The Dusty Drawer

A Hitch Christmas episode, if there is such a thing?

I have watched this story for decades, and just love it. The reason is you get TWO prize Hitchcock regulars, Dick York (as Norman) and Philip Coolidge (Tritt). These two over the top characters live together in a boarding house, and what's worse, work together at the local bank.

The problem; Tritt is one of the officers and Norman claims he short-changed him out of two hundred dollars -- so he could cover a banking error. Norman refuses to forgive and forget, and believes in the "revenge is sweet" theory... and he's out to nail his frenemy.

A sly game of cat and mouse, Dick York and Philip Coolidge compliment each other. Fun to watch, especially those smug "cat ate the canary" expressions. I think Coolidge wins, ending as being the most exasperated. The same year this episode was released, he appeared as a doctor in Hitchcock's NORTH BY NORTHWEST. A long time stage actor and director.

Dick York, originally a radio actor, will always be remembered for BEWITCHED, but his various roles for Hitchcock are not to be forgotten. This is one of them.

Note, the real star of this story is Frederick Herbert's quirky music score, often used on LEAVE IT TO BEAVER. Sure fits here. He also worked on several film classics, like MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS.

Recommended. From SEASON 4 EPISODE 33 remastered Universal dvd box set. 5 dvds. All seven season half hour episodes are now on dvd in a single box. Released 2022.

Once in a while, the series just launched into silliness. This plot involves a supposedly wronged man played by Dick York, later of the show "Bewitched." York's character launches a full frontal assault on a fellow boarding house bank teller whom he feels cheated him out of two hundred dollars. The mans failure to acquiesce leads to a series of efforts by York to destroy him. His set ups result in the poor man embarrassing himself time after time. We never know if there ever was an inciting incident (the two hundred dollars) but we are expected to sympathize with York's Captain Ahab. I just couldn't do it. The bank teller is so badly treated that I couldn't overcome the tongue in cheek portrayal. Is two hundred dollars enough incentive to destroy a man's life and cause him to live in fear. Of course, I'm overreacting to an old TV show.

York is so sneaky, petty and hiliarious in this episode of Hitchock Presents. Tritt should have listened to him and just admitted he made a mistake, then paid up. But since he refused, Logan put his mind to work and came up with a dastardly plan.

The only thing that I couldn't suspend belief on was where/how he hid things. Did no one ever check that area? I'm trying not to spoil the episode so don't want to give specifics in case someone ends up watching it for the very first time.

All said, I find that the York episodes end up being some of my favorites. I have a feeling that he could have done "sinister" roles very well. Actors that can easily play fun-loving, goofy/endearing characters I believe can flip it in the other direction just as easily.

Fuddy-duddy banker Tritt (Coolidge) and droll Professor Logan (York) share a dinner table at a respectable boarding house. Logan claims Tritt has shorted him two hundred-dollars to cover a mistake at the bank. Tritt however denies it, but judging from his smug demeanor we suspect the worst. Still, Logan is not one to forgive; plus, he's resourceful as heck. If I were Tritt, I'd give the money back, as the next 20-minutes shows.

Cleverly offbeat premise plays out rather humorously. York is so good at being sly, while Coolidge is perfectly cast as a priggish banker. Suspense comes from wondering what Logan will do next since the twists are anything but predictable. All in all, the entry fits in perfectly with the series emphasis on dark humor.

I am not a great comedy lover, but this one, definitely light hearted from the very beginning, is very pleasant to watch, entertaining, funny and perfectly pulled by Dick York, for whom this role suits like a glove. I won't spoil you the details of this amusing story. A great little AH PRESENTS plot that I recommend to any one.