Safe Conduct

It's off-pattern Alfred Hitchcock's presents, a point outside the curve, it wasn't properly bad, actually far away from that, just doesn't fit on the early concept which the master developed the series, his usual intro somehow saves the day, when he forgot the name of the episode pointedly.

The story takes place in a night train (what was a favorite spot on Hitchcock's movies) creating a bleak atmosphere, where an renowned American newspaper correspondent Mary Prescott (Claire Trevor) is coming from a nameless nation of the iron curtain straight to West Germany, she was addressed by a notorious soccer player Jan Gubak (Jacques Bergerac) asking for your help to keep hidden a priceless wristwatch with diamond encrusted with her belongs, due Mary's luggage already had the seals of customs, such watch will be sell to afford his sister's operation at hospital on West Germany, the good heart Mary accepts for human reasons eve knowing that was in jeopardy.

Sadly reaching near of final destination the unexpected comes, Jan uncannily accuses the naïve Mary smuggles the valuable watch without reporting the authorities, she was debriefed by the train's custom's authorities, even Mary claiming that was framed by Jan, well this episode would be a great spying thriller, in my view doesn't add up in this conceptual series, although the story is highly compiled!!

Thanks for reading.

Resume:

First watch: 2021 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7.5.

I don't know what this story has to do in the ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS series; it is no more no less than a Cold War plot, Behind The Iron Curtain story. And the very ending is so flat and lousy. This episode belongs to the worst of the show. The good thing is the acting and directing. But I don't recommend it at all. You can live without it. Claire Trevor has always been convincing in her roles and here she is perfect. It's such a shame that it was for such a flat plot. Not the AH PRESENTS scheme I expected. I prefer forgetting it. Now it's up to you, after all the length is only twenty five minutes.

Alfred Hitchcock does his bit to fight off the red peril. As well as stay in Senator Mccarthy's good books.

Mary Prescott (Claire Trevor) is a the go getting American journalist who has been invited to go behind the Iron Curtain.

She has interviewed the head of state of an East European nation and is now heading back to West Germany.

On the train is well known footballer Jan Gubak. He won his nation the world cup trophy.

Jan has been critical of his country. He is on his way to see his sister in Munich, she is having an operation.

Mary offers to looks after a valuable watch, which Jan hopes to raise money for her operation. It is illegal to take out currency and items of value from the country.

In a turn of events. Jan tells the authorities that Mary is smuggling a watch over and she is arrested.

It turns out that the watch was of little value. So what was Jan's game?

Not much of a twist. All it shows that people from this communist countries cannot be trusted. Hidden spies and double agents. It's really a propaganda piece.

If Jan's sister could not afford the operation. How did she end up in hospital in Munich?

American journalist Mary Prescott is traveling on a train out of the Iron Curtain, after having meet with its dictator to talk about a variety of things. After having her luggage checked, she is then introduced to local celebrity Jan Gubak a famous soccer player who everyone seems to love. Gubak manages to talk Prescott into smuggling a watch which belonged to his grandmother across the country for him since her bags have already been check. However, strangely Gubak turns Prescott in telling officials that she has smuggled the watch from across country. Prescott is put in the trains jail facility, but, Gubak has a more interesting plan up his sleeve and what might it be?. An Interesting tale of intrigue made good primarily due to the time period this be 1956, and the Cold War going on pretty strong this is a nice piece of story telling for a time when television was still very young and new. The other is the fine cast of familiar faces Jacques Bergerac and Claire Trevor are both really good in there roles, and I have to admit it was pretty great to see both Werner Klemperer and John Banner in a early screen appearance together almost 10 years before the two would star along side each other in "Hogan's Heroes". Overall, this is a very well crafted story, with some really good performances.

This episode of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" features a well-crafted story of intrigue and atmosphere. The Cold War setting is central to the story, and it would probably have given the show even more of an impact in its own era, but the quality of the writing and acting allow the suspense and mystery to hold up quite well, even though the tensions it depicts are now only a matter of history.

The story has Claire Trevor as an American journalist, traveling in an unspecified Communist country, and meeting the nation's soccer hero on the train. They both become involved in a story of smuggling, interrogation, and suspicion, which features a number of nice twists and turns. Trevor and Jacques Bergerac are well-cast and give good performances, with Trevor as the forthright American and Bergerac as a patriot who must maintain a more dangerous balance between his position and his real feelings.

A lot of little things add up to make it enjoyable to watch. The Communist officials are portrayed in a very human way, not as stereotypes. The childlike joy that some of the soldiers show while discussing soccer contrasts with their anxious efficiency in investigating the smuggling accusations that arise. The settings likewise are simple but effective, creating a believable atmosphere.

The exposition scene is, perhaps of necessity, rather lengthy, but it is handled well by the stars. More importantly, the finale ties everything up neatly and in a way that lends some extra substance to the story as a whole.