Party Line

Henry Slesar is my favorite Alfred Hitchcock storyteller. This is one of Slesar's weaker efforts. Excellent cast and acting, but a very predictable ending.

I'm skimming reviews and seeing the discussion about no twist ending being a disappointment. I didn't mind. I feel like this is a well told story and the actresses and actors did a great job with their performances.

Our episode centers on Helen. She's a nasty piece of work. And I like how all the things she said/did got reflected right back at her.

Helen doesn't have much going on in her life. She loves to eavesdrop on the party line, talk badly about others and she loves to play Bingo. She's constantly bragging about the two games she won in a row.

Heywood Miller shares the party line with Helen. Needless to say, I imagine that man doesn't get to talk much on his telephone. He complains about the ladies yammering on the telephone. He says he has to make an important call. The ladies hang up but Helen picks the phone back up and eavesdrops while listening to Heywood placing a bet. Helen doubles down on the nastiness and makes a snide remark to Heywood while they're at the butcher shop together.

Time for tripling the nasty behavior. Helen's back on the phone again when Heywood picks up the phone and says his wife needs a doctor, it's an emergency! Does Helen get off the phone? Nope. Heywood's wife ends up dying and this backstory ends as we pick up in Helen's present day life. She's still the same as ever but now she's got a dog!

The Sheriff comes to Helen's place and tells her that Heywood Miller escaped from prison. It turns out the death of Heywood's wife really set him off in a bad direction. He's been in prison but he's (rightfully) been nursing that grudge against Helen. He's out looking for blood.

Helen doesn't have anywhere to go.. she told the Sheriff that she doesn't get along with her sister so it's not like she could go there to wait for Heywood to be recaptured. So she stays at home with her dog Nemo. But Nemo's ran out and left Helen by herself. Helen's freaked and this all is when her rotten behavior is mirrored back at her. The new phone line ladies are trash talking Helen while Helen overhears. Helen hilariously tries calling them out about them being busy bodies, do they ever get any work done since they're always on the phone? One of the ladies slams that hilarious argument down since Helen's calling the kettle black.

Remember how Helen wouldn't get off the phone when Heywood's wife was having an emergency? It's payback time for Helen because now these ladies won't get off the phone for Helen's emergency! Heywood's now in the house and he's truly about to finish Helen off. Truly couldn't have happened to a nicer person.

When I was in junior high school, we had a party line. The number of rings indicated whom the call was for. I remember we were one long and two short. We actually experienced what's in this show. My father died when I was quite young. One time it was obvious we needed a doctor or an ambulance. My mother could not get the neighbors off the phone. He managed to survive this time, but it was terrifying nevertheless. People definitely listened to each other's calls and because a lot of them were lonely, they often spent all day on the phone. Of course, the cell phone is the same, although no one else can listen in. I felt great relief when we finally got a private line.

No question. I agree with the last reviewer... not too many folks today may know exactly what a "party line" is. Basically, you shared a phone line with other people, also allowing you to (secretly) listen in on their conversations?

Such is the case for super snoop Helen (played by comedian Judy Canova) who is addicted to her party line. In the meantime, the police tell her to be on the lookout for Heywood Miller ( menacing Arch Johnson), who blames her for the death of his wife. As soon as you hear that, you probably could guess Helen is not a particularly popular woman. Biggest question, can and will she be able to call the cops?

Wait and see.

Fabulous cast of supporting actors; Ellen Corby (the WALTONS) as one of Helen's neighbors, deadpan Royal Dano (who rarely smiled) and Ted Knight (playing Maynard), in a very early tv role. One thing many fans did not know is Ted also worked as a voice actor in the 60s and 70s for all the Superman and Batman cartoon series, a hero to all us kids.

A tribute to Judy Canova, mother of Diana Canova (SOAP), who was a radio star, later in movies playing hillbillies and goofy characters. It was her characters that may have inspired the BEVERLY HILLBILLIES. A rare dramatic role for her, and she is the whole show. The very best from writer Henry Slesar, who could turn out some thrillers.

From SEASON 5 EPISODE 33 remastered Universal dvd box set. 5 dvd set. A collectors box.

Until the 1960s and 70s, many of the phones Americans used were 'party line' phones. This means that you shared a line with several other families and you'd have to take turns making and receiving phone calls. And, it also meant that since you were all using the same line, you could, if you were a jerk, pick up the phone and listen to others' conversations! "Party Line" is about Helen Parch (Judy Canova), a jerk who loves listening to others on the party line and who is pretty despicable.

A police detective arrives to talk to Miss Parch. A Mr. Miller has escaped from prison and he has ample reason to hate Helen. It seems that his wife was dying years ago and he tried to call for help...and Helen refused to get off the phone to allow him to make that call! So, she not only loves to listen in on others' conversations, but she has no empathy for anyone...none. And, if he is planning on killing Helen, you really are rooting for the guy!

This guest appearance was a real departure for Judy Canova. When she was younger, she was known for her 'hillbilly' act....in which she'd yodel, dance and tell corny jokes. I've seen her doing this in a few films and it's certainly an acquired taste that I never was able to acquire! Here, however, she is branching out and I appreciated this...and there's no trace of her usual persona. She's excellent as the god-awful Helen Parch!

So is this a good episode? Yes, because it manages something unusual....it has you rooting to see someone murdered! Your sympathies certainly aren't with Miss Parch and it's enjoyable seeing her get a taste of her own medicine! Not a big surprise here...but still very enjoyable!