Acting: 5.0; Theme: 5.0; Content: 4.5; Language: 5.0; Overall: 5.0

A young teenage girl, Charlie Newton, (Teresa Wright) is ecstatic when she learns her Uncle Charlie (Joseph Cotten) is coming for a visit to their small California town. However, Charlie becomes very suspicious of him as she begins noticing clues that he might be the "Merry Widow" murderer. Very suspenseful and Hitchcockian. Highly recommend.

***December 26, 2023*** ( )

Lovely Teresa Wright shines in Alfred Hitchcock’s tale of darkness and evil coming to stay in Santa Rosa, California. A story by Gordon McDonnell was adapted for the screen by Thorton Wilder, Alma Reville, and Sally Benson, and this slice of Americana is played out perfectly by a wonderful cast.

Teresa Wright is the bored young daughter of Emma (Patricia Collinge) and Joseph (Henry Travers) Newton. Life for her in the small town of Santa Rosa has become boring for the wholesome American girl looking to stretch her wings. Wright’s “Charlie” is the very picture of small town innocence. When her Uncle and namesake (Joseph Cotten) blows into town, it is the catalyst for the change she desires. Hitchcock has already shown the audience by this time that something is not quite right about the charming Uncle Charlie, so the viewer already knows from the get-go what’s going on in this film. The special bond between Charlie and her uncle and their unusual connection is fully explored by the director in the happy and charming early moments that follow Cotten's arrival in Santa Rosa.

Hitchcock quickly begins shading this portrait in grey, however. Charlie’s adoration of her uncle borders on a crush, leaving her open and vulnerable to anything Charlie wants. Here the famous director creates some almost uncomfortable scenes, giving the viewer the impression that at any moment Cotton might just take the smiling and adoring Charlie in his arms and kiss her. And for her part, Charlie might remain passive, so unsure is she of her own feelings. But strange behavior in her uncle and the attention of a government agent after him who falls in love with young Charlie will change everything, as Uncle Charlie’s spell is broken when his warped and twisted view of the world is finally revealed. The tune he whistles might be the key to his long absence.

Hume Cronyn steals every scene he is in as Herbie. Long talks on the porch, attempting to devise the perfect murder plan for amusement is ironic and darkly humorous considering the real evil right under their noses. Charlie can’t risk destroying her weak mother, but luckily she has Agent Jack Graham’s (Macdonald Carey) number. Uncle Charlie, however, has no intention of going to the gallows…

This is both a beautiful portrait of small-town America and a suspenseful thriller. Cotten, always solid yet often underrated, underplays his role to marvelous effect. Teresa Wright is simply wonderful in this Hitchcock masterpiece, the very picture of confused innocence. A film that must be seen by all, especially Hitchcock devotees. ( )

A film starring Teresa Wright and Joseph Cotten (Universal, 1943).

A girl suspects her uncle is a criminal.

B (Good).

I guess it's a good movie? It's interesting, and it's entertaining enough thanks to comedic side characters.

(Feb. 2023) ( )

A casa de sus familiares, en el tranquilo pueblo de Santa Rosa, llega un día el encantador tío Charlie (Joseph Cotten), un seductor criminal que viaja de Filadelfia a California y al que la justicia va pisando los talones. Su sobrina Charlie, a pesar de que no sabe nada de sus actividades, no tardará en sospechar que su tío es el misterioso asesino de viudas al que la policía anda buscando.

55619