Synopsis
Includes:
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Crack of Doom (1956)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Wet Saturday (1956)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Mr. Blanchard's Secret (1956)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Rose Garden (1956)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: A Better Bargain (1956)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Jonathan (1956)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Kill With Kindness (1956)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: De Mortuis (1956)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Crackpot (1956)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: John Brown's Body (1956)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Fog Closing In (1956)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: None Are So Blind (1956)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Toby (1956)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Alibi Me (1956)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Conversation Over a Corpse (1956)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Nightmare in 4-D (1957)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The End of Indian Summer (1957)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Night the World Ended (1957)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Hands of Mr. Ottermole (1957)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: A Man Greatly Beloved (1957)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Cream of the Jest (1957)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: I Killed the Count, Part 1 (1957)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: I Killed the Count, Part 2 (1957)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: I Killed the Count, Part 3 (1957)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: One More Mile to Go (1957)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Vicious Circle (1957)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: One for the Road (1957)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Indestructable Mr. Weems (1957)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: A Little Sleep (1957)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Dangerous People (1957)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Martha Mason, Movie Star (1957)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The West Warlock Time Capsule (1957)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Father and Son (1957)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: My Brother Richard (1957)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Manacled (1957)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Bottle of Wine (1957)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Malice Domestic (1957)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Number Twenty-Two (1957)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Three Dreams of Mr. Findlater (1957)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Crack of Doom
"I waited there with a dead head sitting on a dead spine waiting for the crack of doom." This is how young businessman Mason Bridges (Robert Horton) describes his predicament when he is forced to participate in a high-stakes poker game with wealthy client Sam Klinker (Robert Middleton). Though Bridges had intended to play only a few hands, Klinker bullies him into staying in the game, raising the stakes all along the way. Ultimately, the fate of Bridges' business -- and indeed, his future career -- rests in a single poker hand. "Crack of Doom" is based on a story by journalist Don Marquis, best known for his whimsical "Archy and Mehitabel" pieces. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Wet Saturday
Season two of Alfred Hitchcock Presents begins with a droll but sinister little mood piece, directed by Hitchcock himself. Cedric Hardwicke heads the cast as wealthy and powerful Mr. Princey, whose daughter Millicent (Tita Purdom) has just finished murdering her faithless suitor. Determined to protect his daughter and save the family name, Princey decides to frame someone else for the killing. The unlucky patsy is one Captain Smollet (John Williams), to whom Princey extends a "Hobson's Choice": take the rap for the murder or be murdered himself. "Wet Saturday" is based on a short story by John Collier, which had previously been dramatized numerous times on the radio anthology Suspense. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Mr. Blanchard's Secret
Who better to direct an affectionate spoof of Alfred Hitchcock's 1954 suspense classic Rear Window than Hitchcock himself? Babs Fenton (Mary Scott), a housewife with a highly fertile imagination, wonders just what is going on between Mr. and Mrs. Blanchard (Dayton Lummis, Meg Mundy) in the house next door. By and by, Babs becomes convinced that Mr. Blanchard has murdered his wife, and inveigles her own long-suffering husband John (Robert Horton) into playing detective. The clues, motive, and opportunity are all there -- but the outcome isn't quite what Babs had anticipated. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Rose Garden
Publisher Alexander Vinton (John Williams) is curious about a novel that has been submitted to him, in which a woman murders her husband. Somehow, the descriptive passages in the novel suggest that it is not a work of fiction at all, but instead something of a biography. Thus, Vinton pays a visit to the location in which the novel is set -- and has a fateful encounter with the sister (Evelyn Varden) of first-time author Julia Pickering (Patricia Collinge). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: A Better Bargain
Gangster Louis Koster (Robert Middleton) knows that his wife Marian (Kathleen Hughes) is cheating on him, but he doesn't know the name of her lover. In lieu of this information, Koster hires a hit man to bump off Marian. Things get out of hand for the unfortunate Mr. Koster when Marian strikes "a better bargain" with the would-be assassin. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Jonathan
Corey Allen, who'd played James Dean's ill-fated "chickie run" opponent in the 1955 feature Rebel without a Cause (and who later became a prolific TV director), is the guest star in this episode. Allen plays Gil Dalliford, who deeply resents the fact that his widowed father Jonathan (Douglas Kennedy) has married the much-younger Rosina (Georgann Johnson). When Jonathan dies, Gil accuses Rosina of poisoning him. But the guilt lies elsewhere -- not only outwardly, but within the conscience of the actual culprit. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Kill With Kindness
Siblings Fritzhugh and Katherine Oldham (Hume Cronyn, Carmen Mathews) decide to set fire to his house in order to defraud the insurance company. The key to their scheme is convincing the authorities that Fritzhugh has perished in the blaze -- and to do this, the couple chooses an old tramp named Mr. Jorgy (James Gleason). The Oldhams intend to murder Jorgy and leave his body in the charred house, wearing one of Fritzhugh's rings for identification. A foolproof scheme...if only it had worked out the way the Oldhams had planned it. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: De Mortuis
Middle-aged professor Clarence Rankin (Robert Emhardt) is spending his day off filling a hole in his basement with cement. His friends Wally Long (Henry Jones) and Bud Horton (Philip Coolidge) drop by, see the hole, and assume that Clarence has murdered his cheating wife Irene (Cara Williams) and is preparing to bury her body. Out of loyalty, and feeling that Clarence is justified in his actions, Wally and Bud offer to help him cover up his "crime." Thing of it is, Clarence never even suspected that Irene was unfaithful...up until now. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Crackpot
When their car breaks down, honeymooning couple Ray and Meg Loomis (Biff McGuire, Mary Scott) accept the courtesy of a brash middle-aged man named Mr. Moon (Robert Emhardt). Unfortunately, while trying to fix the car, Mr. Moon ruins his new suit -- whereupon he goes berserk, threatening dire consequences to both Ray and Meg. Before long, it is obvious that the Loomises are unable to escape the wrathful Mr. Moon -- but as things turn out, this temperamental gentleman is not the villain of the piece. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: John Brown's Body
Furniture designer John Brown (Russell Collins) is unaware that his wife Vera (Leora Dana) is cheating on him with his business partner Harold Skinner (Hugh Marlowe). Convinced that Brown is no longer capable of handling his business, and hoping to grab a larger piece of the pie himself, Vera and Harold contrive to have John committed to a mental hospital. It doesn't take long for the duplicitous couple to realize that they can't run the business without John -- who by this time has taken quite a liking to his new institutional surroundings! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Fog Closing In
Having had a premonition of disaster, Mary Summers (Phyllis Thaxter) begs her husband Arthur (Paul Langton) not to leave her home alone while he goes out of town on business. But oafish Arthur thinks that Mary is being ridiculous, and refuses her request. Sure enough, the moment Mary is alone, the house is invaded by escaped mental patient Ted Lambert (George Grizzard)...and the surprising results of this plot twist helped earn an Emmy award for the episode's scriptwriter, James Cavanagh. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: None Are So Blind
Like so many other Hitchcock "heroes," Seymour Johnston (Hurd Hatfield) thinks that he has planned the perfect murder. Disguising himself as another person, Seymour kills his wealthy Aunt Muriel (Mildred Dunnock). Certain that the police will blame the "other person" for the crime, Seymour is more than willing to cooperate with their investigation -- but alas, he makes the proverbial "one fatal slip." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Toby
The title character in this grim charade is a sickly little baby, whom middle-aged Edwina Freed (Jessica Tandy) insists is her nephew. Edwina's childhood sweetheart Albert Birch (Robert H. Harris) wants to marry Edwina, but first he must agree never to come in contact with Toby -- nor is he permitted to even see the child. Only when a couple of nice men show up to cart Edwina off to the Happy Home does Albert learn the whole truth about Toby. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Alibi Me
Gangsters Georgie (Lee Philips) and Lucky (Chick Changler) despise one another, and it is this fact that keeps them both alive. Georgie knows that he would be blamed if Lucky was ever bumped off, and vice versa. Unfortunately, Georgie loses his head and kills Lucky, forcing him to blackmail his landlady (Argentina Brunetti) into providing him with an airtight alibi. What Georgie hadn't counted on was Lucky's uncanny ability to get even...from beyond the grave. Alan Reed, best known as the voice of Fred Flintstone, appears as Uncle Leo. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Conversation Over a Corpse
The reclusive Enright sisters, Cissie (Dorothy Stickney) and Joanna (Carmen Mathews), are no fans of Mr. Brenner (Ray Collins), the real estate developer who has made a down payment on their house. Inviting Mr. Brenner to tea, the sisters poison the man, then discuss various methods of finishing him off and disposing of the body. This gives Brenner enough time to revive himself, thereby setting the stage for the episode's unsettling denouement. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Nightmare in 4-D
Much to the dismay of his wife Norma (Virginia Gregg), middle-aged Harry Parker (Henry Jones) is quite smitten by his new neighbor across the hall, sexy actress Lainie Elliott (Barbara Baxley). Thus it is that, when Lainie comes to Harry's door in a panic, he offers to help her in any way he can. It seems that someone fired a shot through Lainie's window, instantly killing her husband -- and rather than be blamed for the murder, Lainie begs Harry to help her dispose of the body. The viewer might conclude that Harry is being set up for a fall by Lainie...but the viewer would be only half right. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The End of Indian Summer
After her first two husbands die under mysterious circumstances, Mrs. Marguerite Gillespie (Gladys Cooper) prepares to marry for a third time. Suspecting that Mrs. Gillespie has knocked off her previous spouses for their insurance money, detective Joe Rogers (Steve Forrest) inaugurates an undercover investigation. Despite all the evidence, Joe ultimately cannot bring himself to believe that Mrs. Gillespie is a murderer -- but, of course, this is Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and there has to be a murderer somewhere. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Night the World Ended
Halloran (Harold Stone), an obnoxious newspaper reporter known for his elaborate practical jokes, chooses an old barfly named Johnny (Russell Collins) as his next victim. To this end, Halloran prints up a dummy newspaper bearing the headline "World to End Tonight at 11:45 p.m." Thoroughly convinced of his imminent doom, the pathetic Johnny decides to spend his last moments fulfilling several long-suppressed desires -- with disastrous and ultimately fatal consequences. One of the street urchins appearing in the climactic department-store sequence is a young Harry Shearer. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Hands of Mr. Ottermole
A strangler is plaguing fog-bound London, and each time the culprit strikes, two men are the first to arrive at the murder scene. One of them is Ottermole (Theodore Bikel), the police sergeant investigating the murders; the other is an obnoxious newspaper reporter (Charles Davis). Trouble is, the reporter always manages to beat the detective to the crime scene -- a fact that will result in tragedy for at least one of the two protagonists. Generally regarded as one of the best mystery stories ever written, Charles Davis' The Hands of Mr. Ottermole had previously been dramatized on both the radio and TV versions of Suspense. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: A Man Greatly Beloved
This surprisingly warm-and-fuzzy episode is narrated by child actress Evelyn Rudie, here cast as minister's daughter Hildegarde Fell. Against the wishes of her father (Hugh Marlowe), Hildegarde insists upon trying to make friends with crabby old John Anderson (Cedric Hardwicke), an elderly recluse whom everyone in town assumes to be a former judge, famous for his harsh and merciless sentences. Only after Anderson's death does the wide-eyed Hildegarde reveal the unvarnished truth about the "greatly beloved" man. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Cream of the Jest
Elderly actor Charles Gresham (Claude Rains) spends more of his time in barrooms than backstage, but he is always on the lookout for the role that will make him a star. He finally gets that opportunity by blackmailing producer Wayne Campbell (James Gregory) into casting him as the lead in Campbell's new play. Ironically, Gresham has been cast as a blackmailer -- and he intends to give the performance of his life for the entertainment of a potential backer named Nick Roper (Paul Picerni). Without giving away the ending, it can be noted that the operative word in the previous sentence is "life." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: I Killed the Count, Part 1
Previously filmed as a theatrical feature in 1939, Alec Coppel's semi-serious mystery play I Killed the Count was adapted 17 years later as Alfred Hitchcock Presents' only three-part episode. In part one, London police inspector Davidson (John Williams) hopes to find out who killed the much-hated Count Martoni (John Hoyt). There seems to be no shortage of suspects, and when one of them steps forward to confess to the murder, Davidson is certain that the case is closed...but it isn't, not by a long shot. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: I Killed the Count, Part 2
Previously filmed as a theatrical feature in 1939, Alec Coppel's semi-serious mystery play I Killed the Count was adapted 17 years later as Alfred Hitchcock Presents' only three-part episode. In part two, Inspector Davidson (John Williams) has his hands full trying to determine who murdered the much-hated Count Martoni. No sooner has one suspect confessed to the crime than another suspect comes forward with another confession! Making matters worse for Davidson, there is not enough evidence to convict either one of the confessors. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: I Killed the Count, Part 3
Previously filmed as a theatrical feature in 1939, Alec Coppel's semi-serious mystery play I Killed the Count was adapted 17 years later as Alfred Hitchcock Presents' only three-part episode. In part three, Inspector Davidson (John Williams) is no closer to solving the murder of Count Martoni than he was in parts one and two -- especially since no fewer than three people have come forward, confessing to the crime. Finally, Davidson is able to separate wheat from chaff and determine who is truly guilty...but he may be forced to free the miscreant on a legal technicality. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: One More Mile to Go
One of the best of the Alfred Hitchcock Presents half-hours personally directed by Hitchcock himself, "One More Mile to Go" opens with a bitter argument between Sam Jacoby (David Wayne) and his wife Martha (Louise Larabee). Although the viewer is witnessing the quarrel from behind a window and thus can't hear the particulars, the results are all too visible -- impulsively grabbing a fireplace poker, Sam bludgeons his wife to death. A few moments later, the anguished accidental murderer has stuffed his wife's body in the trunk of his car, and has driven off to dispose of the body. Unfortunately, Sam's progress is repeatedly interrupted by a friendly but diligent motorcycle cop (Steve Brodie), who warns Sam to fix his faulty tail-light. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Vicious Circle
Professional hit man Manny Coe (Dick York) is kept on retainer by crime boss Mr. Williams (George Macready) to eliminate those crooks who have outlasted their usefulness to Williams' operation. When Manny bumps off an inept jewel thief, his girlfriend Betty (Kathleen Maguire) threatens to call the cops. Without batting an eyelash, Williams orders Manny to eliminate Betty. This ultimately proves to be unnecessary, but Williams is notoriously intolerant of those who do not carry out his instructions to the letter. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: One for the Road
Traveling salesman Charles Hendricks (John Baragrey) has a wife named Marcia (Louise Platt) and a mistress named Beryl (Georgann Johnson). When Marcia finds out about Beryl, she tries to kill her rival by using poisoned sugar. But when it appears as though Charles has ingested the sugar himself, a desperate Marcia decides to tell Beryl everything -- little realizing that someone else is listening in on her conversation (or, at least, part of her conversation). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Indestructable Mr. Weems
Terminally ill Clarence Weems (Russell Collins) is offered 50 dollars per week for the rest of his life if he will invest in a cemetery plot purchased by his lodge brothers. Unfortunately for the other investors, it soon becomes apparent that Clarence is not about to cash in his chips in the near future. Out of desperation, his "brothers" give serious thought to hastening Clarence's demise before his 50-per-week stipend bankrupts them all. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: A Little Sleep
Broadway musical star and celebrated concert singer Barbara Cook makes a rare TV appearance in this chilling episode. Bored with her boyfriend, party girl Barbie Hallem (Cook) decides to escape to her uncle's cabin in the woods. En route, Barbie is warned by café owner Ed Mungo (Robert Karnes) that Ed's brother Bennie (Vic Morrow), suspected of murdering his sweetheart, is still at large. Once at the cabin, Barbie is confronted by Bennie -- who tells her an entirely different story. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Dangerous People
While waiting at a train station, Mr. Jones (Albert Salmi) becomes convinced that another traveler, Mr. Bellfontaine (Robert H. Harris), is an escaped psycho killer -- and Bellfontaine arrives at the same conclusion about Jones. Their paranoia is fed by a policeman (Ken Clarke), who evidently thinks that either one of the men could be the killer. Sure enough, there's a criminal at large at the train station -- but his identity comes as quite a surprise. This was the final episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents' second season. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Martha Mason, Movie Star
Housewife Mabel McKay (Judith Evelyn) obsesses over her favorite movie star Marsha Mason, even insisting that she and Marsha look exactly alike. Fed up with her delusional behavior, Mabel's husband Henry (Robert Emhardt) tells her that she's crazy. The outraged Mabel kills Henry and tries to cover up the crime -- until she arrives at the conclusion that the best way to "become" Marsha Mason is to act upon the principle that any publicity is good publicity. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The West Warlock Time Capsule
Taxidermist George Tiffany (Henry Jones) is commissioned to stuff a horse named Napoleon, whose body will then be included in a time capsule being prepared by the town of West Warlock. While trying to complete his job, George suffers the constant annoyance of his boorish brother-in-law Wadron (Sam Buffington). Finally, George can stand no more -- at which point he takes advantage of the fact that the time capsule will not be opened for another 100 years. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Father and Son
London, 1912: Sam Saunders (Charles Davis), wastrel son of kindly pawnbroker Joe Saunders (Edmund Gwenn), thinks nothing of taking advantage of his father's generosity. After nearly exhausting the senior Saunders' bank account, the shameless Sam schemes to increase his wealth by turning Joe in to the police for aiding and abetting a fugitive named Gus (Frederick Worlock). Will Joe finally give his son his comeuppance, or will Sam collect the reward money on his dad and live happily ever after? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: My Brother Richard
District attorney Martin Ross (Royal Dano) is running for governor. To help Martin's chances, his mentally disturbed brother Richard (Harry Townes) murders Martin's opponent. As tough as it is for Martin to cover up Richard's "indiscretion," it gets even tougher when another man (Robert Ellis) is arrested for the crime -- and Martin is obliged to force a confession from him! A young Inger Stevens figures into the proceedings as Martin's anguished wife Laura. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Manacled
En route to prison by train, convicted robber Steve Fontaine (William Redfield) is manacled to his captor, Sgt. Rockwell (Gary Merrill). Hoping to escape his fate, the fast-talking Fontaine attempts to bribe the stalwart Rockwell -- and when this fails, more drastic measures are required. The key to the outcome of the story is literally a key, the one which opens the complicated "Oregon Boot" which holds Fontaine prisoner. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Bottle of Wine
Herbert Marshall, who'd previously starred in Alfred Hitchcock's theatrical features Murder and Foreign Correspondent, is here cast as Harley Condon, an esteemed judge who is saddled with a faithless wife named Gracie (Jarma Lewis). To prove to Gracie that her current lover Wallace Donaldson (Robert Horton) is unworthy of her, Judge Condon concocts a little scheme, involving a supposedly poisoned bottle of wine. Needless to say, the scheme backfires -- on both husband and lover. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Malice Domestic
Showing up at his doctor's office complaining of stomach troubles, Carl Borden (Ralph Meeker) is informed that there are traces of arsenic in his system. Under normal circumstances, only one conclusion could be arrived at -- Carl's wife Annette (Phyllis Thaxter) is trying to poison him. But these aren't normal circumstances, as we find out in the wryly cynical conclusion of the episode. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Number Twenty-Two
Petty thief Steve Morgan (Rip Torn) uses a toy gun to hold up a candy store. Later on, the cops make the necessary connections and Steve is arrested. At first, he is thrilled and delighted that so many people are making so much of a fuss over so minor a crime. But Steve is in for quite a shock when he learns exactly why the police, and the public, are so interested in his criminal career. "Number Twenty-Two" is based on a story by Evan Hunter, who later worked on the screenplay for Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Three Dreams of Mr. Findlater
This episode is, amazingly enough, based on a story by A.A. Milne, creator of Winnie the Pooh. Henpecked husband Ernest Findlater (John Williams) dreams of escaping his dreary existence and heading off to the South Seas. During one such dream, a beautiful native girl named Lalage (Barbara Baxley) provides Mr. Findlater with a foolproof plan to eliminate the contentious Mrs. Findlater (Isobel Elsom). Watch for an uncredited Raymond Bailey (aka Mr. Drysdale on The Beverly Hillbillies) as Alfred Hitchcock's psychiatrist in the episode's prologue. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
