The Case of Mr. Pelham

Brilliant story, new to me. I love this episode. Its one of alfreds best directions.

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!.

Tom Ewell excels in playing dual roles as an ordinary guy whose persona and life are taken over by a doppelganger.

Like his later classic "The Birds", Hitch refuses to explain what really is happening, and how it is possible, preferring to leave the viewer guessing after painstakingly unfolding a peculiar story that seems straightforward, but only on the surface. Like the horror genre, the Francis Cockerll screenplay (based on an ingenious story by Anthony Amstrong) is both intriguing and perplexing. It depicts a situation that would drive anyone crazy.

Ewell's acting can't be beat - he seems simple and matter of fact, but provides the segment with the requisite eeriness.

I have a hard time explaining to people why I love this episode so much. Tom Ewell's friendly but oddly unattractive face (as the titular character) is certainly a major force in this first-season gem. Or perhaps it's the homey nightclub where's he a member. More obviously it could just be the story, which is simple, familiar, and yet totally uncanny: a well-adjusted man believes his doppelganger is out to ruin his life. The show is a series of flashbacks as Pelham reveals his unfolding nightmare to his mustachioed psychologist, played pitch-perfect by Raymond Bailey of Mr.Drysdale fame. (For some reason, I love watching him sip the beer from his tall glass as he listens intently to Pelham's dilemma) And my god, that gorgeous black-and-white photography has never looked more scintillating. Perhaps these are mundane items, but for me they make me yearn for the golden age of Hollywood.

With its disquieting conclusion, "The Case of Mr. Pelham" defines that beautiful bygone era.

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.