A Bullet for Baldwin

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.

Meekly submissive Stepp (Qualen) is fired by overbearing boss Baldwin (Cabot) after 20 years of loyal service. In an uncharacteristic rage, he shoots Baldwin, only to discover the next day that Baldwin is back at his desk as if nothing happened. So what's going on— was it all a dream.

What's interesting in this entry is a strategic decision the screen writers (the Cockrells) choose to make as to the story's direction. On one hand, they can play up the suspense by withholding the mystery's solution until the end; on the other, they can play up the irony of that solution by tipping us off early so that we watch the irony unfold.

Whichever option, it's a clever premise that rivets audience interest from the get-go. Qualen is so good at playing these long-suffering little-guy characters-- no wonder, he was an early series favorite. Nothing special here, just a good solid reputation-building entry.

(In passing—come to think of it, you can figure out which direction the screenplay takes if you reflect on Hitchcock's direction in his classic Vertigo {1958}.)

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.

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.

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.