Don't Come Back Alive

An older couple, Frank and Mildred (Sidney Blackmer and Virginia Gregg) are in a financial bind and they've come to realize that they'll have nothing when it comes to retirement. So, they devise a stupid plan...to have Mildred go to another place and assume a new identity. Then, Frank will report her missing and, if all goes well, he can have her declared dead after seven years declare her dead...and collect on her insurance policy. But there's a problem with this...the insurance investigator (Robert Emhardt) is determined to prove that Frank killed his wife!

While this is an interesting episode, the logistics of this plan are pretty crazy. Plus, although the couple is supposed to be poor, they spend to create two households and he periodically flies off to meet her...and that cannot be cheap! Plus, they keep calling each other....and you'd think this would create a phone record trail. So, it's interesting....though not altogether believable. Plus, if the couple love each other as much as they claim, you wonder HOW such a plan could possibly succeed.

Overall, this is just an okay episode. While the ending is enjoyable the entire scheme just seemed crazy and improbable beyond belief. Not terrible but also not all that good either.

Early story for the master of tales, Robert C. Dennis, who would go on to write 30 episodes for Hitch. He later wrote for scores of top Warner Brothers/ABC TV shows, moving on to cop shows in the 70s.

This one has bit of everything, from greed, to dark comedy to murder, just what Hitch ordered.

One of the screen greats, Sidney Blackmer plays Frank, a calculating businessman who strikes up a plan with his wife (Virginia Gregg) to simply "disappear" for about seven years? --so they can collect on a hefty life insurance policy and live happily ever after.

It all sounds far fetched, but when you come down to it, it could be carried out --IF, IF you have the patience --and don't have a steely eyed detective breathing down your neck. Robert Emhardt is super in this role, best in these low key parts and with a smirk. Just love this guy.

I agree with the last reviewer, and never thought about it until now. Frank and his wife are supposed to be a poor couple, yet he sets her up in an apartment to hide out (for years!) and regularly flies to see her during holidays. Where did he get the money?

Poetic license 101, but don't let that detour you.

The real fun (or war of nerves) is between Frank and detective Kettle (Emhardt). Cheers to Sidney Blackmer, who appeared in over 100 classic films, known for playing Teddy Roosevelt. Prior to this episode he guest starred in THE HIGH AND THE MIGHTY.

A gem. No other way to spell it. SEASON 1 EPISODE 4 remastered Universal dvd box set. 2005. 16 hrs total length.

Frank Partridge (Sidney Blackmer) and his wife plot to cheat their life insurance company by having her hide out for seven years and declared legally dead, but an investigator believes Mr. Partridge has murdered her.

If the downfalls of this episode could be summed up briefly, I think they tried to fit too much into 25 minutes. As far-fetched as the plot may be, it would make a decent movie, but you have to develop it a bit more. It is not as simple as just moving away... I suspect unless the wife got a whole new identity, they would be able to find her sooner or later...

But, as far as a short story goes, it is alright. If we suspend our disbelief for a bit, it has a nice arc, and there is always the "comeuppance" that makes this show, "Twilight Zone" or even "Tales From the Crypt" so appealing.

Frank (Sidney Blackmer, "Rosemary's Baby") and Mildred Partridge (Virginia Gregg, "Two on a Guillotine") are a middle-aged couple fretting over serious money issues. Then he comes up with what he thinks is an ideal insurance scam: have her disappear for seven years, after which she can be declared legally dead, while in reality she will just "hide out" all that time.

Frank ends up almost constantly shadowed by a suspicious insurance agent (Robert Emhardt, "3:10 to Yuma"), who comes to believe that Frank actually murdered his wife. But the real kicker is what happens just before those seven years are up.

While the writing is entertaining, I agree with the idea that it could have used some more work and more fleshing out; it might have been better had the series used the hour-long format. The couples' scheme DOES start to fall apart the moment you start thinking about it.

But it's all made fairly worthwhile by three excellent performances. Emhardt, in particular, is perfect as this ultra-annoying thorn in the husbands' side. He's convinced every step of the way that there's been foul play.

All in all, while not a *great* story, per se, it's still a watchable episode, with efficient direction by Robert Stevenson ("Mary Poppins").

Seven out of 10.

Not the best Alfred Hitchcock Presents story but not as bad as number 3.