Premonition

A minor correction to one post.

Cloris Leachman played Kim Stanger's sister-in-law, not his sister.

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The number of still famous actors in early roles makes this episode a standout. There are also recognizable character actors here as well.

Forsythe gave an outstanding performance at the end of the story. * * * Cloris Leachman later was on "Lassie". She was the boy who owned Lassie's mom. She quit that role because she wanted to do more than be a farm wife who smiled and brought out cookies and wanted to be a serious actress. Those were pretty much the words she used. She was replaced by June Lockhart.

Musician Kim Stanger returns to his hometown, but is troubled by a vague premonition that something is wrong. Indeed, his friends and family seem quite uncomfortable to see him. He particularly wants to see his father, but he learns that his father is dead. His family tells him that his father died of a heart attack while playing tennis four years ago, but Kim finds a number of discrepancies in the details they give him. He insists on finding out what really happened, even when everyone seems determined to stop him from learning the truth.

This episode kept me thinking it was an M. Night Shyamalan story, like there was going to be a twit or a hook but I did not know what it was. Was the main character dead? No, of course not. But something similar, and I have to think that Shyamalan was a big fan of this show growing up.

John Forsythe plays the oddly named 'Kim'. When the episode begins, he's returned home for the first time in four years. Apparently, he and his father had some falling out and Kim left town. But people around him are acting strangely....and he learns that his dad died around the time Kim left....and he claims no one told him! But it's not just that....all the details of the death have been kept from him and everyone is behaving oddly. So he vows to get to the bottom of this and sort out this mystery.

This is a very good episode of "Alfred Hitchcock"....eve better than the first. In fact, because it is better you wonder why "Premonition" is episode 2 and not 1. Regardless, it ha a nice atmosphere and is well worth your time....and it features a pretty amazing cast, with Warren Stevens, Cloris Leachman and George McCready in support.

After a great first episode in "Revenge", expectations were high for the second episode "Premonition". How can one resist such an inviting and ominous sounding title for instance? This episode may not have the extra advantage of being directed by Hitchcock, but it is directed by the most prolific director of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' Robert Stevens in his debut episode. The series had many talented actors involved, in "Premonition's" case we have John Forsythe and a young Cloris Leachman.

"Premonition" is another great episode. It is not quite one of the very finest hours from 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents', but as far as the promising Season 1 goes it's another episode that is in the better half. While it's not my definition of flawless, not many episodes fit that distinction, there is so much to admire here and "Premonition" is also proof that there is very good reason as to why Stevens directed so frequently (the most prolific director) on the series.

There is not much to fault "Premonition" actually. Do still think that the bookending rambles a little, which was not the first or last time that was the case and it's not among the worst either.

Everything else is excellent, with Forsythe's searingly intense and touchingly vulnerable performance and the unpredictable twist, that still shocks, particularly standing out. It's directed with a great feel for atmosphere and efficiency by Stevens, even if he did even better in some of his other episodes at the suspense factor. Leachman is barely recognisable from the later roles she is best known for (her amazing performance in 'Last Picture Show'), and does a fine job as the sister in law. The acting is all fine, George Macready particularly strong.

Furthermore, the production values are suitably moody and professional looking. Have always loved the series' theme tune, with Gounod's "Funeral March of a Marionette" being for me one of the best uses of pre-existing classical music on television (bravo to Bernard Hermmann for suggesting it).

It is tautly scripted and avoids being too melodramatic, which was a danger with this type of story. The story is crisply paced and there is a lot going on without feeling too over-crowded. The atmosphere is suitably suspenseful.

Concluding, great. 9/10.

Good episode throughout. Doesn't exactly drawl you in but doesn't bore either.