Don't Interrupt

This episode was a different angle for the series and addressed the effects of Reward Based Parenting, a lack of respect for a child and the lack of enthusiasm to parent, on a young boy. It addresses the importance of structuring a child's morality code as well as addressing how necessary it is for parents to understand children and their "phases". And overall explains how "it takes a village to raise a child", while presenting all the characters as different features of adults raised in different ways. It utilizes money to explain how a value code is formed in the individual, and ultimately by different people collectively. It is an important message for all generations and socioeconomic statuses.

This story over the years has fascinated as many viewers as it has annoyed them. Lay most of the blame on young Johnny Templeton (Peter Lazer), a kid travelling with his parents (Biff McGuire and Cloris Leachman) on a train trip in the southwest and never giving up. He makes lots of noise, getting on everyone's nerves.

There's also a blizzard going on as the train passes through New Mexico and the news bulletin of an escaped mental patient? Enter Chill Wills (the star here) playing Mr. Kilmer who has lead an adventurous life, obviously attracting Johnny. Both characters love to talk the talk, however Johnny is told by mom and dad to pipe down, and there's a handsome sillver dollar in it for him if he keeps quiet... OK?

The turning point is seeing a man clawing at the window, helpless in the snowstorm, about to die -- and Johnny NOT saying a word.

Two observations; We never get to know who the man was. Could he have been the patient? Or Kilmer's victim? A valid point. One thing is the money meant more to Johnny than life itself, and having much in common (psychologically) with Kilmer if he was the killer.

Lots of take-aways here, though I give it 8 Stars for the Stars. An early and very good role for Cloris Leachman (who passed in 2021) and western side-kick Chill Wills, who at the time was the famous voice of Francis, the Talking Mule, forerunner of MISTER ED. Child actor Peter Lazer did a second episode for Hitch, turning up in many tv dramas.

Look for Jack Mulhall as the conductor, a star in silent films, and comedian, singer and musican Scatman (Benjamin) Crothers, in an early role.

FYI; In a few years author Sidney Carroll would write THE HUSTLER for Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason.

SEASON 4 EPISODE 2 remastered dvd box set. All seven seasons are now on dvd in a single box set. Released 2022. The perfect gift for Hitch buffs.

"Don't Interrupt" did actually sound quite intriguing. Robert Stevens did do some very good and more episodes for 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents', there were disappointments such as "Toby", "Shopping for Death" and particularly "The Hidden Thing" as far as previous episodes. But they were far outweighed by excellence such as "Our Cook's a Treasure", "One for the Road", "The Glass Eye", "Heart of Gold" and "The Motive". Have also loved Cloris Leachman since her magnificent performance in 'The Last Picture Show'.

Unfortunately "Don't Interrupt" was a big disappointment in nearly every area. Very sad to see Season 4 go so quickly from one of its best episodes (and one of my favourite 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episodes) "Poison" to a very strong contender for its worst in "Don't Interrupt". It is Stevens' worst along with "The Hidden Thing" (not entirely sure which is worse of the two), the worst 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episode since "Sylvia" and one of my least favourite outings of the entire series.

There are a few good things. Leachman does valiant work in her role and does perform with the right amount of intensity. Hitchcock's bookending is typically droll and where the episode is easily at its most interesting.

It looks quite nice and moody in the photography and the theme music is classic.

However, so many things are poorly done. The pacing is very dull with no tautness at all, which made the episode feel very dragged out and flimsy. The very thin story badly suffers from a complete lack of suspense or any kind of atmosphere and even more so from next to nothing not making sense. The ending leaves more perplexed questions than answers, with a very anti-climactic feel too.

Stevens' heart to me was clearly not in it, even "The Hidden Thing" didn't have direction this leaden and going through the motions-like. The production values are on the whole cheap, while the rest of the cast overact to overwrought melodrama level. "Don't Interrupt's" very close second biggest failure, first being everything in the story, is the excessive unlikeability of all the very one dimensional characters that are absolutely impossible to root for. A big problem for a story where one is clearly supposed to. The boy agreed is especially true to this, truly irritating.

Overall, very weak. 3/10.

I came here hoping to find some sort of explanation for this story line. I can't imagine what Hitchcock was thinking. Nothing makes sense.

Horrible episode with no sense of suspense. The whole premise is disjointed. He must've been busy with his movies that week and threw this debacle together in about 10 minutes. He is so much better than that. I'm surprise he or the network let that air.