This is one of Alfred Hitchcock's most underrated films.
Teresa Wright delivers a career-best performance as young Charlotte 'Charlie' Newton, bored with life after graduating high school and is thrilled when her namesake and world traveler, Charlie Oakley (Joseph Cotton), comes to Santa Rosa to visit the family.
At first young Charlie is thrilled, but things quickly take an unexpected turn when two detectives show up. The detectives, Jack Graham (MacDonald Carey) and Fred Saunders (Wallace Ford) disguise themselves as men trying to get a glimpse of a typical American family, but they are actually investing Uncle Charlie, wanting for murdering three wealthy widows.
Young Charlie is shocked, but a newspaper clipping and heirloom ring given to her force her to link everything together. And her fear is still there even after he's in the clear. Charlie then turns his attention into killing his beloved niece, things coming to a head when uncle tries to throw niece off a train, but instead accidentally gets tossed off himself. The fool.
Now, while it is great in many ways, with the two other Newton children Ann (Edna May Wonacott) and Roger (Charles Bates) have real personalities and each character is real and authentic. However, Jack and young Charlie fall in love way too quickly, after just a three meetings and one date. Please, that's ridiculous and I don't care what time period this is. That being said, they are good people and deserve the happiness the other can provide.
Still, this is Hitchcock's domestic thriller that didn't get the credit it deserved and this is one of his best films. You won't be disappointed in watching it. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-I found it odd that young Charlie was alone with Jack or the other detective as much as she was.
-Ann made a vow to read two books a week.
-Charlie bounces back too quickly after being nearly murdered by carbon monoxide.
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