Santa Claus and the Tenth Avenue Kid

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.

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!

I have never embraced holiday episodes of shows. Hitchcock actually speaks disdainfully of this in the opening segment. He is bricking up his fireplace, hoping to injure Santa Claus whom he finds arrogant and tiresome. We go to the episode, where Barry Fitzgerald plays a small time thief who is forced into playing Santa at a department store. He is tough and irreverent and gives the kids a bad time. A female social worker latches on to him and makes him toe the line. Of course, the Christmas spirit eventually gets to him. He acts, even at the risk of his freedom. The nice thing about this episode is that he maintains his hard edge and it doesn't get too sappy. Fitzgerald is a wonderful character actor and made this role his own. It works pretty well, all things considered.

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.

This is a very nice change-of-pace episode of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", with a typically good starring performance by Barry Fitzgerald, plus Virginia Gregg and child actor Bobby Clark getting some good moments of their own during their scenes of give-and-take with Fitzgerald. The story combines a relatively standard holiday theme with a dose of practical cynicism, and Hitchcock himself adds to it with his sardonic opening and closing remarks.

The story actually has a positive theme to it, and the more sarcastic moments actually serve to make the upbeat point more believable. The setup has Fitzgerald as a recently paroled petty criminal, who is given holiday employment as a department store 'Santa Claus'. Gregg is the overly cheerful employment agent who takes an interest in him, while Clark is a bad-tempered boy whom the equally grouchy 'Santa' views as a personal challenge. The story line is concise and the script is carefully written, fitting perfectly into the half-hour television format.

Fitzgerald was excellent at portraying this kind of hardened character who nevertheless has something good somewhere inside him. He makes the character likable and sympathetic even when he is behaving in a disreputable fashion, and he never overdoes things in either direction. There are many similar holiday-themed features that are based on similar ideas, yet this one is still worth seeing for the simple yet skillful way that it presents its story and its characters.