i like this film . it have get a bad reputation due to hitchcock dare to break another film convention about the truth of a flashback . hitchcock have already break other convention over the year and some be of a technical variety ( the nine minute uncut take on rope for instance ) . here the film begin with richard todd describe what he claim happen to the murder man to ex girl friend jane wyman . subsequently we learn that the explanation be not totally true . what i find interest about this particular issue be that the same people who denounce hitchcock for cheat on this probably have find other film acceptable despite similar cheating . take billy wild witness for the prosecution . we hear tyrone power give leonard vole version of what happen to the rich elderly woman ( norma varden ) and about how they meet and about what he be do on the night she be murder . we do not see the actual view of his activity for the night of the murder and but we accept his comment until the end of the film show what happen . also check out kurasawa film classic rashomon and where we see flashback of five people who show what happen and at the conclusion we really do not know if we hear the truth or if everyone have lie . the same can be say of the american remake of rashomon and the outrage . even a musical comedy and le girl and leave u all guess at the end . yet hitchcock be condemn for his cheating . i think he should be praise for his daring and for this film ( of all hitchcock movie ) develop in a unique way . wyman be determine to prove the truth of richard todd story and and keep meeting criticism and common sense from her father and alistair sim and and from the police lead by michael wilding and who do not believe him . and a a matter of fact and at the conclusion and it turn out that some and if not all of todd flashback have element of truth in it . hitchcock tell francois truffaud that he saw stage fright a an opportunity to work with some great british character actor ( sim and joyce grenville and sybil thorndyke and kay walsh ) . the film be definitely low budget than other film ( spellbound and even the paradine case ) that he have recently make . the most expensive aspect be work with dietrich which be costly for her salary and her designer clothing . but hitchcock want a chance to work with dietrich here ( just like he have make mr. and mrs. smith to work with carole lombard in 1939 ) . the result be quite good . the british character actor do the most with their part ( include todd and who show a nervousness and uncertainty in most of the film that be suggestive of possible insanity at the end ) . dietrich also and in her closing moment on the screen and show a bitterness and hatred that i do not think she ever show in any other film role . jane wyman be criticize by hitchcock for insist on dress up a the film progress . however she do show a resourcefulness and pluck not usually see in most of her movie . on the whole the film work pretty well to me .