The Case of Mr. Pelham

Al Pelham is a mild-mannered, average-looking New Yorker with a small brokerage business. Then, strange things start happening. Someone is impersonating him for no apparent reason, a look-alike down to the smallest detail of appearance and memory bank. Whoever it is, he's taking over Pelham's life, easing him slowly out of existence. But why? Who could envy such a routine existence.

The premise seems more appropriate for the Twilight Zone since there appears to be no natural explanation. Even more relevant is the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), which was probably in development about the time this episode aired. Nonetheless, it's an intriguing 30 minutes, low-keyed, without hysteria or adornment as Pelham's predicament becomes ever more precarious. Lending a nice sinister touch is the predatory-lion painting that overhangs the last scene. It's thoughtful touches like this that can make the difference between a good episode and a memorable one. Those looking for a more natural explanation of Pelham's predicament might consider the emergence of a second, more assertive and success-oriented personality. But, however you take it, the premise was challengingly novel for the depths of 1950's TV, and is still one of the more memorable episodes.

Alfred Hitchcock's offers to us an implausible tale, but who care anyway, the Case of Mr. Pelham is original and fresh, about a man of middle age, just single (Tom Ewell) who has his own business, living in a normal and easy lifestyle, when suddenly he realizes that someone else is trying to mimic him, he already was warned by some friends that they met him in another places, however unnoticed by Mr. Pelham, who didn't remember to be there, in fact in that moment he was out of town, then he meets his Doctor to discuss such madness, the Doctor suggest some advices, however every day is getting worst, the results is unpredictable at least, nice episode!!

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First watch: 2019 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 8

Albert Pelham (Tom Ewell) discovers that someone has been impersonating him. Fearing his life is being taken away from him, Pelham confronts his double, only to begin doubting his own sanity.

Hitchcock returns again for his 3rd directing credit, taking on another familiar story that much like "Breakdown" has been done about a zillion times since this. The tale of a man who discovers he has a double trying to take over his life and slowly push him out or is he slowly going mad. The out come is usual always the same conclusion and the one here is no different, that's maybe why the impact of this one really didn't hit me to hard because I pretty much knew where this was going after the two Pelham's finally meet. As said before Hitch does his usual great job behind the camera and the cast is excellent here, I could defiantly see how in 1956 this was damn good television as Hitch was apparently nominated for a prime time Emmy for best directing. Not to sound harsh on this episode as it seems to be a favorite among fans of the series, and it is a very fine episode, but, I guess the fact that the story being done to death and seeing this a hundred times on other movies and series since really hurt the out come for me, and personally I believe Hitch should have got the Emmy nod for either "Revenge" or "Breakdown" as I believe those two episodes to be superior to this one. Closing note: Hitchcock's closing narration is the greatest!.

The ending is in particular pretty humorous once you figure out what exactly is going on in the last scenes.

That said, the episode could have benefitted from one of Hitchcock's usual clever commentary at the end of the episode about the main character's solution to his own problem or how it came about in the first place.

Hitch took some time out of his busy schedule to direct this intriguing episode, and yes, I agree with the last reviewer --this could be confused as a TWILIGHT ZONE story. More over, Hitchcock received an Emmy nomination for Best TV Director, but lost! How can that be? A super trivia question.

Tom Ewell (THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH) is the perfect choice to play everyday guy Mr. Pelham who has a problem. Hitch always had a preoccupation with gentlemen with baggage, only this time it's not murder. It's all about somebody slowly taking over Pelham's life, an exact double, and having a very good time of it.

One of Hitchcock's favorite actors, Raymond Bailey, looking like Mr. Drysdale on the BEVERLY HILLBILLIES, plays the poor man's psychiatrist who has his doubts about the bizarre story. Perhaps the best thing about this tale is Ewell narrating what happens next and next .... and how long before he loses his mind!

By the way, the TWILIGHT ZONE did, in fact, come out with a very similar type story, called "Mirror Image" (1960), starring Vera Miles who is waiting in a lonely bus station and spots her mischievous double. Don't miss it.

Wait for the closing with Mr. H and his own double. SEASON 1 EPISODE 10 remastered CBS dvd box set.

All seven half hour seasons are on dvd in a single box. Released 2022.