Wondering why lil' sis Ann doesn't want to sit next to Uncle Charly.
I'm watching and getting taken in by this Hitchcock film, recently shown on COZI TV.
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MovieChat Forums > Shadow of a Doubt (1943) Discussion > Wondering why lil' sis Ann doesn't want ...
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Ann's the sharpest member of the family, and follows her gut instincts about Uncle Charlie.
I'm not crying, you fool, I'm laughing!
Hewwo.
She's a reader, I assume she read her dads paper.
Only those with no valid argument pick holes in people's spelling and grammar.
I was wondering the same thing. Maybe she just sensed he was no good.
shareThen that must be why they tell you to consult a third-grader when you purchase some new technology because they're the only ones who could figure out how to open a child-proof aspirin bottle.
Same goes for the kid on "Good Times," the daughters on "Full House" and Jimmy Carter's little girl, Amy, and every presidential child since. They have to be the adults in the room because, well, somebody has to be, I suppose.
I also think that Ann may have felt animosity towards Uncle Charlie because his arrival forced her to change her daily routine. She didn't have the strong bond with Uncle Charlie that young Charlie did because of her age. To Ann he was just a stranger forcing her to share a room with her older sister.
"I also think that Ann may have felt animosity towards Uncle Charlie because his arrival forced her to change her daily routine. She didn't have the strong bond with Uncle Charlie that young Charlie did because of her age. To Ann he was just a stranger forcing her to share a room with her older sister."
I confess that I never considered this, but it's a good reason. It makes sense.
I agree with many of the other posters, kids are just smarter, they recognize evil easier than other people do, even if they aren't aware of it, they know when they don't like somebody, even if they don't have an actual reason to, it usually turns out there's a good reason not to like them.
shareI always thought Anne didn't like Uncle Charlie for 2 reasons. First, I agree Anne is very smart, and seemed to be able to read people well. But secondly, if you remember towards the end of the film, she has made "friends" with the detectives, particularly Mr. Saunders. They obviously were talking to Anne, trying to find out information about Uncle Charlie. I think she put 2 + 2 together, and realized that men asking questions about her Uncle, who she already doesn't really like, means there's something off about Uncle Charlie.
shareI agree...I think the detective was able to coerce her thinking in a certain way.
If you're not taking any steps forward, you're not moving at all.
I've just watched this and read some background. Apparently the uncle's character was inspired by a real-life serial murderer in the '20s, who was alleged to have attempted to molest a young girl. Not sure if Hitchcock did this on purpose but it's a creepier angle to consider.
shareThe idea that children have some special gnosis, that they are more perceptive, more tuned in to human nature, is nothing but a ridiculous load of hooey. If kids were so wise, they'd be legally able to make important decisions, but they do not enjoy this privilege. All of my wife's nieces have been standoffish and rude to me since they were old enough to talk and have facial expressions. Children are just tactless and inconsiderate, it's that simple.
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I personally think that Ann just didn't know her Uncle Charlie very well. He was disrupting her life. She had to share her room with her older sister now that Uncle Charlie was there. They were the first to be scolded for disorganizing the newspaper before Uncle Charlie confessed that he was the one who was playing a game with it. I imagine that there were a whole lot of little things about Uncle Charlie that Ann didn't like.
As for your statement about Children being tactless and inconsiderate, I would say that with that kind of attitude toward them, they probably do sense the fact that you don't have a very high opinion of them. That may be why your wife's nieces are standoffish with you. I notice that you call them your wife's nieces. Since you and your wife are married, aren't they your nieces by marriage too?
I've always liked the fact that Ann reacts poorly to Uncle Charlie on first seeing him at the train station. She notes that he doesn't look like he used to; she's rather stand-offish.
Great scene:
When Uncle Charlie rips out the newspaper article and then tries to cover by making a "castle" out of the remaining paper, Ann is all over him for ruining her father's newspaper (even a fuddy-duddy overaged dad like Henry Travers rules his family over his newspaper) and rejects Uncle Charlie's "overly cute" attempt to talk to her as a child.
Uncle Charlie then tries to "captivate" the younger brother with his "castle" and THAT younger boy STILL reacts: "You've ruined daddys' paper!"
These kids know the rules of the house...and a man's need for his newspaper.
@novastar
If that were the case, we wouldn't have to worry about children being victimized by child molesters.