Martha Mason, Movie Star

Another excellent episode which proposes a tribute to the movie business. It is light hearted black humor tale, in the pure AH PRESENTS tradition. All the ingredients you crave for in this anthology show are here, nothing exceptional, but it is so tasty, to delightful. You can't despise such a show. Just a tasty little candy to enjoy.

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.

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!

It was so funny when She out in Public looking at poster of Martha Mason while She is eating popcorn. The 2 ladies walked up with their judgemental smirks. She jus laughs them away. The reason I wanted to do this review is, watching the layout within their house. It is like I am standing in the 1st Cleaver House. From "Leave It To Beaver" I recall the 1st house then they moved once more. It jus seems to look like inside of the Beavers house.

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.