I’m a Hitchcock buff and I usually prefer his earlier films, but Shadow of a Doubt was a disappointment. Joseph Cotton and Teresa Wright give plausible, gripping performances, but the rest of the film is a disaster. The detectives must be the stupidest buffoons I’ve ever seen, and the mother must have been on heavy medications. Uncle Charlie and his niece have an odd relationship, too. Even with all the romance novels I read, I couldn’t get past Detective Graham declaring his love for young Charlie after only a few days. She may have been the smartest girl in her graduating class, but the photo of her graduation day shows only five girls total. If I suspected my uncle of trying to kill me – repeatedly – I would be out of the house in a flash.

I agree, suburban Hitchcock, and one of Hitch’s only “families” . . . makes this odd, but good. One of smartest heroines too. Good if you don’t care for uncles . . . Cotton is creepy and the house and town are fascinating, well shot and composed.

Although this film is a favorite of Ebert’s, it’s not one of mine. Still, even a secondary Hitchcock film is far better than most of the drivel out there. I certainly like his noirish look at Main Street America.