A Bullet for Baldwin

When the episode begins, a very meek man, Mr. Stepp (John Qualen), is fired from his nasty boss, Mr. Baldwin (Sebastian Cabot). Stepp's response is surprising for such a mousy man, as he soon enters his now ex-boss's office and makes him an ex-living person...shooting him at point blank range.

Stepp goes home and expects to be arrested any moment. Surprisingly, no police arrive and Stepp's job calls him in the morning to ask him why he didn't come in to work! What about the dead boss? What about the blood and bullet? Here's the kicker...the boss IS there and things seem normal!! What is happening? And, what's Stepp going to do next?

Hiring John Qualen for this role was brilliant, as he as among the meekest looking actors of his age, apart, perhaps, with the exception of Donald Meek (his real name), who died a decade before this episode was filmed. After all, it wouldn't have been nearly as interesting nor surprising if John Wayne or Robert Mitchum had played such a part!

Overall, a very strange episode and one that you won't soon forget.

It is a bit complicated plot to follow, but quite enjoyable and unusual, with a good expected twist ending. I am not that prepared for such a scheme and needed to watch it twice to fully understand. Not my favorite, but fun and inventive. I hardly can summarize it, and that means it is an intelligent story. I advise you to watch it very closely. And watch it several times if necessary. I will wait several years before watching it again. There will be many plots like this one further in the show. It pushes you to be very focused on those cliché ridden stories, and I think it is a good thing. I will resume my watching and reviewing.

"A Bullet for Baldwin" is the second 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episode to be directed by Justus Addiss. The first one being "Salvage", which to me is a very good episode and saw the series get back on track after a quality dip for a few episodes. Really liked the idea, quite complicated conceptually but always liked the more psychological kind of stories. It is always great to see Sebastian Cabot, best known to me for 'Family Affair' and his Disney voiceover work.

There are better episodes of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents', of Season 1 (which was not always smooth sailing but was mostly solid) and overall. There are also worse on both counts. "A Bullet for Baldwin" to me is one of the high middle entries in the series. It is good and does do a lot that is highly commendable, but it didn't wow me and this is one of the half hour episodes that would have been better with a longer length with a story of this nature.

Shall start with the good. It is slickly and atmospherically made visually and Addiss' direction is tight enough as well as controlled. While not enhancing the atmosphere as such, when it is used the music doesn't distract or feel at odds either. The wonderfully devillish theme tune is a classic, and one of those that one hears in popular culture a lot before and since and recognise it without knowing what it is (Gounod's "Funeral March of a Marionette"). Hitchcock's bookends are typically droll, remember not being crazy about them to begin with but there were some inspired crackers throughout the series' run.

In terms of scripting, "A Bullet for Baldwin" is thought-provoking and doesn't have any excess fat. Liked how tongue in cheek it was too, and in a way that was amusing and not corny or too broad. The story is very compelling and never dull, it is not perfect by all means but it is also quite suspenseful and twisty. John Qualen excels in the psychologically fascinating lead role and Cabot relishes his part.

However, "A Bullet for Baldwin" did feel rushed at times, a lot goes on and sometimes at a fast rate and the final act especially could have done with a slowing down and expansion because it did start getting a little too complicated.

Furthermore, it is one of the episodes that would have benefitted from being longer by at least 15 minutes and even better feature length. Half an hour is too little for a story of this nature. The ending is very interesting and very surprising, it just could have gone into more depth.

On the whole, not great but good. 7/10.

When an office worker is fired from his job, he shoots his boss to death, but when he returns to the office his boss is alive, and has no recollection of the incident. A lesser but cleverly-written entry with some good characterisations. However, it's not too remarkable.

Ultimate dark comedy, exceptionally written by brothers Francis and Eustace Cockrell who shared a laugh with Hitch. You can count on that.

Hitch liked John Qualen because he played the downtrodden, everyday guy to perfection. This may be one of his best tv roles. Qualen plays a used and abused office worker called Mr. Stepp, as in stepped on? Sebastian Cabot, who could play some worthy bad guys, fits the role of bossy Mr. Baldwin, who decides to fire Stepp after many years of loyal service. Goodbye and Good Luck.

At first -- and you can't blame Stepp -- he considers shooting himself. He has nothing much to live for. However, comes that brilliant bridge from the Hitchcock playbook. Why not shoot the SOB instead? And he does. Next day comes around, Stepp expecting the worst, but is instead called back to the office to find the old buzzard ALIVE and WELL? As for the shooting, there was none?

If you're a fan of the show, it's EZ to guess what happened... Still fun to watch how this bizarre mystery unfolds and lands in Stepp's lap for a second time. The ending is a real dazzler, mixed with some fitting dialogue.

Beautifully directed by Justus Addiss, who turns Cabot into a work of art -- who deserves everything he gets. And you just feel so sorry for John Qualen. Popular actor Phillip Reed guest stars, who also played his fair share of villains in a long career.

SEASON 1 EPISODE 14 remastered CBS dvd box set.

Collectors First Season box with a super color cover pix of deadpan Hitch.