The End of Indian Summer

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.

Engaging Hitchcock half-hour. Insurance investigator Rogers (Forrest) is ordered to follow up on a life insurance beneficiary (Cooper) who's suspiciously collected big money on two dead husbands. So, did Rogers screw up earlier by letting her collect under suspicious circumstances. Worse, she's taken out a new policy on an intended new husband. So Rogers better get to work fast. But who's that stranger who keeps turning up as Rogers investigates. Since it's Hitch, we know things aren't as they seem.

I like that opening exchange between Rogers and his boss (Coolidge). Hostility simmers beneath the well-written needling. And what a sweetie is Rogers' wife Katleen Maguire. I kept worrying for her well-being. Anyway, the upshot's a really ironical one. In my book, it's among Hitch's best, and one I certainly didn't see coming. Note that Hitch's epilog doesn't set things right as it usually does. There's not much action, but overall the episode's engaging and well thought out.

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.

I was not that excited by this plot. It looks like a drama, thriller drama, which is the case for many AH PRESENTS episodes, and only the ending is really surprising. I would have imagined a twist ending, but not this way. This scheme offered the opportunity to propose many many kinds of endings but not this one. Very smart, one of the most brilliant I remember so far in the show. It is not boring however, only interesting enough - not riveting - to keep you awake. I repeat, only the ending is a pure jewel.

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.