The Tender Poisoner

An executive (Howard Duff) plans to end an associate's (Dan Dailey) love affair and save the man's career and marriage. How kind of Howard Duff to do this!! Well not really kind cause he wants Dailey's bit on the side on his side, if you know what I mean. Dailey, meanwhile, tries to poison his wife, then accidentally poison the dog, then tries to poison wife and then races back to stop her ... you could get the idea, the plot is quite intricate, keeping one watching. The finale is quite good. Most of the characters aren't exactly lovable characters, especially Howard Duff, but they're well-presented.

Peter Harding (Howard Duff) is Barney's best friend and the show begins with Barney telling Peter he's going to leave his wife for another woman. Peter's reaction is very unusual. While on the surface he seemed unfazed, he concocts a plan to help patch up Barney's marriage and get the girlfriend out of the way. No, he did NOT plan on killing the girlfriend but on taking her for himself. But the plan has a few snags. It turns out Barney's wife ALSO is tired of this marriage and she, too, has a boyfriend on the side...so Peter has to put a stop to this. As for what OTHER snag...well, you'll have to see the show to see what happens to Peter's plan.

This is a pretty good episode of the show and I liked the twist. It just goes to show you that the old expression 'no good deed goes unpunished' can indeed be true. The acting is good and script very good.

This episode is more late 1940's film noir vs series television. Brilliantly pieced together. Norman Lloyd directs. Dan Dailey gives a stellar performance.

This strange story will remind you a bit of PEYTON PLACE, only more diabolical, and that's what Hitch was looking for.

The cast shines, everyone doing their best to put one over on the next guy. Howard Duff plays Peter, a gentleman of honorable qualities? -- who attempts to save his good friend's (Dan Dailey) faltering marriage and put an end to his affair. Quite a guy.

Now for the Hitch switch; Peter wants Dailey's secret love (played by Bettye Ackerman) all to himself.

Keep an eye on Jan Sterling, playing Beatrice, Dailey's wife -- who is ALSO having a fling on the side with handsome Philip Terry. What do ya think about that?

Guaranteed to keep you entertained if not in suspense -- did we mention poison? Stay tuned. You have to admit, interesting to see song and dance man Dan Dailey in this type of role. Both he and Jan Sterling were Oscar nominees in their careers.

Hitch had one of the best writers put this together, Lukas Heller, behind two Bette Davis films, WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE and HUSH, HUSH SWEET CHARLOTTE.

A gem, especially for how it all ends. Do not go anywhere.

SEASON 1 EPISODE 14. According to Amazon, some of the dvd box sets (Region 2) were produced in Europe and may not play on American made dvd players. Best to check with the seller. Thanks to METV for running all the episodes.

Lackluster middle-aged businessman Barney, played by lackluster middle-aged actor Dan Daily, is tired of his oppressive wife, played by Jan Sterling, and has attracted an unlikely, pretty new girlfriend whom he insists on introducing to his best friend Peter, a handsome womanizer played by Howard Duff. Craving the prize for himself, Peter doesn't waste a beat moving in, manipulating and backstabbing his old friend in order to gain the girl. Meanwhile, Barney's wife is having an affair of her own with someone else, and everyone is pretty unlikable in his or her way. When the family dog of 15 years suddenly drops dead, nobody seems particularly upset. A tender poisoning, indeed. For no explicit reason it seems that Barney has decided to commit some of the titular poisonings, but in a clumsy and obvious way. Fortunately, his wife has gastro-intestinal problems and takes two heaping tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda every night, making things easy for any would-be poisoner. Lots of powders are spooned into lots of drinking glasses during this episode, and the surprise ending doesn't really make sense, even though you can see it coming.