The Cheney Vase

This is not too bad of an episode. Ms. Chaney out foxed the fox - she is a real clever fox in the end. It took her a bit to realize that she was being used to gain access to the vase but once she did come that realization she found the only way she knew how to get out of it - we hope. It's true this episode ended abruptly and could have had a bit more to it in the end... I wanted to know if Lyle ended up in jail or if he decided to harm Ms. Chaney and run off.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents has always been great to watch, I used to watch the reruns on TV as a teen - loved it. This episode was not directed by Hitchcock nor did he write or help to write this story - he only hosted it but it's a pretty good episode and always fun to watch Alfred's commentary before and after each episode.

7/10

The play and later film of KIND LADY was an interesting piece of writing. The imprisoning of a helpless wheelchair bound old woman in her mansion, systematically cutting off all means of communication with the outside world - for nefarious purposes - was borrowed for this half hour adaptation and although the premise is different, so is the twist at the end.

The production belongs to Patricia Collinge, who is excellent as the matron, so good that one wanted it to last an hour so she had more time to show her stuff. McGavin plays the kind of role he was always good at - a sleaze. Carolyn Jones is impressive as his disapproving girlfriend.

Worth a look!

Lyle Endicott (Darren McGavin) is a shifty museum curator who has just been fired from his job, due to laziness. However, he sees dollar signs if he can obtain and old Cheney vase from the wealthy Martha Cheney (Patricia Collinge) who offers a lot of her old belongings to the museum. Lyle manages to take full advantage of the vulnerable Martha, but, he will learn taking the vase won't be as easy as he thinks.

This is just and all around fun episode with Darren McGavin returning to the series to play a wonderfully awesome scumbag manipulator. Everything from the cast to just the way the episode builds itself up in its 25 short minutes in great. As for the twist its defiantly pretty clever. This one also seems to be the most easily obtainable outside of the series itself because I'm pretty certain its in the public domain. Also nice to see a young pre-Addams Family Carolyn Jones as McGavin's girlfriend in this to.

I felt sad watching the friendly Darren McGavin playing a crook in this episode, acquainted to see Kolchak as hero sounds weird he as bad guy, whatever as Lyle Endicott works at Museum when his tired Boss Hebert Koether (George Macready) after many warnings fired him, due he quite often was absent at work, however an old lady Martha Cheney (Patricia Collinge) whom just passing through to there receives another offer for his valuable antique vase, what is prompt refuses by her, Lyle has a phony letter of reference made by his blonde lover Pamela (Carolyn Jones), then he introduces himself to take care of his business, Martha accepts just for a little while as probationary period, slowly Lyle was handling all situations, getting rid of the old maid and having all control of Martha's life, searching there for the vase, nevertheless the old lady is smarter that he could imagine!!!

Resume:

First watch: 2020 / How many: 1 / DVD / Rating: 7.5

The cast is as notable as the story, which is okay even if a bit fragmented. Slimeball Lyle (McGavin) charms his way into wealthy old Martha's (Collinge) mansion with an eye on stealing a valuable hidden vase. The antique is there somewhere, but where. The old lady won't tell, especially after she finds out what a manipulator Lyle is. But what can she do, alone with him in the house. Good to see old pro's like Macready and Collinge picking up paydays, and for once Macready doesn't even have to be the bad guy. And, guys, what about the great eye- candy. Not just one shapely blonde, but two (Jones and Lee), though Jones's career success would come as a brunette. Also, good to see that underrated Mc Gavin showing a charming side, especially with no vampires for Kolchak to hunt down. Anyhow, it's an unexpected ending even if not very plausible. But to me it's the array of performers that remains most memorable.