Body in the Barn

The great Lillian Gish, one of the legends of the silent screen, was a superlative actress throughout her life. This fantastic episode of ALFRED HITCHCOCK HOUR from 1963 showcases Miss Lillian as good as anything she ever did in the sound film era. Miss Gish stars as a cranky, nosy old gal in ill health who has long feuded with her neighbor and blames her for the death of an elderly man who plummeted off a cliff thanks to a fence the neighbor put up. Lillian's niece Maggie McNamara lives with her in her large farmhouse and Maggie tries to make peace with the neighbors, particularly with the woman's mild mannered hen-pecked husband Peter Lind Hays. Gossip-loving Lil takes in all of Peter's private confidences to Maggie, that his wife once attempted to murder him and he fears she will try again should he ever leave her. And when Peter shows up missing and the days turn into weeks and months and the woman refuses to give any information about his whereabouts, Lillian is convinced after spying on the woman with binoculars that something fishy is going on at her barn.

This fantastic mystery/suspense has echoes of REAR WINDOW - and HUSH HUSH SWEET CHARLOTTE, although the latter film hadn't even been made yet - and Miss Gish is simply superb in this film, cast against type as a not always very likable woman. The whole cast is good but this is Lillian's show. "Body in the Barn" is one of THE ALFRED HITCHOCK HOUR's finest hours.

In spite of what one reviewer states, this is a superb Hitchcock Hour episode. Seeing it reminds me of how poor television writing is today. This is superior story telling with all of the actors giving excellent performances. Patricia Cutts is a stand-out as the domineering wife Samantha but it is Lillian Gish's brilliant performance that is most memorable. This episode is a master class of what great television could be. There isn't an single episode of either Alfred Hitchcock Presents or The Alfred Hitchcock Hour that disappoints me. Yes, some are better than others but all are outstanding compared to any of the scripted junk on tv today.

The narrative's as twisty as a mountain road, nonetheless stick with the hour since the ironies do pile up. It's quite a cast of characters. There's an ice queen neighbor (Cutts), her meek and mild husband (Hayes), an Audrey Hepburn look-alike (McNamara), and above all, a feisty old matriarch (Gish). Hayes thinks mean wife Cutts might kill him. So when he disappears and a decomposed body turns up in their barn, it looks bad for the wife. Meanwhile Gish doesn't trust anybody-- always a wise move in a Hitchcock story.

I can't believe it, but is that really a 70-year old Gish dashing up the road in the opening scene. I think it is. Anyone seeing that energy burst ought to know her character is no one to mess with. And isn't that former RKO leading man Kent Smith as the doctor. Good to see him picking up a payday. Too bad McNamara quit the business after this outing. I guess she had trouble acceding to Hollywood's commercial demands. And on a really somber note, both she and Cutts died by their own hand at age 48. Something like the downside of the celebrity ladder, I guess. On a lighter note, Gish survived to age 99, and after seeing this, I'm not surprised

Anyway, the entry holds interest by not telegraphing where it's going. And unless I missed something, the scales of justice don't exactly balance out at hour's end. So see what you think.

I agree with the last reviewer, there is so much material, this clever story could have been a tv movie. A fascinating whodunit starring legendary Lillian Gish (as Bessie) who suspects something's up with her neighbor. Possibly murder? It may remind you of an Agatha Christie or a Miss Marple mystery; Gish playing a spinster with a very suspicious eye.

She is complimented by the likes of veteran Kent Smith, playing the country doctor. He is best remembered for the noir-ish soap opera NORA PRENTISS for(1947), opposite Ann Sheriden. Gish, of course, had a career that topped most everyone in Hollywood, working for director DW Griffith in the early days of motion pictures as a teenager. One of a handful of actresses from silent films to cross into sound films and then tv, matched by Gloria Swanson. Her beautiful sister Dorothy was also an accomplished actress.

The final screen appearance of Maggie McNamara (who died far too young) and in a very good role as Camilla. Maggie guested in THE CARDINAL for Otto Preminger prior to this part, along with Gish's sister. Based on a story by Margaret Manners, who wrote many mysteries for Hitch.

PS: Listen to the rich violins, the music takes on a real creepy feel. Not to be missed. SEASON 2 EPISODE 32. CBS dvd box set.

First of all, the performance by Lillian Gish is excellent. She made the transition from D. W. Griffith to the modern screen beautifully. As others have said, however, the believability of the plot and the justice system's treatment of people is pretty ridiculous. To make such assumptions about the body in the barn with such flimsy, possibly planted evidence would lead to someone's execution is a monumental stretch. We know how rare executions are. Then off goes that wimpy jerk, returning after his wife has died for his supposed murder, getting sympathy from everyone. And then, how did they prove he was responsible for the old gal's death, also getting him executed? It's all about revenge, of course. An eye for an eye. We are left with the note where someone is in for quite the surprise.