The Cheney Vase

The story is not a novel one, but it did sound very interesting nonetheless and had the potential to be very suspenseful if done right. Robert Stevens directed 44 episode of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents', all worth watching at least once and the best ones are truly fine. 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' was mostly solid in quality up to this point, with only two disappointments and with "Breakdown" being a particularly exceptional episode.

While not one of the best episodes of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents', "The Cheney Vase" is also a long way from being one of the worst. Somewhere around high middle, an episode that has a lot of truly great things but also feeling a little lacking. It is not one of Stevens' best episodes, such as "Our Cook's a Treasure" for an example, but one can tell that it was directed by him. And this is meant in a good way because when Stevens was at his best in the series his work was on Hitchcock's level.

A lot is good in "The Cheney Vase". What immediately stands out is the acting. Patricia Coolinge is benevolent but also remarkably cunning, while Darren McGavin (in his second and infinitely better appearance in the series, after "Triggers in Leash") does sleazy and deceptively charming in a way that unsettles. Loved the chemistry between them, which grew in intensity the more that is revealed. A pre-Morticia Addams Carolyn Jones is also great. Stevens directs with tautness yet control too.

Production values are high, especially the atmospheric photography. The music is not used constantly but is quite haunting when it is. Cannot get enough of the theme tune, while Hitchcock's bookending is some of his drollest in writing (the intro is quite quotable) and cleverest in staging. The script is tight enough and intrigues, while the story is concise and engaging with some nice tension. The final quarter does surprise.

Did think that some of the episode could have done with more suspense. It also felt on the rushed side in a story that would have been better at least 15 minutes longer with what goes on. That way what is left unexplained could have gone into more detail. The out of the blue and rather too random arrival of a character with no explanation is an example of this.

In regard to the ending, it does surprise but it also felt too abrupt and vague.

Overall, quite good but not great. 7/10.

After he is fired from a New York City art museum for lateness (and not showing up at all), womanizing drifter Darren McGavin (as Lyle Endicott) moves in on one of the museum's patrons, elderly and disabled Patricia Collinge (as Martha Cheney). Quickly, Mr. McGavin takes over Ms. Collinge's home. He gets rid of her loyal maid, and cuts Collinge off from the world outside. Next, McGavin plots to run off with shapely blond Carolyn Jones, after selling Collinge's most valuable possession: "The Cheney Vase". It being Christmas, presenter Alfred Hitchcock sells several unbreakable replicas of the $45,000 "Cheney Vase" during his closing remarks. Collinge and a great cast make this "Kind Lady" swipe a nice way to spend your half hour.

******* The Cheney Vase (12/25/55) Alfred Hitchcock : Robert Stevens ~ Patricia Collinge, Darren McGavin, Carolyn Jones

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.

When you have someone in a wheelchair being taken advantage of, you know that at some point the bad guys are going to pay. In this case a man finagles his way into a vulnerable woman's confidence in order to steal a valuable vase. He manipulates her every way he can, employing a confidante, and getting ready to strike. The old girl isn't dumb and evidence begins to build. As with many of these people, the man has a flaw and doesn't play things out to the end. The episode has a satisfying ending where justice is served. The acting is reasonably good and the story has some credibility. It calls for some pretty drastic action and things like this often get in the way, but it's a pretty good Hitchcock effort.

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.