None Are So Blind

Hurd Hatfield is perfect in this role that suits him like a glove; I would have seen a like of Georges Sanders in this poisonous, cynical dandy dude. The kind of heavy that you also could see in COLUMBO series as Peter Falk's nemesis planning the perfect murder. That makes me say that it's a shame that Hatfield never played against the dirty raincoat weared lieutnant. But back to this episode, yes, that's a real good one.

This is another episode with an inheritance at stake, and a wealthy ne'er do well (Hurd Hatfield) willing to kill to get it. Our pretentious protagonist narrates a good part of the tale. He imagines he should have lived during the Renaissance. He says things like "I never worry about age. I have the sort of bone structure that lasts."

Seymour (that's his symbol-laden name) tells us fairly early on about his plan to kill his aunt, so that's not where the suspense lies. Instead, it's about how the plan will inevitably fail (or will it succeed in the story, only to have Hitch tells us he was caught afterward?).

It's an interesting character. The ending is kind of silly - there's a dramatic ta-da! effect - but I don't mind that.

There are a few interest points here. One is that it is directed by the most prolific 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' director Robert Stevens, who did do some misfires ("The Hidden Thing") but also some truly fine episodes. Two is that it starred some good talent such as Hurd Hatfield and Mildred Dunnock in the cast. Three is that there have been some inevitable comparisons to Season 1's "The Perfect Murder", which is agreed a better eisode, and can see why.

"None are So Blind" is worth watching enough for anybody on a 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' binge and for anybody that loves the master of suspense (count me as one of those people). Yet it falls rather short of its potential. It is not one of the worst episodes of Season 2 but also not one of the best, up to this point none of the five episodes of the season have bowled me over. Stevens did direct better and worse, this is somewhere in the middle for him, and there are better and worse episodes of the series.

Am going to begin with the good. Hatfield is an elegant and later unnerving presence, which suited the role very well. Dunnock is in a role that plays to her strengths and she gives it plenty of grit. This is definitely a case of the cast being better than the episode. Hitchcock's bookending is intriguing and amusing as ever.

Furthermore, "None are So Blind" is solidly made, the photography having some nice atmosphere, there is some assured if not distinguished direction from Stevens and "Funeral March of a Marionette" is never going to stop being memorable. There is some nice suspense in the middle when Hatfield's character darkens. The script intrigues.

Having said all of that, "None are So Blind" is flawed. The story on the whole is pretty derivative, being too closely indebted to "The Perfect Murder" (except that episode was more realistic and suspenseful), occasionally silly and the suspense could have been more consistent.

Did feel that the script is too talky and that the episode goes too far in making Hatfield's character as hard to like as possible (making the aunt being so easily manipulated hard to buy or see much appeal in him). Will agree that the episode is most let down by the truly silly and too gimmicky ending. Being memorable but not for the right reasons.

In conclusion, acceptable but not exceptional. 6/10.

In the first season of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", Hurd Hatfield starred in an episode called "The Perfect Murder". In it, he and his brother are upset that their aunt inherits money that they feel is rightfully theirs....so they plan on murdering her (Mildred Natwick). Here in season two in "None Are So Blind", the plot is VERY similar and the aunt is played by a different Mildred...Mildred Dunnock.

When the episode begins, you learn that Seymour (Hatfield) did not inherit his father's estate and instead this aunt (Dunnock) did. The reason is that Seymour is very vain, lazy and irresponsible and he'd likely blow through the money in short order. Of course, he will likely inherit this upon the death of his aunt....and he then concocts a complicated plan to do away with her.

The twist at the end seemed,...well...kind of silly. I loved Hatfield's acting...but the twist just seemed poor...at best. This and the similarity of the two episodes (too much) are why I only score this one a 5.

This isn't the first time this series has explored the story of the lazy descendent that decides he wants to inherit a rich loved ones wealth so he decides to kill them with there stupidity coming back to get them in the end. The same applies here and we have Hurd Hatfield pretty much doing the same thing he did in the season one episode "The Perfect Murder", funny both actresses playing the Aunts are named Mildred to. This one isn't as good as that one, but, I enjoyed it all the same the build up is fine, but, it's the twist which is lacking in my opinion.