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Recent videocassette releases, reviewed by Times critics.
Movies **** “Shadow of a Doubt.”
MCA. $29.95. 1943. Into the charming, bucolic community of Santa Rosa, Calif., an urbane, magnetic but deadly intruder appears: “Uncle Charlie” (Joseph Cotten), a psychopath who preys on rich widows. The only one of his beguiled relatives to catch onto him is his niece--his opposite number, also named Charlie (Teresa Wright). The two become locked in a desperate, silent struggle between good and evil, while, outside, breezes play through the oaks and elms, and friendly neighbors halloo each other across manicured lawns and kibitz over their favorite murder mysteries. Sunny, chilling, formally impeccable, this 1943 film--co-written by Thornton (“Our Town”) Wilder, Sally (“Meet Me in St. Louis”) Benson and Alma Reville (Mrs. Hitchcock)--is one of Alfred Hitchcock’s most brilliant thrillers. It was also Hitch’s personal favorite of his entire career.
