The Baby Sitter

Lottie Slocum (Thelma Ritter) is the baby sitter who is questioned by the police over the killing of Clara Nash.

The murder has aroused press interest and Lottie revels in it. When she talks about the incident to friend Blanche, it becomes clear that Lottie might be a fantasist.

She disliked Clara Nash who she regarded as a floozie and was infatuated with her older husband.

It might be Lottie is covering up for something or someone.

It was well acted but for a long time it was frivolous. You know where it is going when a certain person later shows up.

Silly Lottie.

Thelma Ritter was an amazing actress, known better for her show stealing supporting roles and basically she was of those that indeed made everything she was in better. So seeing her being billed in the lead role raised expectations for "The Baby Sitter". As well as that it is an episode of the uneven but very interesting 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents', not to mention that it has Robert Stevens is in the director's chair. Was disappointed by Stevens' previous episode but have liked to loved plenty of his episodes.

For me though, "The Baby Sitter" doesn't reach that level and falls a little short. It is a long way from bad and has plenty that is good. It is also an uneven outing and a case of the lead performance being better than the episode itself. "The Baby Sitter" is one of the "in the middle of the pack" episodes of Season 1 and 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' in general, rather than being on either extreme of best or worst. Stevens also did better and worse, but at least this feels more like him unlike his previous episode.

Am going to start with the good. The best thing about "The Baby Sitter" and the aspect that carries it is Ritter, who proves she can be as equally adept in lead roles as in her supporting roles. It is a riveting portrayal that tonally is also quite different from her usual roles, not to mention the character is interesting psychologically and where the story most excels. Mary Wickes is also a very strong presence. Stevens directs more than competently.

Production values are solid and suitably atmospheric, while the main theme fits the creepy and ironic tone of the series overall extremely well. Hitchcock's bookending is typically droll and doesn't ramble. The script entertains and intrigues, while the fantasy element while not one's idea of imaginative still has a wonderfully odd and at times charming atmosphere.

However, "The Baby Sitter" did have potential to be a lot more. The mystery is too on the thin side and lacks suspense, while the ending comes over as more silly and bland than anything else.

While Theodore Newton does his best, he is given virtually nothing to do and comes over as dull. The pace could have been a good deal tighter, especially in the second half where the story thins out.

Overall, above average if uneven. Ritter makes it. 6/10.

A brassy older babysitter (Thelma Ritter) is speaking to a police sergeant about an unsolved murder. She relishes the attention. Much of the story is flashback: she has a crush on the father of the young woman who was killed (who, we are later informed, had a blond beaver).

Did our protagonist do it? This theory is raised by her friend early on. The ending worked for me but, ultimately, it's all on Ms. Ritter to carry this one. If nothing else, it's nice to see a woman who isn't all emotional or distressed the whole time.

Bonus: trying to lose weight, she's on the floor using the bungee-cord like contraption. I didn't know they had stuff like back then.

What? Thelma Ritter as a "thoroughly classless mess?" As far as I'm concerned, Ritter lifts every film or TV show she's in, including this one which I just watched. Her comic timing, delivery, and poignancy can't be beat. I find her believable in every scene here. I think the previous commenter is objecting more to the script than the performance. As far as Ritter goes, I think she is one of the most underrated actresses of our time. Her performance in the opening of "All About Eve" is amazing. As is her performances in the Doris Day/Rock Hudson movies. She was also great in "Rear Window" and "The Misfits." She was nominated for six Academy Awards.

Hitch brought in his old friend, Thelma Ritter, from REAR WINDOW for this special treat. This episode also shows why Thelma was nominated for SIX Academy Awards in her career. And just as amazing she never won.

More character study than macabre, though it keeps your guessing... Ritter plays a middle-aged, gossipy babysitter called Lottie who has the Hitch luck of taking care of an infant whose "cheating" mother is murdered. That leaves her husband, Mr. Nash (Theodore Newton) an eligible widower? Hmmm?

Also cast is Mary Wickes, famous scene stealer, complimenting Ritter 100 percent. You can see Hitch did his homework. Wickes plays Ritter's old pal who toss theories back and forth, the sounding board for Lottie to fill her in on her importance and the fact poor Mr. Nash may need a new lady around the house?

You may figure this one out right away, if not, worth the wait to watch the star power. I agree, if Thelma Ritter read the phone book it would be a delight in itself. Film buffs may recognize Theodore Newton, featured in many B films for decades.

Wonderfully written by one of the few female tv writers at the time, Sarrett Tobias, who wrote eight other episodes for the master of suspense.

SEASON 1 EPISODE 32 remastered Universal dvd box set. All seven seasons are now on dvd in a single box set. Released 2022.