When pursued in New York City by the police as a suspect in the strangulation murders of three rich widows, Oakley poses as a rich businessman and takes refuge with adoring older sister Emma Newton (Patricia Collinge) in the small northern California town of Santa Rosa. Joseph Cotton plays the role of the infamous “Merry Widow” murderer, here tagged with the fictitious name of Charlie Oakley. The character of Emma Newton was based on Hitchcock’s mother. This darkly cynical film proved to be one of Hitch’s favorite, if not his favorite, and is also one of his most personal. The author was inspired by real-life “Merry Widow” murderer Earle Leonard Nelson who was hanged in 1928. Hitchcock) based on a story by Gordon McDowell.

It’s scripted by Thornton Wilder, Sally Benson, and Alma Reville (Mrs. Skirball Universal 1943)Īlfred Hitchcock directs while living in America during the war this first-class psychological thriller. Poetter, Widow) Runtime: 115 MPAA Rating: PG producer: Jack H. Green, Bank President), Charles Bates (Roger Newton), Frances Carson (Mrs. Valentine editor: Miton Carruth music: Dimitri Tiomkin cast: Joseph Cotten (Charlie Oakley), Teresa Wright (Young Charlie Newton), 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), Edwin Stanley (Mr.

SHADOW OF A DOUBT (director: Alfred Hitchcock screenwriter: story by Gordon McDonnell/Thornton Wilder/Alma Reville/Sally Benson cinematographer: Joseph A.

Shadow of a doubt movie reviews