Stranger in Town

Episode aired May 23, 1982
TV-14
26m

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

273

YOUR RATING

Derek Jacobi in Tales of the Unexpected (1979)

Comedy Drama Horror Mystery Thriller

A charming and eccentric stranger arrives in town. But why?A charming and eccentric stranger arrives in town. But why?A charming and eccentric stranger arrives in town. But why?

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

273

YOUR RATING

10User reviews

See production info at IMDbPro

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Wendy Toye, who directed this segment, also directed the 1950s movie version of the same story, The Stranger Left No Card (1952), which won an award at Cannes.

Alternate versions
Some broadcasts omit the final 90 seconds, ending as The Stranger thinks to himself at the train station "Just in time for the 6:20". This totally omits him boarding the train and departing, whilst thinking to himself he has committed the perfect crime and that no-one would ever suspect he was the stranger, whilst a young boy on the newspaper stand seems to have a hint of recognition towards him.

Connections
Remake of The Stranger Left No Card (1952)

This episode is a blatant copy of the far superior "The Stranger Left No Card" (1952) q.v. But since that award winning British short seems to be no longer available I suppose we can't fault the producers of the series 'Tales . .' for enabling its audience to experience this gem of a story of the perfect(?) crime. But once you've seen a classic original nothing comes close and although Derek Jacobi does his best he is woefully let down by a usually reliable Clive Swift in his pre 'Keeping Up Appearances' days who plays the villain more like a friendly old grandfather. And with modern police methods no way would this prank be successful today. Maybe not even then.