The Crooked Road

Kiley and Breslin star as a couple on a road trip who are waylaid in a rural Southern town by a brutal, corrupt cop (Matthau). They end up being fleeced by a tow truck mechanic who is in cahoots with the cop and a justice of the peace who serves as the town's judge and jury. Plenty of movies would later use this plot, with considerably more graphic results (especially when it involved comely young females). The discerning viewer will notice something odd about Breslin's character and the way she holds her rather bulky purse. I thought perhaps the seemingly honest couple would turn out to be bank robbers, which would be revealed once they got out of town. The actual revelation of who they are was far more interesting. Matthau puts on a suitable redneck accent for his role.

Harry (Richard Kiley) and the missus are traveling cross country when they drive through a small town run by crooks. He is pulled over for speeding and wreckless driving even though he was doing neither. He also is slapped around by the cop, run off the road and the cop INSISTS that Harry pay a local tow truck to fix the car even though it only has a flat tire...but the cop insists its badly damaged and in need of repairs! Well, Harry is furious and when they go to see the judge, he seems eager to tell his side. The judge, however, is part of this conspiracy and soon the cop (Walter Matthau) begins slapping Harry about as the judge watches. Soon Harry is assessed all sorts of fines for various crimes he never committed...and he seems powerless to do anything but pay.

This episode is one that might make your blood boil. I have has a couple situations which have been reminiscent of this scam (trying driving through Stark, Florida and you will likely see what I mean). Fortunately, while you'll feel for Harry is does end will with a nice twist. A most unusual and worthy episode that's well worth your time. Exceptional in every way.

This is the story of a personal nightmare. It has been done before but this is a pretty good effort.. It involves the fragile world entered by people who suddenly find themselves at the mercy of some bad cops in their personal world. From the evil Walter Matthau, a corrupt highway cop and extortionist, to a tow truck driver who his part of an organized ring, to a judge who finishes things off, our main character and his wife are subjected to brutality and fear, over which they have no control. The tension in this episode is all brought on by the helplessness they feel as the expenses mount up, from fixing a wheel bearing that is not damaged, to being beaten for "resisting arrest." The characters try to keep that pose of respectability throughout, but when push comes to shove, they are brutal. This is one of the most frightening of the episodes because it deals in a human situation which could very easily take place. A bad cop has tremendous power because people, for the most part, start with trust. This is a very good offering.

Don't worry. No spoilers.

Many "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" episodes have surprise or twist endings -- the very first of them (S1E1) being a classic example.

This is another one, with Richard Kiley and his wife abused and extorted by slimy yokels. Paul Henreid's tense direction induces an incredible amount of hatred in the viewer. When the mechanic threatens Kiley with a wrench, you hope he'll grab the wrench and beat him to death.

He doesn't. What does happen is -- there's no other word for it -- delicious. You'll be grinning from ear to ear.

Love this one. Richard Kiley and Pat Breslin make a great team and a terrific match against devious copper Walter Matthau. 10 Stars.

Actually, this story is NOT far from the truth, nevertheless fun as it takes place in a typical Hitchcock environment; a long empty road leading to some remote town. Enter wiseguy cop Matthau, and I agree with the last reviewer, he hams it up. He pulls aside Kiley and his wife (in their sharp, new Lincoln Continental) for driving a few miles over the speed limit. Legally, they didn't do anything wrong because they had to speed up to pass Matthau's slow squad car ---but tell that to the judge.

And they do, and he's just as crooked as Matthau, also just as crooked as the garage mechanic who works on their car, which was forced off the road. What a Hitch dilemma ... Or is it?

Paul Henreid (CASABLANCA) got the best from this cast, particularly Walter Matthau, who you just love to hate. Henreid started directing later in his acting career, and handled many prime tv shows. At the time of this episode, he directed two films.

Unless you have seen this before... you will never guess the ending, so righteously fitting. Only debit (semi spoiler!) we don't get to see Matthau lose that smug smirk on his face. We were sooo waiting for that.

The best of SEASON 4, EPISODE 4 remastered Universal dvd box set. 4 dvds. 15 hrs 30 min. 2008 release. All seven seasons are now on dvd in a single box. Released 2022.