Martha Mason, Movie Star

I love the opening. The 1950s space race era pop culture depiction of space travel always had a special place in my heart.

Henry was the stereotypical 1950s husband just short of being a wife beater. He said he doesn't approve of divorce and his wife most obey. This 1950s view on marriage definitely made the episode a interesting time piece. I don't see how the reviewers see henry as sympathetic. But the wife being so full of herself was hilarious. Her fake letter almost made me laugh out loud. Overall It was still pretty decent despite how dated it was compared to other timeless episodes. The twist ending was definitely a well set up and wrapped everything up nicely.

Pity poor husband Henry. He's middle-age, over-weight, and not very attractive, but what did he do to deserve wife Mabel. She's so deluded about her plain, average looks, she thinks she resembles movie glamour girl Martha Mason. And when not in one of her dramatic poses or fishing for compliments, she treats poor Henry with arrogant disdain even though he works hard at his office job. No wonder he looks forward every week to Wednesday night at his lodge meetings or to his afternoons gardening in the flower bed. Together, they're really just an average middle-age couple if only she would give up her extravagant illusion.

In my book, it's a really delicious twist ending, fully deserving of the Hitchcock brand name. Also, the episode provides the great Robert Emhardt one of his few sympathetic roles showing the considerable range of his talent-- no wonder he was a Hitchcock favorite. Judith Evelyn also excels as the vain, silly wife, all meaningful pauses and dramatic poses. I wouldn't be surprised writer Mason based her on a real life character who sat through too many Joan Crawford matinées. Anyway, I didn't see that ending coming and I bet others won't either. It's really a fitting lesson in manic self-absorption.

I won't spoil the ending, other than to say that until I got there I was pretty tired of this episode. Hitchcock's portrayal of shrew-like women is pretty consistent and this is no exception. History has shown us that he was a bit of a misogynist, especially in his movies (Marnie, The Birds, etc.). The long suffering husband has been portrayed ad- infinitum. As I've tried to catch up on these episodes, I've run across so many abused men. Most recently it was the man who murdered his wife and locked her in the trunk of his car, only to be foiled by a highway patrolman. Anyway, this one is so self centered that she can't see what a nice life she has. She is enamored with some film star and truly believes that they are alike in appearance and talent. When she strikes, we know the wrong person has paid the price. Enjoy this one. It has a payoff.

When the story begins, you soon notice that Mabel is a pretty awful person. She's vain, foolish and rather unpleasant towards her husband...and she seems to contribute little to the marriage. She also hates her husband and wants a divorce because she finds him boring...though I think he's one of the few people who would put up with such an unpleasant woman, so she should consider herself lucky! Regardless, this awful woman decides that since he won't divorce her, she'll just have to kill him and bury him in the garden he's dug...so she does! Can she manage to get away with it or will it come back to haunt her...one way or another?

Because Mabel is nearly 100% awful, the audience really wants to see her punished! It's not like some murderers, where you can empathize somewhat with her. Nope....she's simply terrible...and a bit stupid. The writers and Judith Evelyn did a good job here making you dislike her so much! Now the twist is not great but seeing Mabel get hers...well that makes this one so worth seeing!

I thoroughly enjoyed this episode as well.

I'm somebody that likes a few celebrities (practically everybody I like is either old, dead or has beens). I innocencently like the celebs I enjoy. It hasn't turned into an obsession. I find 'stans' to be quite creepy tbh. I think our leading actress deserves major credit for turning this into a comedic piece instead of making the viewer think her character is just pathetic.

Mabel is a drama queen tuned up all the way. She's absolutely obsessed with the actress Martha Mason and thinks she looks just like her and she thinks others thinks she looks like Martha as well.

Martha's married to Henry. He puts up better with the Martha obsession better than a lot of people would imo. Henry's into gardening. Too bad Mabel doesn't realize that just like a movie star is her whole life, Henry has some hobbies that it'd be nice if she said something positive about instead of acting in disdain over.

Henry's done it now. He tells Mabel that she looks as much like Martha Mason as he does. Mabel slams him over the head with a shovel and buries him in the garden. I should mention this all taking place outside in broad daylight. Good thing nobody came out to check the mail or heading to the car to run errands, eh? Anyway, Mabel's got him buried. Time to craft up a story to explain Henry's disappearance. Mabel comes up with a story involving Henry running off with another woman. Mabel's on the phone drama queening with Henry's boss and she's 'reading' a blank piece of paper that's supposed to be the letter Henry left behind. Mabel can't help herself. Even writing a letter from Henry's point of view she can't help to mention Martha Mason and Henry's boss is even confused by that tidbit. What's he going on about? Anyway, Henry's boss says he'll say he sent Henry on a business trip to explain his absence and so they won't be the talk of the town. Henry's boss clearly doesn't know Mabel that well because no doubt she's been drama queening it up all over town and telling everybody Henry left her for another woman.

Mabel's called down to the police station and she's clearly been putting on airs around town with how she's dressed. Mabel's about to get a shocker. Henry DID have another woman and she's also in the police station saying Henry wouldn't leave without her. The cops tell Mabel they saw how well Henry's flowers were growing and they they found Henry. Mabel drama queens it up to the very last minute.

I meant what I said in the header. I would've loved to have seen Mabel's behavior in court and even prison. Perhaps even have a scene with Martha Mason as she's seen filing a restraining order against Mabel.