MovieChat Forums > Shadow of a Doubt (1943) Discussion > 'When you whisper, anyone could hear you...

'When you whisper, anyone could hear you a block away.'


Can someone explain the meaning of this quotation? Emma says it to Ann while preparing for dinner. I know it's not meant to have much bearing on the story, but there just doesn't seem to be any reasoning behind it, especially since Ann whispers at a relatively faint volume.

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I remember reading that whispering is noiser than quiet talking. It's to do with the types of sound vibrations a whisper produces. I think it's a nod to that and also to Ann's character as quite an open person who speaks her mind without thought.

I'm a fountain of blood
In the shape of a girl

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I took it as one of two things.
1) A joke considering how Emma is rather loud (shouting into the phone, etc.) so when Ann is trying to be quiet, it's humorous how Emma implies how loud her daughter is.

2) If someone whispers, more people would be curious and it would be like gossip.

I'm not sure about either of my theories, though.

"Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart."

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The only part of the movie that got on my nerves was when they were all talking over each other when the mother came home and right before she got on the phone with the telegraph office.

And, if they had a phone, why was Charles sending a telegram in the first place, why didn't he just call them?

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