Figure 1.--

This is a classic Hitchcock thriller. Shadow" is said to have been Alfred Hitchcock's favorite of all the films he directed. Thornton Wilder wrote the script for this taut thriller. Outstanding performances by Joseph Cotten, Hume Cronyn, and other cast members make this film a delight. The film is set in small-town America. In the storyline a niece is enchanted with her mysterious uncle who she comes to believe is a psycopathic serial killer. The tension soars when the killer realizes his niece suspects him. She survives two close calls on her own life before her uncle dies in the unforgettable climax. In the film the niece has a younger brother, "Roger", played by Charles Bates. Charles was 8 years old when the film was made, and he had already played in a number of films, including "Blossoms in the Dust" and "The Vanishing Virginian". Charles also had a part in the 1946 film, "The Green Years". Each of these films is reviewed in HBC

Filmology

This is a classic Hitchcock thriller. Shadow" is said to have been Alfred Hitchcock's favorite of all the films he directed. Thornton Wilder wrote the script for this taut thriller.

Cast

Outstanding performances by Joseph Cotten, Hume Cronyn, and other cast members make this film a delight. Charles was 8 years old when the film was made, and he had already played in a number of films, including "Blossoms in the Dust" and "The Vanishing Virginian". Charles also had a part in the 1946 film, "The Green Years". Each of these films is reviewed in HBC

Setting

The film is set in small-town America. It was filmed in Santa Rosa, CA, north of San Francisco.

Plot

In the storyline a niece is enchanted with her mysterious uncle who she comes to believe is a psycopathic serial killer. The tension soars when the killer realizes his niece suspects him. She survives two close calls on her own life before her uncle dies in the unforgettable climax. In the film the niece has a younger brother, "Roger", played by Charles Bates.

Clothing

"Roger" wears a good variety of early 1940's boys' clothing in "Shadow". We first see him in a short-sleeved white shirt, dark short pants, and dark short socks and shoes. When the uncle arrives by train, the family goes to meet him. Roger wears a light colored short pants suit, dark short socks and shoes, and a sports shirt without a tie. Later, Roger wears a light colored coat with a long, pointed collar over a casual striped pullover shirt, and long dark trousers. He wore a dark long trousers suit to church. The uncle gave a speech before a local club, and for that occasion Roger wore a dark short pants suit; the coat appeared to have an Eton collar. Roger wore a large dark bow with this suit. In one scene early in the film he wore a short sleeved shirt, light gray shorts, and dark short socks and shoes. Quite a variety of clothes for one film.

Created: April 26, 2004
Last updated: January 26, 2004