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Alfred Hitchcock Presents
S3.E39
All episodesAll
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Little White Frock

  • Episode aired Jun 29, 1958
  • TV-14
  • 30m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
671
YOUR RATING
Tom Helmore and Bartlett Robinson in Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955)
CrimeDramaMysteryThriller

An elderly actor hosts a dinner that evolves into something unexpected.An elderly actor hosts a dinner that evolves into something unexpected.An elderly actor hosts a dinner that evolves into something unexpected.

  • Director
    • Herschel Daugherty
  • Writers
    • Stirling Silliphant
    • Stacy Aumonier
  • Stars
    • Alfred Hitchcock
    • Herbert Marshall
    • Julie Adams
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.6/10
    671
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Herschel Daugherty
    • Writers
      • Stirling Silliphant
      • Stacy Aumonier
    • Stars
      • Alfred Hitchcock
      • Herbert Marshall
      • Julie Adams
    • 10User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos14

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    Top cast12

    Edit
    Alfred Hitchcock
    Alfred Hitchcock
    • Self - Host…
    Herbert Marshall
    Herbert Marshall
    • Colin Bragner
    Julie Adams
    Julie Adams
    • Carol Longsworth
    Tom Helmore
    Tom Helmore
    • Adam Longsworth
    Jacqueline Mayo
    Jacqueline Mayo
    • Lila Gordon
    Roy Dean
    • Terry O'Bain
    Bartlett Robinson
    Bartlett Robinson
    • Mr. Robinson
    Edwin Jerome
    • Mr. Andrus
    Otto Waldis
    Otto Waldis
    • Mr. Koslow
    Kitty Kelly
    Kitty Kelly
    • Marie
    Joseph Hamilton
    Joseph Hamilton
    • Bill
    • (as Joe Hamilton)
    Olan Soule
    Olan Soule
    • Stagehand
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Herschel Daugherty
    • Writers
      • Stirling Silliphant
      • Stacy Aumonier
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews10

    7.6671
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    Featured reviews

    10tcchelsey

    A DINNER SHOW?

    Herbert Marshall (who appeared for Hitch in FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT) plays himself here, a retiring actor, the difference is his stage career could use a boost.

    The storyline, written by Stirling Silliphant, may remind you of material Claude Rains also did for Hitch, the downtrodden, poor old gent who could use a break. You have to love Marshall's name, Colin Bragner(?), a fading star, and one who could really get into his role -- without giving too much away. With no job prospects, Colin takes a chance and invites young and upcoming producer Tom Helmore and his wife Julie Adams to his home to have a nice, friendly get-together... and whatever comes next. In short, Marshall delivers a memorable performance.

    Bartlett Robinson, usually at home playing stuffed shirts, plays Mr. Robinson, in a role obviously written for him, also veteran actress Kitty Kelly (as Marie), who appeared in scores of movies.

    Excellent three character study, again showing the wide range of material Stirling Silliphant could write, soon to create NAKED CITY and ROUTE 66. He had the coolest name in tv at the time.

    FYI; Tom Helmore appeared in VERTIGO for Hitch.

    SEASON 3 EPISODE 39 remastered CBS dvd box set. 16 hrs running time. All seven seasons are now on dvd in a single box set. Released 2022.
    9jacquelinelinard389

    An Actor's Life

    Pleasure to watch this episode with the excellent and accomplished actor Herbert Marshall. I was mesmerised by the story told by him but then I could listen to his voice ad infinium. Indeed the quality of his voice is referred to by the sparkling Julie Adams.

    I was also genuinely caught out by the twist usually I see them coming or it's easy to guess.

    Well acted, interesting, emotionally moving, uplifting and relevant today.
    9Hitchcoc

    One of My Favorites

    Personally, I believe the art of storytelling is one of the great arts. In this episode two things are at issue, age and talent. Even in the 1950's age discrimination had reared its ugly head. Not much has changed. Here an old actor with great credentials attempts to re-enter the acting fray, but has no means to do it because of hot shot directors and agents who wear their prejudice on their sleeves. The tale of the sad little girl in the frock tears at our hearts. This is a tale of loss and betrayal and the destruction of a man. But, it's also a tale grabbed onto by the master and presented so beautifully. Things haven't changed much in sixty years. Perhaps this episode could teach us something.
    10TheLittleSongbird

    Haunting

    Season 3 was a season that started off absolutely wonderfully and it started off a lot more settled and more consistent than the previous two seasons. It was also another solid enough season, there were disappointments sure which was true of all 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' seasons. Such as "Silent Witness", "Dip in the Pool", "The Percentage" and especially "Sylvia". But also some absolute gems, like "The Glass Eye", "Reward to Finder", "The Right Kind of House" and particularly "Lamb to the Slaughter".

    "Little White Frock" is a wonderful last episode to Season 3 and one of the season's best. Most of Herschel Daugherty's episodes were solid and more, and "Little White Frock" is one of the best of them and his best since "The Creeper" and perhaps surpassed only by that. It is a very different episode in that it is not about a crime strictly speaking and is more a character study with the themes of loss and betrayal, which is all done brilliantly in an episode that haunts the mind and tugs at the heart.

    Playing a huge part in "Little White Frock's" success is the very powerful performance of Herbert Marshall, one that really hits skin deep emotionally and is really one of those performance of a lifetime performances. One of the best leading performances of the season along with Barbara Bel Geddes in "Lamb to the Slaughter". Tom Helmore and Julie Adams are also splendid and the dynamic between the three throughout is dynamite.

    Furthermore, the episode is well made visually, especially the photography which has a lot of style and atmosphere. Simple but not simplistic. The main theme in the music, "Funeral March for a Marionette" has never been utilised better in film or television, is still haunting and has always fitted perfectly with the tone of the series. The script is incredibly thought provoking and not too rambling or wordy (despite there being a lot of talk, appropriate considering the story being told) or soapy, with some typically ironic bookending from Hitchcock.

    The storytelling is pretty much spot on too, didn't mind at all that it was not the suspenseful or macabre kind and was more reflective, more personal and more emotional. The story that is told really tugged at my heart strings and is poignantly melancholic without wallowing in sentiment, rounded off beautifully by a very unexpected and clever ending.

    Concluding, absolutely wonderful end to a solid enough season and a season high point. 10/10.
    searchanddestroy-1

    The dinner

    Well, I am not that convinced by this story, intelligent tale, but it could have been far better, even for such a short period of running time. Much talk, not suspense and a twist ending to fill the policy line of the series. Flawless cast, no problem, flawless acting, but I was a bit bored by this slow burning script. The atmosphere could be compared to a Warner Bros movie, starring Bette Davis.

    Related interests

    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway in Chinatown (1974)
    Mystery
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      One of the few episodes of the show without any criminal elements in it.
    • Quotes

      [introduction - Hitchcock, wearing a hay and mustache, is putting things in a box]

      Alfred Hitchcock: Good evening. I was just putting weights in this box of trash so it will sink quickly. I'm about to throw it into the river. Perhaps I should explain why I'm here. Mr. Hitchcock is indisposed this evening. As a matter of fact, we can't find him anywhere. I'm quite worried. I wouldn't want anything to happen to him. You see, I'm his brother and sole heir. Of course, we mustn't let brother Alfred's absence interfere with the evening's entertainment. I'm sure he would want it that way.

      [Hitchcock's "brother" takes papers out of his coat pocket]

      Alfred Hitchcock: I have his notes. The second item on the agenda is a drama entitled "Little White Frock". As for the first item, he says...

      [reads note]

      Alfred Hitchcock: I know my brother thinks I'm rather dull and somewhat of a prude, but this language is much too frank for television. I don't know about you, but I'm very curious about anything that would provoke such language. Er, shall we have a go at it?

    • Soundtracks
      Funeral March of a Marionette
      Written by Charles Gounod

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 29, 1958 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Republic Studios - 4024 Radford Avenue, North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Shamley Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 30m
    • Color
      • Black and White
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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