A Tangled Web

No need to recap the plot, which is pretty spotty anyway.

Robert Redford is a violence prone sneak thief? I had to rub my eyes and check the cast list several times. Okay, it's still early in his spectacular career, but the thuggish role does take some getting used to. Happily, he's at least partially redeemed by true love for sweet French maid Marie (Lampert). If only he could tame his temper and get a real job. Actress Lampert was definitely unique in her movie personalities (check out, Let's Scare Jessica to Death, {1971}). Here I kept shouting for her to leave the wayward David (Redford), but I guess she didn't hear me. Then there's sinister Barry Morse about the time he started hounding poor Richard Kimball in The Fugitive (1963-67). Here he's a scheming seller of stolen goods, also making goo-goo eyes at Marie. So, what's the innocent Marie doing hanging around with these two no-goodniks, anyway.

The cast is the main attraction since the storyline doesn't generate much suspense or mood. There is a patchy plot line, but curiously it's underwritten. Then too, the climax is rather puzzling, at least for me. But I think there's some depth to it if you think about it. I'm just sorry the script didn't sharpen the ironies for us slower folks. Anyway, aside from the cast, it's a pretty tepid entry.

When the story begins, David (Robert Redford) is making out with the family maid, Marie. His mother catches them and fires the maid on the spot. Impulsively, David asks Marie to marry him and the mother tosses them both out of the house. You soon realize why...as David is a sociopath. He is a career criminal (despite having a rich family) and has outbursts of violence. Despite quite a few warning signs, Marie does marry him with the hope of reforming him.

I really could not see the point of this episode. The lady marries a dirtbag and by the end he's still a dirtbag....no twist, no suspense whatsoever. None. It felt nothing like an episode of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" nor "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour". Not engaging and indifferently written.

An early story for James Bridges ( known for the PAPER CHASE), and even earlier tv appearance for young and handsome Robert Redford, though in a non good guy role. In fact, he's one bad apple. The kind Hitch would adore.

Redford plays David, who comes from the wealthy side of the tracks, but goes by his own rules and values destined to get him in deep, including a temper. He has his eyes on French maid Zohra Lampert, and it may be a good choice due to the fact she believes she can change him IF they get married. On the other side, David's stern mother claims he'll get ZIP if he ties the knott -- and that's exactly what he gets.

It all switches to a high stakes jewel robbery in a funeral home of all places. The Hitchcock touch. David is supported by his equally sly friend Karl, played by poker face Barry Morse. A fine role him. Come two little complications; Karl also takes a liking to Marie (Lampert), sparking a little jealousy. The robbery goes from bad to worse, David kills the funeral home caretaker and is arrested for murder. Now what?

More drama in Bridges' script than Hitch macabre, though watching Redford trek through this snowballing nightmare is intriguing. I agree with the last reviewer, Zohra Lampert is excellent, thanks to director Alf Kjellin, a memorable performance, from start to climactic finish, without giving too much away. At the time, she actually had more acting experience than Redford.

See this one for the stars, again leaning more in the direction of 77 SUNSET STRIP, which Hitch was a fan of. Who wasn't? You'll also notice he often borrowed from the 77 SS school of tricky villains. Case in point.

SEASON 1 EPISODE 18 Universal dvd box set. According to Amazon, the sets were remastered in Europe and may not play on American made dvd players. Best to check with the seller. Thanks to METV for showing these oldies.

A very young Robert Redford appears as a loose cannon from a rich family. At first he decides to marry the maid to spite his mother. As time goes by, he seems to always have lots of money. He buys an expensive sports car. He has a friend, played by Barry Morse from "The Fugitive." He is a confederate of Redford's but has designs on the maid. Redford has a brutal temper which ultimately leads him to an arrest for murder. The problem is the writers really didn't know how to finish this in an Hitchcockian way. It fizzles in totally belief straining ending. Still, we can see that the acting chops are here.

It's fun to see Redford before he always had to be the hero but he doesn't bring too much to this performance, nor does Barry Morse--using the same "What planet are you from?" accent he also used in other foreign performances. I usually like Morse but he's kind of boring here. To be more specific Redford is OK here but the whole episode is weak compared to his other Hitchcock Hour episode titled, A Piece of the Action which serves him much better and is just terrific.

Zohra however does a very good french accent and has just the right blend of awkward and pretty for the part. She's good as always and unpredictable in every scene that she's in.

A fair amount happens in this episode but it still feels a little overlong and episodic. There is some obvious stunt-doubling in one fight scene. The best scene is a series of increasingly close close- ups of Morse during one otherwise kind of predictable plot-twist moment.

Yeah good elements here with two mediocre performances from good actors make this slightly below average for show. Hitchcock has a funny wraparound bit tied to the ground like in Gulliver's Travels.