All Episodes

January 9, 2024 65 mins

What happens when a young woman begins to suspect her sophisticated Uncle Charlie– who happens to be staying in her family’s home for a visit– is the notorious “Merry Widow” killer? That’s the question addressed by Hitchcock’s 1943 classic “Shadow of a Doubt.”

The thriller is reportedly Hitchcock’s favorite movie, one that features Teresa Wright as the strong, plucky heroine, and Joseph Cotten in the role of the charming, sociopathic villain.

Tragically, however, the serial killer upon whom this movie is loosely based was even darker and his crimes more horrific than the one Hitchcock brought to life. 

In this episode we delve into the true crime behind “Shadow of a Doubt,” the murderous spree of Earle Leonard Nelson– aka “The Gorilla Man” and “The Dark Strangler”-- who has been described as one of the most prolific and feared serial killers of the early 20th century.  

 

*Please note that this episode may not be suitable for all audiences. Listener discretion is advised. 

MID-ROLL AD: Support Scandal Water by visiting www.BuyMeaCoffee.com/ScandalWaterPod #hitchcock #alfredhitchcock #cinema #film #edit #movies #AlfredHitchcockfilms #MasterofSuspense #Rope #ShadowofaDoubt #TeresaWright #JosephCotten #UncleCharlie #MerryWidowKiller #TheDarkStrangler #EarleLeonardNelson #TheGorillaMan #serialkiller #TuesdayTea #ScandalWaterPodcast #TrueCrimeBehindHitchcocksFamousFilms

Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Crime Junkie

Crime Junkie

Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

24/7 News: The Latest

24/7 News: The Latest

The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.

Stuff You Should Know

Stuff You Should Know

If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.