in terms of suspense and danger, but there's a lovely sense of restraint and understatement in it."
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Adolytsi - 8/10
"You know you're in for something special when Hitchcock himself declared this to be his finest work."
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bpdreview - 8/10
"As a portrait of innocence lost and naivety shattered, Hitchcock certainly made a winner!"
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Movie Guy Steve - 8/10
"...it’s evident that Hitchcock was well on his way to earning the title of Master of Suspense with this film."
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Nicolas Krizan - 8/10
"Youthful innocence looks deeply into the mirroring eyes of an initially charming but increasingly threatening visitor"
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Squish - 8/10
"Dad and his friend [have] constant discussions about how they would kill each other and get away with it. The way that innocent banter is juxtaposed with the far too real doubts going through niece Charlie's mind adds a nice depth to her, that makes us realize that while everyone else is living well and care-free, she is haunted by something she cannot easily confirm."
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Sunny D - 8/10
"There’s an old-fashioned theatricality to the performances ... that seems entirely fitting for a story that takes place in an era so distant to us now it might as well be another planet."
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Kim Wilson - 7.5/10
"The juxtaposition of a simple and complacent American small town with the lethal killer creeping toward its heart is neatly executed, and the early kinship that becomes a battle-to-the-death relationship between the two Charlies ensures that the dramatic tension never eases up."
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Overall Rating: 8.6/10