This film image released by Fox Searchlight shows Anthony Hopkins as Alfred Hitchcock in 'Hitchcock.' (AP Photo/Fox Searchlight, Suzanne Tenner)

Letter of the Day: Santa Rosa and the mob

Santa Rosa and the mob

EDITOR: Gaye LeBaron's column on the mobster who moved to Santa Rosa ("Long before Bulger, Barboza, there was likeable Vincent Rossi," Sunday) reminded me of the 1943 Alfred Hitchcock movie "Shadow of a Doubt."

Like the real-life gangster Nick DeJohn, the lead character in the film, Charlie Oakley — played by Joseph Cotton — hastily moves to Santa Rosa from the East Coast, obviously running from something. According to LeBaron, DeJohn had to "come west in haste after the gangland killing of his relative . . ." and appeared to be a "family man who liked ice cream and gardening and big cars." In the film, could the affable "Uncle Charlie" — welcomed by his sister and adored by his niece — really be a serial killer known as the "Merry Widow Murderer"?

Better grab that popcorn, pull up a chair and enjoy this classic piece of cinema filmed here in Santa Rosa.

STEVE BAKER

Santa Rosa

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