The following post is an entry to the CMBA Blogathon, "Fabulous films of the 1940's." As a new member to the Classic Movie Blog Association, I am happy to participate in this event taking place Feb. 17-22. With so many gems available in films from this decade, it was tough to narrow down to just one. But here we go with my choice... Alfred Hitchcock's classic thriller, SHADOW OF A DOUBT (1943).
Like countless classic film fans, I have spent a lifetime in love with the mystique of Hitch films. The man was no doubt a master in suspense and thrill. While many of the films in his library of work are better known, SHADOW OF A DOUBT should not be over-looked as a definitive classic and a 1940's treasure. (Be forewarned that spoilers may come out in the paragraphs to follow as I plan to discuss details of the plot...)
Our story begins with a restless teenager, Charlotte "Charlie" Newton (portrayed by Teresa Wright), who is bored by the hum-drum routine of her hometown of Santa Rosa, California. The void she feels is about to be filled by the arrival of her uncle and namesake, Charles "Charlie" Oakley (portrayed by Joseph Cotten). The entire delightful Newton family, their charming home and little hometown are soon to be forever changed.
We are introduced to the warm and affable cast of characters of the Newton family, just as the surprising news breaks that Uncle Charles is soon to arrive. Young Charlie, her 2 younger siblings and father rush down to the train station to greet her mother's younger brother. Though they barely know each other as the elder Charlie has been absent from the Newton's family's life minus the occasional parcels of gifts from afar, younger Charlie feels a strange connection to her mysterious uncle that goes beyond a shared name. She adores her uncle because of the pedestal that her mother has built up of him over the years, but the mysteries begin from the moment he steps off the train. At the family dinner that evening, young Charlie tells her visiting uncle that she can see something in him no one else can. She knows he has "wonderful secrets." During dinner when Charlie starts humming a tune she complains she can't get out of her head, she starts to blurt out the song's title, "The Merry Widow Waltz..." but then her uncle tips over his wine glass as a distraction before she finishes saying it. Clear only to the audience, she's somehow hit a nerve.
Shortly after uncle Charlie settles into the Newton family home, two men, Mr. Graham and Mr. Saunders, arrive disguised as survey-takers to interview the Newtons to journal the typical American lifestyle. Uncle Charlie is less than pleased to hear of this and what he believes is a privacy intrusion and makes it apparent he will do everything in his power to avoid having his photo taken. The truth is soon revealed when one of the men (Mr. Jack Graham) takes young Charlie out on the town and explains that they are actually federal agents looking for the "Merry Widow Murderer" serial killer. They are tracking down 2 different men, one on each coast, as their top suspects and her uncle is one of them. He desperately needs her cooperation as an insider to narrow their list to just one. Young Charlie is infuriated initially of the deception and accusations against her beloved uncle. She reluctantly complies but feels conflicted; torn in the obligation as a good citizen and obligation to her family. She decides to research more on the Merry Widow killer story with a mad dash to the local library. She discovers this story is the very same that her uncle tore from her father's paper earlier which also caused such an unexpectedly strong reaction. She recalls the expensive emerald ring her uncle gave her as gift upon his arrival and the engraving "to T.S. from B.M." - clearly not intended for her. And his odd behavior while at her father's bank with unusual attentive charm to a local widow has popped questions in her head, too. The seed of doubt has been firmly planted now.
After dinner one evening, Charlie confronts her uncle privately, unveiling her discovery that she believes in his guilt and describes her disgust in what he's done. He then shows the dark shadows of his true self through his negative ramblings of a cold world view, as he slowly twists paper in his hand in a strangling motion. He's now completely removed his charming mask of compliments. Instead he insults her life as naive and thoroughly ordinary; confirming her suspicions.
The agents inform young Charlie that they believe they've caught their serial killer on the East coast and that her uncle is no longer under watch. In the family garage, Agent Graham steals a private moment to say goodbye to pretty young Charlie while confessing his true feelings for her are much more romantic than an investigation, planning to return again. The garage door gets stuck as they attempt to leave and agent Graham bids goodbye to uncle Charlie as he is just steps away in the yard. But it's too late for the Charlies- they both know he's guilty. Young Charlie nearly escapes death twice- one evening with a bad fall from a 'loose' board in the backstairs and again in the garage when she's trapped inside with the car running and the key missing from the ignition (both were traps set by her uncle, she is certain). She demands that he leave but her villainous uncle insists that it would be too hard on her mother and he felt confident with no proof (he lets her know he's taken back the ring), no one would believe her anyway. Feeling arrogantly assured that his cover is secure and that he can literally get away with murder, he toasts members of local society in the parlor just as Charlie slowly cascades down the stairs wearing the emerald ring. She found the proof to expose his guilt- and he immediately changes his toast to announce his departure the next day. His sister is visibly heart-broken and young Charlie feels torn again. On the train to say goodbye, young Charlie is physically held captive by uncle Charlie. He makes his third and final attempt to kill her- this time by throwing her off the moving train. But in the struggle, she is the one who survives and her evil uncle does not.
The details of uncle Charlie's darkness and callous ethics are revealed in bits and pieces throughout the film. It slowly builds the tension as each occurrence tests Charlie's and the Newton family's loyalties. When Charles first settles into his new dwellings (young Charlie's room), he goes to throw his hat on the bed but is stopped by Joe Newton due to superstition: "I just don't want bad things to come." As soon Mr. Newton leaves, Charles casually tosses his hat on the bed; sealing the fate of what evil lurks in his heart. Another example is when uncle Charles mocks Joe Newton's bank job upon opening an account at his bank, coldly displaying disrespect. And yet another is when all are seated at the dinner table and he refers to widows and "silly wives" as fat, wheezing animals with no purpose... his face grows cold; his head turning a transparent icy gaze at young Charlie.
What this film and it's talented cast do so well is cast shadows of doubt on Charlie Oakley's character in the subtlety of building moments. Because of the family's, and especially young Charlie's, devotion and assumption of good, Charles Oakley has the perfect set-up for his sociopathic plot to mask his true self. And because the Newtons are essentially good people, the clues about uncle Charlie are everywhere before young Charlie adds it up. It begs the question as to whether his true identity would have ever surfaced if certain factors had not intervened and how many real-life Charles Oakleys have gotten away with murder? As an enormous fan of the psychological thriller, especially of Alfred Hitchcock's, I loved this film and delighted in the constant internal conflicts of character relationships. And as a Hitch fan, I also found joy in the dark humor detail of Hume Cronyn's character as the quirky neighbor next door who has an ongoing game with Joe Newton of discussing the best methods to deceptively murder. A true signature Hitch touch, I'd say.
If you found it difficult to follow from time to time with the duality of Charlies, keep in mind that the name "Charlie" is said a whopping 170 times in this film. On a personal note, we have an ongoing little joke in our family about this film. My 12 year-old son starting watching this with me one day and ever since then, in quiet moments, we utter "Charlie" out loud to each other as our inside joke to mock how many times that name's repeated. Sorry Charlie...
CAST OF CHARACTERS:
Teresa Wright ... Young Charlie
Joseph Cotten ... Uncle Charlie
Macdonald Carey ... Jack Graham
Henry Travers ... Joseph Newton
Patricia Collinge ... Emma Newton
Hume Cronyn ... Herbie Hawkins
Wallace Ford ... Fred Saunders
Edna May Wonacott ... Ann Newton
Charles Bates ... Roger Newton
