Alfred Hitchcock had reason to consider Shadow of a Doubt his personal favorite among his films. In structure, the film is perfection; in theme, it is radically disturbing. Joseph Cotten is the urbane Uncle Charlie, hiding out in the small-town home of his sister Emma. Is he the Merry Widow Killer hunted by the police, or is he as innocent as he claims? Shot in Santa Rosa and cowritten by Thornton Wilder and Sally Benson, the film blends satire and mystery in examining the effects of Uncle Charlie’s visit on a nastily nice community (full of wealthy widows), but particularly on his adoring niece, Charlie (Teresa Wright).