Bull in a China Shop

The old ladies are so lovable, it impossible to not smile when they are on screen flirting with the detective. This isn't an episode where you will wonder "who dunnit?" It's extremely obvious. But where it lacks in suspense, it makes up for, in humor. The ending punchline was somewhat predictable - yet it didn't steal anything from the entertainment value. Sit back, enjoy, and get a kick out of these old ladies desperate to just be close to the handsome detective by any means necessary. And I mean ANY MEANS NECESSARY. Very cute. If you need a smile, watch this one.

When the character of Miss. Hildy-Lou first appeared I thought - oh, isn't that... oh, what is her name? Well, it's Estelle Winwood - she appeared in everything from Bewitched to Batman! Elizabeth Patterson and Ida Moore were also prolific character actresses in their day, and then, far beyond Grandma Walton, Ellen Corby was in hundreds of movies and TV shows!

Regardless of the plot, the four of these great actresses performing together is a joy unto itself, but to be directed by Alfred Hitchcock makes this episode a real exhibit of excellence in their craft.

Furthermore, the plot is actually very good and has an ending which is both funny and satisfying. A perfect Hitchcock episode!

I did not like this too much light hearted story, a real comedy in the line of ARSENIC AND OLD LACE. Well, from this point, you deal with a specific kind of story which you are not necessarily prepared to. I was not. Just a waste of time, but it remains funny and it will probably enjoy some audiences.

Clever spin on the classic comedy, "Arsenic and Old Lace," "Bull" features four little old ladies who call in their neighbor, a handsome homicide detective, to check out a corpse on their couch. Turns out the corpse was yet another little old lady, and the coroner discovers she was poisoned with arsenic. The detective questions the four spinsters, and decides the poor woman's death was accidental, since the ladies keep the arsenic (rat poison) next to their sugar supply in the cupboard. Shortly after, they call him in again, and this time, one of the four is dead, also from arsenic poisoning. This time, the detective figures one of the three survivors is a murderer, but which one? The immortal Estelle ("The Magic Sword") Winwood, with her goggly eyes and crooked smile, is delightful as the landlady of the house and Dennis Morgan handles his Cary Grant-ish role with the proper finesse. A must-see for fans of the 1944 movie that starred Grant.

A Handsome police detective is called next door to investigate mysterious death among four pixilated elderly ladies.

In my book, it's a delightful entry, with delicious tongue-in-cheek. Catch big-eyed Miss Hildy (Winwood) roll those coquettish orbs as she lets handsome O'Finn (Morgan) in the front door. So, their little ruse has worked, but what about the dead lady all laid out in the parlor in her best finery. The four giggle and carry on like school girls. So what's the gentlemanly O'Finn to do with a dead body and a set of highly unusual suspects. This is the series at its dark humor and offbeat best, with no less than a wild ending.