The Silver Screen Oasis

Joseph Cotten--"buttered toast"! What's wrong with buttered toast anyway? He's great in SHADOW OF A DOUBT. The film isn't brilliant (sorry, Hitchcock fans), but Cotton is. His performance is undermined by silly script conceits that have him commit blunders a schoolboy would've avoided (the engraved ring he presents to "Charlie" for example). The film has beautiful urban location shots. A truly cynical main protagonist and still gets bogged-down by an unconvincing depiction of "all American" family life. Cotten WAS great in other things too.

Ah to each his own I guess, Joe. I think the story is terrific. The depiction of small town life works for me, even though it's a small town in CALIFORNIA, which makes it different from regular small towns. The characters are just odd enough to appeal to me.

As for those slip ups Uncle Charlie made, I think perhaps he wanted to get caught, on some deep level.

A fine actor, with funny looking hair.

that I'd like to run my fingers through!

JF, I've just re-read this thread. I like your excellent in-depth analysis of Cotten on page two. It's just right.

I've just watched CITIZEN KANE. Isn't that Mr. Cotten sitting to left of screen, just after the newsreel screening that opens the film?

JackFavell Wrote (Re. SHADOW OF A DOUBT): "The characters are just odd enough to appeal to me." They're rather eccentrically cast too JF. We've got Henry Travers (from Prudhoe, Northumberland), age 64, as "Joe", head of the household. Patricia Collinge (from Dublin), age 50, as his wife "Emmy". They're the parents of "Charlie" (Teresa Wright, aged 24), and two pre-teens! Joe's best friend and neighbour is "Herb" (I think we're supposed to assume they're roughly contemporaries), played very well, I must admit, by 31 year old Hume Cronyn. And "uncle Charlie", played by Mr. Cotten from Virginnia (with that beautiful southern accent), is supposed to be Emmy's brother. Pretty rum I'd say. It COULD only happen in Hollywood!

Farewell then. From Macclesfield, this 18th day of September, 2014.