The End of Indian Summer

A woman takes out a large insurance policy on her husband, who dies shortly afterwards. Everything seems above board, but the senior claims investigator for the insurance company smells a rat. Sound familiar?

This story clearly owes a lot to Double Indemnity, though it is not as deadly serious.

Joe Rogers' reputation is on the line as he is sent to re-investigate the "femme fatale" who has buried two husbands and made $100,000 in the process.

We follow Joe on his journey of discovery. Not a journey of dark psychology, complex plot turns, or even comedy, but one that leads to a satisfying conclusion...

Very ordinary episode. The insurance company has paid out two claims to a widow whose husbands have died shortly after the honeymoon. Foul play is suspected but cremation has done its job and now she is about to be married again. I don't know what the laws were, but an insurance company wouldn't have to issue a third life policy if they did not want to. The agent who sold the original policies is sent with his wife to do surveillance on the old gal. She is pretty good at all this, but, of course, there is a likely third victim, a nice old man who meets our agent. What do you do? There is a Hitchcock twist at the end which is fairly satisfying and pretty predictable.

Another James Cavanagh classic, possibly taken from real life headlines. Fact is stranger than fiction, and how many bizarre stories come from insurance claims?

In this case, Gladys Cooper plays sweet, old Mrs. Gillespie who has buried --and very quickly -- two husbands, both insured for $50,000 each, netting her quite a windfall in her declining years.

What to do about it. Enter Hitchcock favorite Philip Coolidge (as Sam), an insurance company manager and his lead investigator Joe (played by Steve Forrest). Joe naturally pays a visit to Mrs. Gillespie to find out what sort of a lady she is... and does he have his hands full.

Interestingly, another senior citizen called Howard (played by James Gleason) enters the picture. Watch how all this comes together, which will either surprise the heck out of you or make you laugh out loud.

Clever take on the insurance industry, and/or human nature at its very worst. You be the judge.

Dame Gladys Cooper was nominated three times for an Oscar, no doubt a friend of Hitchcock, also born in England. A treat to see James Gleason, a staple in classic mysteries, usually as the detective.

SEASON 2 EPISODE 22 remastered Universal dvd box set. Released 2007. All seven seasons are now on dvd in a single box set.

Robert Stevens was the most prolific director of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents', though not all his work completely succeeded. Most did, such as "Our Cook's a Treasure" as far as previous episodes go, but not all. Also saw "The End of Indian Summer" for the two leads, have always liked Gladys Cooper, who was always a scene stealer to me, and have also liked Steve Forrest in other things (such as standout multiple appearances in 'Murder She Wrote', my introduction to him actually).

While not one of my favourite episodes of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' or of the season "The End of Indian Summer" is still pretty solid. It is not one of the best episodes of the series directed by Stevens, but it is also not one of the weakest. Personally would put it around high middle, and there is nothing to be ashamed of putting anything in that category. There is a lot done right here, just that other episodes of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' did their components better and there is not much exceptional here.

"The End of Indian Summer" has a lot of good. The production values are slick and atmospheric, especially the photography. The audio is suitably ominous, and Bernard Hermann deserves a lot of credit for such an effectively macabre use of Gounod's "Funeral of a Marionette" (which has become quite iconic because of this series), which suits the tone of the series very well.

Moreover, it is well scripted, it doesn't ramble and it isn't cheesy. The story is mostly intriguing and has atmosphere, and benefits from its nice ironic twist. Stevens' direction is more than solid and at its best accomplished, while both Forrest and Cooper give very strong performances in roles perfect for them.

Did feel though that "The End of Indian Summer" was a little lacking in suspense and tension.

As well as a little dragged out later on.

On the whole though, it was a well executed episode. 7/10.

Joe Rogers (Steve Forrest) is an insurance investigator who is in a bit of hot water. After all, he felt that Mrs. Gillespie's husband died of natural causes. But now that the second husband has died the same way, he's convinced she (Gladys Cooper) is out to cheat the insurance company AND kill again. So, he insinuates himself into her life and he learns, naturally, that she's about to marry husband #3! What's next and what is the twist?

This is an enjoyable installment of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents"....neither a bad nor a great episode. The twist is okay...the acting very nice. Not much more to say about this one without having any spoilers.