Safe Conduct

John Banner and Werner Klemperer were both actors who starred in "Hogan's Heroes"....they also were both Jews who fled Nazi Germany and in some ways it must have been satisfying parodying this awful empire in the show. But this wasn't the first time the pair starred in the same show, as both appear in "Safe Conduct", an "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" episode starring Claire Trevor (from such great films as "Stagecoach" and "Key Largo").

Mary Prescott (Trevor) is an American journalist who has been behind the Iron Curtain interviewing the president of some communist country. However, she ends up being duped into smuggling...and a staged investigation occurs. Obviously, these officials want to create some sort of international incident. Is there any hope for the lady or is she gulag-bound?

This episode is clearly a sign of the times. Things were very tense with the Soviet-bloc nations and this came just a few years after the Red Scare of the late 40s and early 50s. As such, it really didn't fit into the style of programs on "Alfred Hitchcock Presents". It also had a very long and talky finale. All in all, well made but a huge disappointment....only worth seeing in order to see Klemperer and Banner.

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.

"Safe Conduct" is Justus Addis' third episode of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents'. The previous two, "Salvage" and "A Bullet for Baldwin", being very good, especially the former. Did like the idea for the story, although it was atypical for the series at this point, as none of the previous episodes did this kind of story, and didn't feel like it fitted. Political intrigue is often interesting though, as long as it is not too heavy handed or over-complicated.

This is another winner from 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' and for Addis. Can totally see why some have said it doesn't feel like it fits within the series (though the series was no stranger to changes of pace, such as "Santa Claus and the Tenth Avenue Kid", and did them very well) and why some may not like it. While "Safe Conduct" is not one of the best Season 1 episodes or one of the 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' classics, to me it was very good.

For my tastes, the ending could have been tauter in pace and suffers from being too long and too talk-heavy. Some of the talk also being a little more complicated than needed, especially if one is not too familiar with this period.

However, "Safe Conduct" is well made visually, especially the photography which has a lot of style and atmosphere. Great use of the setting too. The main theme in the music, "Funeral March for a Marionette" has never been utilised better in film or television, is still haunting and has always fitted perfectly with the tone of the series. Addis directs with tautness and control.

While the dialogue is not always taut enough and requires attention to understand, it is very intelligently written and provokes a lot of thought. The political elements are not overdone or laid on too thick, even if very of the time. The story also isn't perfect, but it is on the most part very absorbing, intrigues constantly and captures the tense unrest of the period perfectly. The characters carry the story very well.

Claire Trevor is on strong steely form, as is Jacques Bergerac. Werner Klemperer and John Banner give solid supporting contributions. Hitchcock's bookending really grew on me all the time, and the droll dryness continues to entertain.

Overall, very well done. 8/10.

This episode deals with that interesting feeling that one gets when traveling under the threat of a government that could arbitrarily detain or arrest someone. Will they accept your passport? Will they identify you as an undesirable? That's what happens here. As she travels in such a location, an American reporter finds herself at the mercy of some pretty scary characters. She is duped by a young soccer player and finds herself under arrest. She is strong, but she knows that she really has little power other than a lot of bluster. She also feels betrayed. This is cold war stuff with an element of spy drama. It builds suspense well and has a satisfying conclusion. Note that there is a contingent of "Hogan's Heroes" characters: John Banner (Sergeant Schultz) and a supposed researcher, Werner Klemperer (Colonel Klink). This is a well done little fifties drama.

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!!

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