The film Shadow of Doubt by Alfred Hitchcock is an interesting and entertaining depiction of the 1940s. The movie’s production was based on a true story involving Earle Leonard Nelson, a serial killer from the late 1920s denoted as “Gorilla man.” This became the inspiration for Hitchcock’s concept “Uncle Charlie,” which was based on a real account (Baak 1:39-1:42). The depictions in the film, including the setting, videography, characterization, and its form in general, turn out dramatic and exciting, especially with the producer’s choice of exact shooting locations.
The movie was shot and filmed in Santa Rosa, California, a setting that served as the model for a purportedly tranquil, little, pre-War American city. The choice for Santa Rosa was credited to its perfect nature and a location known for its idyllic silence across all the California American towns. As Baak indicates, “….Santa Rosa California was a perfect…Location an idyllic quiet California American town” (03:55-03:58). Even though Santa Rosa, California, appears in the opening scene, it was filmed in Newark, New Jersey, where the iconic Pulaski Skyway can be seen. The film’s scriptwriter was keen on his choice of shooting scenes because he wanted the depiction to feature the locals who live within the area. Besides, the time when the movie was produced called for the settings. For that reason, the Plot is set in a tiny American town location for Thornton Wilder but with a Hitchcock twist because Wilder penned the original script. Besides, these location choices were influenced by the crew’s adherence to the War Production Board’s ban on set construction expenditures exceeding $5,000 during wartime.
With the choice of their scene, the movie remains relevant today because it brings back memories of important landmarks like the Santa Rosa train station, which is the same setting as the movie’s introduction with Uncle Charlie’s arrival on the train and his niece Charlie’s enthusiastic greeting of him (Bat, para.1). This spot is intriguing since it serves as the film’s “bookends,” or the starting and ending scenes. Hitchcock planned with the special effects team to make the smoke over the train appear black and menacing in that particular moment, which is a fascinating detail. This location is really interesting because the book ends the movie; you see it at the beginning of the movie (Protokino 02:38-02:42). The house chosen for the Deuter title featured in the film was nicely built and had a beautiful interior and exterior. However, it required some cosmetic modifications as per Hitchcock’s specifications. Hitchcock thought that the house’s rich and solid but aged and worn aspect would imply that the Nugent family might be anyone, so the scouts borrowed it from the owners for filming.
This film caught my attention following its intrinsic combination of literary elements, including suspense, symbolism, drama, and horror. First, the whole idea of the idea that your favorite uncle might be a killer is terrifying. Besides, the locations, houses, rooms, and even the characters in the film capture that fear well. Besides, the structures and settings in the film are representations of other phenomena that require interpretation. Medusa is transported to a seemingly perfect middle-American tiny town in sunny California. For instance, “Emma Newton is brought to an idyllic small California town that represents Middle America in Shadow of a Doubt” (Baak 08:44- 8:55). Interestingly, young Charlie has been sheltered from the world in her perfect little town that she does not see what a dirty, disgusting sty the world is. “Although the rest of the family doesn’t have an idea of his killings, other than Young Charlie, he justifies his actions in the most passionate way possible,” (Yüksel para.9). Besides, the dark realization that her uncle is a cold-blooded killer sets in, and the young Charlie realizes that her humdrum, ideal world isn’t so perfect after all.
Works Cited
Baak, John. “Everything you need to know about Shadow of a Doubt (1943).” YouTube, JohnBaak, 2017, Web.
Bat, Adam. “Today’s the Thing, That’s My Philosophy — Alfred Hitchcock’s Shadow Of A Doubt.” Medium, Web.
Protokino. “SHADOW OF A DOUBT | Filming Locations.” YouTube, 2021, Web.
Yüksel, Ece M. “SHADOW of a DOUBT: The Devil in Disguise.” Dial M for Movie, Web.