Shadow of a Doubt (1942)

Continuing my mini-Hitchcock season we have this film which the great man himself placed among his favourites.  While not as showy as some of his films and without any memorable set pieces, it is still a beautifully acted slice of Americana with something very ugly lurking just beneath the surface.  The conflict is between the two Charlies -- Uncle Charlie as played by Joseph Cotton and his niece Charlie, Teresa Wright, who gradually realises that there is a monster behind the mask; both are superb as is the small-town setting.  I could have done without her squeaky younger siblings but there is a nice bit of light relief in the interplay between her father (Henry Travers, Clarence the angel from "It's a Wonderful Life") and a very young Hume Cronyn playing a nerdy neighbour as they play at devising the best ways to murder each other.