Mother, May I Go Out to Swim?

John (William Shatner) is a mama's boy in every sense. Instead of moving out and getting on with his life, his mother had an apartment added on to the house. And, when he talks about his mother (Jessie Royce Landis) throughout the show, it seems very creepy, as he refers to how beautiful she is and calls her by her first name. This could pose a problem when John falls for Lotte (Gia Scala), as you just cannot imagine him or his mother letting go so easily when the subject of marriage is broached.

Although William Shatner is one who has been made fun of for his staccato delivery on "Star Trek", here he's very good and natural. The problem with the show actually has nothing to do with the acting but the plot...which had little in the way of a twist. An interesting story but with a poor resolution.

Having watched so many of these shows, I knew exactly what happened. William Shatner (John) is sitting, waiting for a decision on an indictment for murder. We then go into flashback. John lives with his mother in the most Oedipal of ways. She has latched on to him after the death of her husband. They have an intense (not sexual) relationship. He is comfortable and she makes sure he has what he wants. One day he goes to a gift shop to get some film for his camera and meets Lottie. She is pretty and mature and a survivor of the war. He falls for her but every time they're together, he needs to contact his mother. She knows what is going on and knows this will not work out. It's a really uncomfortable to watch. By the way, an enraged Shatner has a nearly Satanic look about him.

You don't often find an episode of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" that is so paint-by-numbers, but "Mother, May I Go Out to swim?" definitely fits that category.

William Shatner (whose TV work pre-Trek is always fun to watch) plays a pathetic spoiled mama's boy who can't seem to do anything without momma's approval. He meets a gorgeous woman working in a gift shop and they become tight, despite her doubts since he is a mama's boy after all. And mama herself, is an uppity, unlikable pretentious snob.

The "happy" couple have to tell mama that they are getting married, which of course leads to a "shock" ending. Only thing is, this "shock" ending is so predictable and something that you can see coming from miles away.

It's fun to watch Shatner act, and Gia Scala is absolutely gorgeous as his bride-to-be, she's the main reason to watch actually, she's stunning. Just don't expect too much else at all.

This "AHP" episode from 1960 is clever and it takes a twist at the end that you as the viewer might not see coming! Also it's special for it features some of the early works of the legendary William Shatner("T.J. Hooker"). Anyway Shatner stars as John a man who's attached to mom he's a mamma's boy, yet all of a sudden when John meets an international lady a new attractive woman named Lottie all of a sudden John wants away from mom. So after mom finds out about John's girlfriend a plan and a trip is thought up only things don't go as planned! Overall this episode take a twist it's memorable and clever with wit proving life is not always as it seems!

You have to love stories like this, the Hitch challenge.

An early role for William Shatner, proving he was a fine actor, experimenting with some offbeat material. He made a smooth bad guy for one thing, (check out his later appearances on COLUMBO and BARNABY JONES). Chalk this up to show prep, long before his heroic STAR TREK days.

James Cavanagh wrote the episode, a total of 15 for Hitch, and I agree with the last reviewer, there are eerie shades of Norman Bates. Jessie Royce Landis plays Shatner's over protective mother, very similar role she played (as Cary Grant's mom) in NORTH BY NORTHWEST. Cavanagh pushed the envelope a bit as you will see.

In this strange tale, mother warns her homebody son of troubled waters ahead should he mix and mingle? Heaven forbid. In steps beautiful Gia Scala as the "new" lady in his life, who could also be very persuasive. Who's going to win the macabre tug of war? Again, the Hitch challenge.

Interestingly, Cavanagh originally wrote the first draft of PSYCHO for Hitch, later turning the project over to horror specialist Robert Bloch, who expanded the "mother complex."

Early role for Gia Scala, who next appeared in the GUNS OF NAVARONE.

Watch this dynamic trio in action.

SEASON 5 EPISODE 26 remastered CBS dvd box set. 5 dvds, collectors edition. All seven half hour season episodes are on dvd in a single box. Released 2022.