This is certainly one of Hitchcock’s most satisfying thrillers, mostly thanks to Wright and Cotten’s believable relationship. Their close relationship is symbolised by near telepathy between them, the niece instinctively reading his thoughts and yet emotionally the Uncle is the less devoted of the two, plotting her death in a detached way, and in some ways his death is seen as comeuppance for his lesser devotion. Images of whirling dancers reappear as the two Charlies get caught up in a dance towards an inevitable fate. The Merry Widow waltz is regularly repeated as a theme with sinister undercurrents since Uncle Charlie’s speciality is offing rich widows. The townsfolk around are oblivious and talk of him throughout as a wonderful man, only a detective who has infiltrated the family household posing as a censor suspects otherwise, and this allows him to form a bond with the young Charlie and in the end he is the only other person who gets to find out what really happened and while he wins the girl, it’s clear that her heart will always truly belong to her Uncle. Certainly he is hero worshipped by his niece, and yet she alone learns his true nature and ultimately (accidentally) causes his death. It’s unusual in having a central villain who is almost the hero. Hitchcock often said this was his favourite film – and certainly the one he found easiest to defend from his critics, in that it had the most plausible senario. He might look alright and have a voice that charms, but he is the devil in disguise. Rating : Very good, engrossing and essential viewing.In the first scene a train enters the station, filling it with black smoke – and from the first it is clear that all is not right with Uncle Charlie. The motion picture is indispensable watching for Hithcock lovers achieving the maximum impact on his audience. It's remade in 1958 in quite inferior remake titled ¨Step down to terror¨ by Harry Keller with Charles Drake, Rod Taylor,Jocelyn Brando and Josephine Hutchinson, furthermore a lousy Television movie. This interesting movie is brilliantly directed by the Master Hitchcock, resulting to be his favorite personal. Sensational visual style in black and white cinematography by the cameraman by Joseph Valentine. Atmospheric and perceptible music by the maestro Dimitri Tiomkin, including piano sounds. And of course cameo role by Alfred Hitchcock, this time as a man on train playing cards. Likable couple formed by Henry Travers and Hume Cronyn in his film debut, booth of whom speaking continuously about murders. Teresa Wright as shy and glad young is superb and enjoyable. Fine performance by Joseph Cotten as sunny and cynic uncle Charlie. After his successful British films as ¨39 steps¨ and ¨Jamaica Inn¨, Hitch was encouraged to go to America and promptly shot his first work in Hollywood hired by the great producer David O'Selznick later on he directed this excellent picture. Besides a literately and thoughtful dialog signed by Thornton Wilder and Alma Reville (Hitchcock's usual screenwriter and wife) though lacking humor. From the story by Gordon McConnell, the picture gets unlimited suspense in crescendo, tense, full of lingering frames and with the typical touches Hitchcock. Further developments ensure an exciting climax on train. Meantime two detectives (Mcdonald Carey and Wallace Ford) are investigating. The suspicious uncle Charlie gradually becoming stronger and mysterious. Although he seems a good man, his young niece (Teresa Wright)slowly comes to aware he is a wanted merry widow killer and he comes to recognize her malignant suspicions. Handsome and uncomplicated uncle Charlie (Joseph Cotten)has come to visit his family in Santa Rosa, returning to home town after longer absence.
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