This 1943 Hitchcock offering is a taut, well-drawn suspense drama, focusing on a smalltown US suburban family. The story centres around Uncle Charlie and his niece’s family. His niece is named after her uncle, and they have a special relationship. The mysterious uncle comes baring gifts for the entire family, and he gives the impression that he is independently wealthy. It isn’t until his niece spots some initials on the ring that he has given her that questions start to rise about his money. Young Charlie (the niece) starts having doubts about her uncle and begins to suspect that he is the serial killer responsible for the murders of 3 rich widows.
Joseph Cotton is fabulous as the uncle, maintaining the charming, menacing, suspicious and calculating character throughout the film. Teresa Wright is also fabulous in her character, the antithesis of her uncle. The script is exceptionally well written, and whilst the film doesn’t display any Hitchcockian trademarks, this film is an absolute pleasure to watch. There is very little violence on film. It is all talked about, and this only adds to our tension. We are not sure, not really, whether Uncle Charlie is the serial killer. We have the same shadow of a doubt that young Charlie and the police have. When their other prime suspect dies, the police believe that they have got the serial killer, but young Charlie’s inquisition of her uncle leads to her uncle showing us what he is capable of.
In many ways, it is the central character’s fault he is exposed in the films denouement. Being so hot-headed and not quite as controlled as he would like to be is his ultimate downfall.
This suspense-filled, taut drama is a pleasure to watch and a must for all Hitchcock fans.