Santa Claus and the Tenth Avenue Kid

A perfectly unexpected and heartwarming Hitchcock episode. Both Barry Fitzgerald and Virginia Gregg are excellent and it has become one of my all time favorite Christmas programs. I watch it every Christmas Eve and it's charm never diminishes. Sorry but no murders this time and that is okay with me, but this time only!

It was very interesting to see "Santa Claus and the Tenth Avenue Kid", with it being such a big change of pace up to this still early stage of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents'. Instead of the usual mystery, thriller and psychological type episodes, the story here is more of the sentimental kind. And even after the series ended, this is an episode that stands out from the rest tonally. Barry Fitzgerald was always well worth watching, especially in the curmudgeonly charm sort of roles.

While not one of the best episodes of Season 1 or of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' overall, "Santa Claus and the Tenth Avenue Kid" is still very good in its own way. Tonally it may stick out like a sore thumb, with it being so far removed from what was usually seen with the series before and since. But doing something different doesn't mean automatically that it's bad, have seen a lot of changes of pace done very well. "Santa Claus and the Tenth Avenue Kid" does its change of pace very well.

Did feel that Virginia Gregg's character was underwritten and that she was given too little to do.

How it all ends is never really in doubt and it was a touch too on the convenient side.

Fitzgerald however is absolutely wonderful in a role that is letter perfect for him, he gives it a curmudgeonly charm that he was so great at and one of the best actors at that time to do it and also a hard edge that fits the petty criminal side of the character expertly too. Bobby Clark is not cloying or too childish and he brings heart to the episode. As does the chemistry between him and Fitzgerald. Hitchcock's sardonic bookendings are a joy here and it was very interesting hearing what he had to say about the episode.

Moreover, "Santa Claus and the Tenth Avenue Kid" is very nicely made, if not the most visually inspired episodes due to it being different from the usual. It is niftily directed, where sentimentality is kept at bay and the slight story still has energy and momentum. Nice use of music and the theme tune is one of the best uses of pre-existing classical music on television in my view. The script is concise and thoughtful, with it having a heart while never being sugary sweet. The story is slight but incredibly charming yet also has some edge.

In summary, very good if not one of the best 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episodes. 8/10.

Ex-con Stretch Sears (Barry Fitzgerald) finally gets another chance at parole, and is given the job of a department store Santa during the holidays. At first Sears hates the idea of the job, but, soon begins to take it seriously when a young juvenile delinquent boy questions his really being Santa. Sears plans to show the young boy by stealing a toy plane he wanted while at the store, but, how will it work out for Sears in the long run.

I've never really been a great fan of holiday themed episodes, but, this one isn't to bad considering it sticks out like a sore thumb in a series devoted to tales of crime, mystery, & thrillers. The main reason to catch this one is the great performance by Barry Fitzgerald, his scruffy old look and Irish accent make him a pleasure to watch. Other then that its pretty standard fair, with a happy ending, even though it doesn't get to sappy on us like most holiday shows do. Hitchcock himself even kinda scoffs at the idea of Christmas and holiday themed shows in general with his opening and closing monologues.

Harold 'Stretch' Sears (Barry Fitzgerald) is a habitual criminal now on parole. The veteran burglar only got caught five times in a career of crime.

Out on parole, Miss Clementine Webster sets the curmudgeonly Sears as a Santa Claus at a department store in the run up to Christmas.

It is not a kind of job that Sears is looking forward to, but at least he is not the store cleaner.

On Christmas Eve Sears steals an expensive model plane for a boy who does not believe in Christmas or that he is Santa Claus.

It is not long before the police catch up on Sears.

This might have worked better if Sears learned the true meaning of Christmas. Instead he just mindlessly robs his temporary employer on his final day.

There was not much of an Alfred Hitchcock twist. The police were overzealous as they also wanted to book Sears for taking the Santa costume.

It was nice to know that in the good old days, it was ok for habitual criminals to get jobs as Santa Claus in a children's department.

I grew up watching Alfred Hitchcock with my brothers, a weekly ritual. But I must have missed this one until streaming it recently and glad I went back to watch it now. And I always enjoy seeing the attractive Virginia Gregg in anything, who was a guest several times on this series, and appeared in just about every other TV series of the 50's, 60's and 70's. And knowing her steamy history with Medal of Honor winner John Basilone during their WWII bond drive only enhances her appeal every time I see her. Barry Fitzgerald really plays against his usual type in this role, nothing like his roles in Going My Way or How Green Was my Valley.