Revenge

I used to think this episode was highly original but I just discovered that the story is a copy from the first story in the first edition of the Crime Suspenstories Magazine, from 5 years early. The story is practically the same, except the victim on the magazine is the protagonist's father. Even so, it's a good episode. I think it's even better tham the original story from wich this derives. It has a tense atmosphere and is well directed. For those curious about it, I recomend to search for a copy of the first Crime Suspenstories edition to see how similar the stories are.

When Carl Spann (Ralph Meeker)'s wife Elsa (Vera Miles) is assaulted by an unknown attacker, he drives his still-incoherent wife around town, hoping she can point him out, so he can kill him.

As the debut episode, this is definitely a strong one. When you only have twenty minutes to tell a whole story, you have to be good. Hitchcock himself directs this one, and it has a nice plot with solid characters and better than average actors.

In many ways, this show is more like a series of mini-movies. And a little bit darker than "Twilight Zone". Well, maybe not darker. But set in more realistic settings than some of the "Twilight Zone" episodes. They are great companions.

Very first episode of AHP features Vera Milks, a Hitchcock favorite, and Ralph Meeker as a couple who has just moved into a trailer park by the sea. An engineer, he is starting a new job and she, a former ballerina, is recovering from a nervous breakdown. On the husband's return from work on their very first night there, he finds his wife in a state of shock and near-death, having been assaulted by an intruder. Their doctor advises the husband to move her into a motel and away from the park, and let her recuperate there. Meanwhile, the husband vows to kill the rapist if he is ever found. Classic stuff, very much playing like a movie, only in a half-hour format. The master himself directed. The early scenes with Miles and Meeker are incredibly sensual for their time and the fact that this was a 1955 TV show. The husband awakens his wife with a kiss as he prepares to leave for work, and she embraces him so passionately that we have no doubt what she has in mind. After he leaves and a kindly neighbor (Benederet) comes over to pay a visit, we see the wife wearing only a man's shirt. The camera lovingly lingers on her perfectly shaped bare legs and thighs as the two women sit and chat. In the next scene, she is shown wearing (for the time) a revealing bathing suit as she prepares to sunbathe out in front of the trailer. The camera proceeds to do a slow head-to-toe shot of her as she sunbathes, again lingering on her shapely legs (supposedly seen through Benederet's eyes, which gives the astute viewer pause to reflect and wonder). The contrast between this voluptuous character and the zombie-like creature she becomes is incredible. Hitchcock knew how to draw the best out of the lovely Miles, who appeared in no fewer than three of his movies. A must see.

The very first episode of master filmmaker Alfred Hitchcocks' legendary TV series stands as a fine example of his style. His flair for atmosphere and sense of humor are in full bloom here. And he gets great performances out of his very engaging star duo.

Ralph Meeker ("Kiss Me Deadly") and Vera Miles ("Psycho") are newlyweds who have relocated to a coastal California trailer park. She's a former ballerina on indefinite leave after a breakdown. Then, one day during his first day at his new job, she is assaulted by a mystery assailant. Driven by the need to *do* something about the situation, Meeker starts driving Miles around in the hope that she'll spot and identify her attacker.

Without my spoiling too much, I did like the message behind the plot (this debut episode was scripted by Francis M. Cockrell, based on a story by Samuel Blas). It does cram a fair bit of story - through both exposition and action - into a half-hour time slot, and in the end I couldn't help but be amused at the way the plot was resolved. Just like any good story, it has you considering various possibilities and interested in seeing how it develops.

All in all, a solid start for a series which I've been told had its ups and downs. Of course, any episode with Hitch in the drivers' seat would have automatically stood a greater chance for success.

Also featuring Frances "Aunt Bee" Bavier.

Seven out of 10.

This episode was the greatest way to give you an idea of what this exceptional series was about. It is short but gritty, terrific, with an ending which is impossible to forget. This short episode is a pure gem in terms of everything; camera angle, acting, dialogues, suspense. I don't want to spoil this story any further and I advise you very strongly to watch this one. It is impossible for you to ignore, despise or dislike this story. Not every episode will be the very same quality of this one, but it is not important. Just sit in your coach and enjoy. You will have many more episodes to enjoy.