A Man Greatly Beloved

How well you like this entry may depend on how much you like precocious 7-year old girls. Little Evelyn Rudie is one strong personality, her gap-tooth grin totally self-assured as her Hildegard messes with the lives of adults around her. Seems the mysterious John Anderson (Hardwicke) is a new-comer recluse to little Hildegard's town and thus invites curiosity. So Hildegard decides to find things out in her own inimitable way.

The plot generates little suspense, some interest, but maybe quite a few chuckles. It's really little Rudie's forceful personality that carries the show. It's also an interesting supporting cast. I suspect Hardewick took a secondary part as a favor to fellow Britisher Hitchcock, while Robert Culp gets an early role as the handsome Clarence. But for old movie fans, there's bird-like Edith Barrett from Val Lewton's great horror series from the early 1940's (e.g. I Walked with a Zombie, {1943}). Here she does a rather amusing bit. All in all, it's an offbeat Hitchcock with an upshot more thought- provoking than ironic.

My main reasons for watching "A Man Greatly Beloved" were me watching all the episodes of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' and for Cedric Hardwicke (so unforgettable as Frollo in 1939's 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame'). James Neilson's previous 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' outings were mostly good and more, though none of his episodes are season or series high points, though he is not one of my favourites of the series' recurring directors. Did like the idea for the episode.

Just wish that the execution was better and lived up to this idea. As far as Season 2 goes, "A Man Greatly Beloved" is not one of the best ("One More Mile to Go", "Conversation over a Corpse", "The Manacled") but also not one of the worst ("Wet Saturday", "Nightmare in 4D", "Mr Blanchard's Secret"). After being so impressed by the previous 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episode "The Hands of Mr Ottermole", another one of the season's best, it was disappointing to see an episode with the potential it had be one of the season's lesser outings.

By all means, "A Man Greatly Beloved" has things that are good. The best thing about it is Hardwicke, who is excellent. Without him actually, the episode would have been close to a series low point. Hitchcock's bookending is deliciously ironic as usual.

There is some nice atmospheric filming and lighting and the theme music is as inspired and haunting as ever.

"A Man Greatly Beloved" has a lot of things that let it down. For me Evelyn Rudie was hard to take due to her badly overdoing her character's precociousness, to the point where the character becomes irritating. With so much of her as well that alone brought down the episode quite significantly. The narration is overused and has a really annoying tendency to over explain and tell too much rather than showing, this would have benefitted without any narrating.

Plot wise, there is nothing noteworthy. The story is very slight and over-stretched to the point where the episodes drags badly at points. What there is is predictable, especially the can be seen from miles off ending, is suspense-free. The dialogue is too talky and the flow is not always natural.

Concluding, very mixed feelings here. One of Neilson's weaker episodes. 5/10.

This was not the usual Alfred Hitchcock show story, it was different and unusual but interesting, especially the ending. This was aired in May 1957, so likely filmed in late 1956 obviously several years before Robert Culp had his teeth fixed. Hugh Marlow is very good as the Minister and Rebecca Wells as his wife and parents of precocious Hildegard. By the way, Robert Culp does a very good job in his part also

The style of "A Man Greatly Beloved" is most unusual for "Alfred Hitchcock Presents". It begins with little Hildegard Fell (Evelyn Rudie) talking directly to the audience and introducing her family! This makes sense, as she's supposed to be extraordinarily precocious and bright! And, through the course of the episode, she demonstrates a most unusual personality...and a very charming one!

In the show, tiny Hildegard has set her sights on her misanthropic neighbor, Mr. Anderson (Cedric Hardwicke). He loves to be alone and dislikes folks....but that doesn't stop Hildegard from introducing herself and insinuating herself into his life. She simply won't take NO for an answer and is able to bring Anderson out of his crusty shell. As far as what's next....well....I don't want to ruin it and you should just see this cute episode for yourself. Well written and terribly likable due to the marvelous character, Hildegard Fell!

By the way, little Evelyn Rudie was actually this precocious in real life! According to IMDB, "In 1959, at age 9, she disappeared from her Los Angeles home and was feared kidnapped. But it turned out she had booked a flight to Washington, D.C., herself, and boarded the airplane unaccompanied. When she was taken off the plane at Baltimore, she said she'd wanted to visit First Lady Mamie Eisenhower, whom she had met previously, at the White House to ask her help to "get me a part in a TV series"."

I liked this episode, you can see the twist coming a mile away, but a great story on the effects perception can have on a person's life. You do have to get past the somewhat annoying narrator, but that will be pretty easy unless you are one of those crabby old people (looking at myself, lol).

Overall I liked it more than the other reviewers. If you don't want it spoiled, stop reading now.

SPOILER: Mr. Anderson notably never denies the allegations as to his true identity. And I like the way the reverend handled the revelation about Mr. Anderson's true identity.

A major criticism I have with modern society is the destruction of an individual's reputation and often profession over the one comment or one action they took that is out of lock step with the vocal minority of trolls. Respectful disagreement with others seems to have been greatly diminished. Of course, in the case of this story, murder is much more than a disagreement, but we are never given the full circumstances of that event. And, in the actions of Mr. Anderson, he proves that he does have a lot of good in him.