Weekend Watch 9/19-9/20

What I’m watching this weekend: Shadow of a Doubt (1942)- 1 hr 48 mins

When Uncle Charlie (Joseph Cotten) pays a visit to his family in the small town of Santa Rosa, California, his favorite niece and namesake “young Charlie” (Teresa Wright) is beside herself with excitement. She sees his visit as an opportunity to “save” her from her average, sleepy-town existence. However, young Charlie's connection with her seemingly charming uncle begins to reveal a more sinister existence. While she had hoped things would change in new and exciting ways, his presence threatens to instead destroy her and her family.

Released between 1941 and 1942 on the cusp of postmodernism, Shadow of a Doubt contains many of the underlying themes that helped to establish film noir as a genre. It is also a perfect example of pure cinema: telling a story through pictures. We already know that Uncle Charlie is bad news before we meet him. The audience quickly recognizes the unlucky number 13 that marks his door - shot at a dutch angle that undoubtedly signals his also crooked worldview. Written by Thornton Wilder (Our Town), Shadow of a Doubt takes the fronts off of some of America’s most average, comfortable, and idyllic homes as it takes you into their darkest and most secret corners. It reveals a sad duality - namely, that everyone has the potential for evil. If the plot doesn’t make this duality clear to you, what goes unsaid should. There’s a bar called “ Til 2.” There are two Charlies, two cities, two suspects, and the list could truly go on and on… Why not watch it and see for yourself!?

- Olivia

Availability: Vudu, Amazon, Youtube, Google play, DVD, and Blu-ray.