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Shadow of a Doubt

Play trailer Poster for Shadow of a Doubt PG Released Jan 1, 1943 1h 48m Crime Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 54 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Uncle Charlie (Joseph Cotten) visits his relatives in Santa Rosa. He is a very charming man, but his niece slowly realizes that he is wanted for murder and he soon recognizes her suspicions. Although one of the suspected murderers is killed and the case is considered closed, she still has her suspicions.
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Shadow of a Doubt

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Critics Consensus

Alfred Hitchcock's earliest classic -- and his own personal favorite -- deals its flesh-crawling thrills as deftly as its finely shaded characters.

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Critics Reviews

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Kevin Maher The Times (UK) It's Hitchcock unleashed... Rated: 5/5 Jan 21, 2022 Full Review Paul Trench London Evening Standard An Alfred Hitchcock picture is something of an event. This one, which runs for an hour and 45 minutes, is an ingenious and unorthodox thriller which is continuously entertaining. May 26, 2021 Full Review Age Staff The Age (Australia) A series of tense dramatic scenes superbly acted by Joseph Cotten and Teresa Wright. Apr 10, 2020 Full Review James Berardinelli ReelViews Shadow of a Doubt is the ultimate “refrigerator movie”*, with a story so implausible that it only holds together because of the director’s remarkable ability at composition and the top-notch work of actors Joseph Cotten and Teresa Wright. Rated: 3/4 Nov 13, 2024 Full Review Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies “Shadow of a Doubt” is an exceptional thriller built upon a very good story, some pitch-perfect performances, and slick direction. Rated: 4.5/5 Aug 25, 2022 Full Review Walter Chaw Film Freak Central Hitchcock loved eroding moral bedrocks, most gaudily in the form of desecrating national monuments and more stealthily in the form of ineffectual cops, bumbling clergy, and psycho mothers. Rated: 4/4 Jun 10, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stephen C Success in 1 hour and 48 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/07/25 Full Review Insomniac X Hitchcock successfully fuses his sinister style with collaborator Thornton Wilder's idyllic vision of small town life in this twisted tale of moral decay and murderous intent. Hitchcock aficionados will likely notice thematic similarities to "Suspicion," which predated it by two years and which also maintained the ambiguity of its central character's innocence until its final moments. Though only partially effective as a thriller, the influence of Shadow of a Doubt can be felt in classics such as "The Stranger," and "Blue Velvet." Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/06/25 Full Review Will G Alfred Hitchcock is one of my favorite directors. This was a fantastic film. The acting was great. The music was good. It is a very suspenseful movie and the story was surprising. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/17/24 Full Review William B Great casting and storyline. One of my favorites of mystery. Definitely recommended to anyone Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/23/24 Full Review Jay W This one takes a little while to get going. The audience knows that Charlie Oakley is up to something, but we aren't quite sure what. This intrigue stretches to about 10 minutes before the runtime justifies it to stretch. Once the director shows all his cards, that is when the movie gets really good. There is a secret that Charlie Newton, Taresa Wright, knows about Charlie Oakley, Joseph Cotten, and that is where the real intrigue and suspense kicks in. Hitchcock is under appreciated as a comedic director. There are a lot of funny exchanges and situations that go in this film. You can't go wrong with Hitchcock, his suspensful writing makes the movie just as entertaining today as it was back in the 1940's. If you like good suspense, there is absolutely no doubt that you will enjoy this one. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/21/24 Full Review Alejandro E Hitchcock, in one of his first productions that he would make in Hollywood. Its hallmark remained in force and this thriller is one of those examples. The suspense keeps the viewer upside down through out the 108 minutes. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/06/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Shadow of a Doubt

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Cast & Crew

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Alfred Hitchcock

Director

Teresa Wright

Young Charlie Newton

Joseph Cotten

Charlie Oakley

Macdonald Carey

Jack Graham

Hume Cronyn

Herbie Hawkins

Henry Travers

Joseph Newton

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Shadow of a Doubt

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Movie Info

Synopsis Uncle Charlie (Joseph Cotten) visits his relatives in Santa Rosa. He is a very charming man, but his niece slowly realizes that he is wanted for murder and he soon recognizes her suspicions. Although one of the suspected murderers is killed and the case is considered closed, she still has her suspicions.
Director
Alfred Hitchcock
Producer
Jack H. Skirball
Screenwriter
Gordon McDonell, Thornton Wilder, Sally Benson, Alma Reville
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Production Co
Universal Pictures
Rating
PG
Genre
Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 1, 1943, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 19, 2016
Runtime
1h 48m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.37:1)
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