Place of Shadows

On early commentaries Hitch implied that the faster technology on making TV sets in near future the viewers could be throw things straight into the tube to hit the actors, presenters and others people just in case if they dislike the offer, performance or something like that, surely a joke, however wasn't a bad idea if it becomes possible.

Awesome episode about a young man Ray Clements (Mark Damon) arrives at train Station (once more Hitch applies his favorite key element, the night train) looking for a monastery where got shelter for a man who stolen his money, he was driven there by Brother Gerard (Sean McClory) and submitted to old father Vincente in charge of the order, Clements told to kindly Father the whole story, unless his real name, he presenting himself as Floyd Unser, the smart Father Vincente exposes to young boy that his physical aspects doesn't fit on the accurate description of Unser.

Distressed for be debunked by the upstanding Father at last Clements explains such hoax, the father delivers to her all money stolen to him, hence he can pay his debts and clean your name however Clements claims that his father died for deep grief, thus he ought revenge his father's dead, nonetheless Clements was raise under Christian's teaching the money recovered wasn't enough to erase his beyond repair lost.

Here Hitchcock sets out nothing about religions or something, it's a matter of awareness that all concerning the human being itself, his principles, beliefs and so on, the episode has a special meaning on the upshot!!

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First watch: 2021 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 8.

This is a pure routine ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS episode, with nothing really special, nothing exceptional, nothing exciting, but in the end you have a twist ending, as the policy lines suggest. But it is not a bad nor lousy story. Good directing, acting, editing, everything is correct here but I was not that glued to it. Maybe the monastery element bothered me a bit, as also was LE NOM DE LA ROSE. I won't advise you to avoid it, it would be unfair. Mark Harmon never became really famous. I hardly remind only film with him. Notice Claude Akins here in a very supporting role, a cop investigating.

Mr. Clements has traveled through a snow storm in order to make his way to some monastery. He claims to be Mr. Unser, a friend of Rocco. As for Rocco, he was injured in some accident and the monks were taking care of him. So why does Clements come to this place using a phony name? It's because Rocco robbed him and helped destroy his life...and he plans on killing the man! But the monks see through this and don't give him this opportunity for revenge. So what's next? See the show.

This is a fair episode about revenge...not bad but no especially memorable. Which, for most anthology programs, is the norm.

A gangster has been badly injured and is being cared for in a monastery. While there, a young man played by Mark Damon comes, determined to get back some money that was taken from him. He also blames the man for the death of his father, who died, ashamed of his son. There is a third party, a small time crook. Much of the story reveals that the young man has roots in the Catholic church and the Abbott tries to convince him that what he is doing is wrong. Another monk says, "If you look into the face of a man you have killed, you will never be the same again." The young man decides to depart after observing vespers and having a bit of his youth tug at him. Unfortunately, there is a third man after the money, and things get complicated. The weakest thing in the episode is a quick decision made by police officer, Claude Akins. Just a bit too convenient. That aside, it works pretty well.

Yes, an abundance of shadows and atmosphere in this 10 Star episode, one of the best from the first season. Another example why Robert C. Dennis was an exceptional writer, and Robert Stevens, Hitch's favorite director.

Interestingly, an all male cast is featured. Prolific actor Everett Sloane returns, playing Father Vicente, who runs a remote monestary and has a rather curious guest. Who else?

Mark Damon, in his only appearance, portrays a bitter chap called Clements, who has traced another man he absolutely despises to the monestary. He's seeking revenge on a thief whose actions also lead to the death of his father. He basically asks Vicente to look the other way so he can settle an old score.

Not an easy request. The amazing thing is would this guy really expect a man of the cloth to allow him to walk in, shoot a guy and casually stroll out the back door? A long shot, yet the kind of character Hitch admired.

Damon is very good in this role, a hero to all us horror film buffs, known for the HOUSE OF USHER (1960), opposite Vincent Price, and BLACK SABBATH (1964), starring Boris Karloff. Everett Sloane shines here and certainly steals the show. Look for Claude Akins, in an early role, playing a cop.

An original story that should have been re-done, particularly for Hitch's hour long tv series. SEASON 1 EPISODE 22 remastered Universal dvd box set. With the famous deadpan Hitch cover. 16 hrs running time.