Tea Time

In the fourth season of Hitchcock Presents, the show increasingly made use of elaborate set design and took a turn away from the early episodes, which often took place on two or three sets and was centered mostly on dialogue. In a way, Tea Time is more like a season one or two episode in that it could easily be reproduced on stage without losing much, if any of its impact.

The premise centers around a successful middle-aged businessman, Oliver, and his complex romantic affairs. His wife, Iris, receives an invitation for tea from his slightly younger and slightly more attractive mistress, Blanche.

Blanche asks for Iris to consider divorcing Oliver, as their marriage has become dull and she seems to be primarily interested in his finances. Iris flatly refuses and mocks Blanche for her romantic idealism, but the tables quickly turn when Blanche reveals that she has a letter proving that Iris had an affair early in her marriage. Iris comes up with a desperate plan to resolve the conflict and keep her husband.

The dialogue proves to be the thrust of the episode, and both actresses do an excellent job providing interest with very little to work with. The typical Hitchcock themes of divorce, affairs, and murderous intentions are all in place and provide for a nicely executed episode, although it is not exactly enthralling. Nice performances, classic premise, some unexpected turns in the story, and a whole lot of dialogue make this installment a worthwhile addition to season four.

Well, I won't say that this episode is a bad one, but I am annoyed by this kind of plot, more and more, too many characters, too much complex schemes of treason, revenge. The last minutes reveal a rather interesting twist, I have seen better but also worse. You need to be focused on the rest of the story to enjoy this ending. Me, who has seen so many anthology stories like this one, I am not that enjoyed. Just bored. But not everyone is like me.

The show begins with a strange encounter. It seems that the woman who's been having an affair is having a nice, civil tea in a nice restaurant as they discuss the affair and the troubled marriage. While smiling and acting nicely, the two take turns taking jabs at each other. Ultimately, the mistress pulls out her trump card and blackmails the wife to allowing her husband to get a divorce. But the wife is no shrinking violent, and she decides the best way to deal with this is murder!!

The twist at the end is interesting and worth seeing. However, it's not a great twist nor an especially memorable one. Interesting but not great.

Another story of extortion and blackmail. The wife of a rich philanderer is approached by his present conquest and is asked to release him from their marriage vows. She is an attractive blonde (aren't they all in Hitchcock) and she has an incriminating letter. This was a marriage for money and the present wife had a few adventures of her own. Neither of the wants to budge but the newby has the goods and offers her adversary 24 hours to figure out what to do. Of course, it wouldn't be part of this series if murder wasn't a serious option. I won't rain on anyone's parade, so you'll have to see what happens. Watching these episodes fifty years after they were made shows what inferiors women were thought to be. The rich jerk seemed to hold all the cards. Of course, money has always talked and this is the foundation for his every move. Who knows what happens next and who really cares? These people are awfully hard to pull for.

Hitchcock female duel of duels, and well cast, starring British actress Margaret Leighton, who I'm sure Hitch recommended, and Marsha Hunt.

It all starts out at a fancy restaurant where Blanche (Hunt) asks Iris (Leighton) to simply give up her husband, played by Murray Matheson. She has been having an affair with the rich gentleman and wishes to live happily ever after... Of course, that would leave poor Iris in the dark, correct?

Oh yes, there's some tricks up everybody's sleeve in this one, the kind of Hitch story you will love. Wait for the ending --and all the NOISE -- without giving too much away. Written by Katherine Hite, who at the time was writing for GUNSMOKE. In the 70s she wrote for the WALTONS.

The dialogue between the ladies is the main attraction. At times, comes off as a witty stage play.

Look for comedic actor Fritz Feld as the maitre d. In a class all by himself, and we kids loved him.

A tribute to Marsha Hunt, who was appearing in films well into her 80s. She passed in 2022 at age 104, one of the oldest living actresses from Hollywood's golden age.

SEASON 4 EPISODE 10 remastered Universal dvd box set. 15 hrs 30 mins. 6 dvds. Released 2008. All seven seasons are on dvd in a single box set. Released 2022.