Final Arrangements

Final Arrangements is a bland but effective Hitchcock show, featuring excellent performances from its offbeat cast. I especially like John Ford regular O.Z. Whitehead as an undertaker, and Slim Pickens as the owner of a store specializing in exotic masks, weapons and the like.

In the leading role of the put-upon husband of a wife from hell, Martin Balsam is almost too good casting. His performance, good in itself, comes across as a bit too serious for this playfully morbid episode. It's seems merely a matter of just a matter of time it will take him to murder his nagging, hypochondriac of a wife, and by what means.

Those know-it-alls, fans of this series who think they can guess the endings of all the Hitchcock shows may come a cropper big time if they think they have this one all figured out,--and I'll leave it at that.

E. G. Marshall is fed up. He has the most awful wife who has milked a minor accident for years to play at being an invalid. He enlists a funeral parlor to assist him ahead of time. It is obvious he is going to kill his wife...or is it? Well conceived conclusion that caught me unawares.

The story begins with Leonard (Martin Balsam) visiting a mortuary to prepay for a funeral. There, he arranges for a very expensive and wonderful funeral.

When he arrives home, you see that Leonard isn't rich nor does he have an especially nice life. He's married to a bedridden woman who is very demanding and quite the nag. One of the things she nags him about is his job and money....and she insists that he demands a raise. It also turns out while bedridden, she really is choosing this sort of life, as doctors have advised her to get out of bed and exercise...which she refuses to do. You now can see why he's prepared for a funeral!

"Final Arrangements" is about the darkest episode I've seen of this show...and I've seen about 80% of the episodes. It's hard to enjoy it in some ways because it is so dark and sad. But it is well made and earns a 7 for this and Martin Balsam's fine acting.

Hitch was always preoccupied with the average man who had a terrible marriage -- and what to do about it. A fascinating story that could go in so many directions. Robert Arthur wrote this episode, also a writer for Boris Karloff's tv show (THRILLER), so you know it has possibilities.

I agree with the last reviewer, and its a good point to be made. Aside from the unforgettable stories, the series featured some memorable actors, case in point Martin Balsam, who plays Leonard, the very unhappy husband. The twist here is he's saddled with double trouble; not only is his wife a nag, BUT she's also bedridden. Bottom line, he's really, really stuck.

Arthur cleverly added one more drag; Leonard's wife ( played by Vivian Nathan) could be on the road to recovery IF she followed doctors' orders and simply got out of bed. However, why give up a good life of being waited on hand and foot?

Leonard's first move is to visit an undertaker, and as a devout husband would, arranging for an elaborate funeral. That should raise an eyebrow. You probably could guess what happens next, and comparing macabre notes at the end is the fun part. Why Hitch was the master of suspense, because his stories also allowed you to think on the dark side.

Vivian Nathan is perfect for this role, a popular actress for years, usually in dramatic roles. Also look for western sidekick Slim Pickens and Bartlett Robinson playing the doctor. Robinson made a career of playing professionals, and looked the part.

10 Stars. SEASON 6 EPISODE 36 remastered Universal dvd box set. The famous yellow cover box set with Hitch's frown.