The Safe Place

Robert H. Harris is a very ordinary looking and talented actor. Apparently the producers of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" liked him and his acting, as he appeared on eight different episodes! Here, Harris plays George Piper, a very reliable bank teller who has worked at the same bank for many years. However, no one realizes that although he's been above reproach, he has a plan to murder a gambler who has an account in the bank and use it to finance a business deal with his brother. And, the plan sure seems foolproof...and ultimately, it sure isn't!

I wouldn't consider this a great episode...though it is among the better ones. It has a wonderful twist that comes out of the blue and it's well worth your time and effort. Very well written and Harris, as usual, is excellent as the mild mannered and reliable killer!

It is a plot that lets you just awake, not more. Not a bad story but totally uninteresting and above all forgettable. The ending is just a bit a twist one, just a bit. I don't known what to say really to advise you to watch this one. Light hearted without being funny and entertaining enough to keep you awake for twenty five minutes.

No one would mistake short, stout, bald Robert H. Harris for a ladies man. But here his bank teller George Piper manages the ladies as well as he does counting out the cash. The question is just what else is behind that mild looking exterior, especially when his brother Fred (Paris) arrives with a shady proposition. Will Piper now be taking out an, uh, unauthorized loan.

Harris again shows why he was a series favorite, specializing in the sly and unexpected. But I especially like the sort-of-pretty Joanne Linville. Her Miss Manners (perfect name) is vulnerable in a subtly poignant way. Then there's the overbearing bank manager Farnsworth (Holmes), the type of boss you might like to take a poke at. But who cast the tall, handsome Jerry Paris as Harris's brother—that's a real stretch.

The 30 minutes is more a character study than suspenseful or chilling in typical Hitchcock style. Nonetheless, there's enough interest to keep you guessing how it will end, though I'm not sure I buy the triggering action from Farnsworth. Seems like the writer could have come up with something less problematic. All in all, average fare from the best anthology series of the 50's.

British writer Michael Hogan, who adapted REBECCA (1940) to the wide screen for Hitchcock, gives us a memorable lesson on high finance. 10 stars.

The master of characters, Robert H. Harris returns, this time playing George, a bank teller, experienced with handling other people's money. A gambler happens to catch his eye, also a bank customer, and he decides to separate him from his cash by simply killing him.

George has serious plans for the money, believing an investment could make him rich, but how to conceal the crime? Why not put it back into the bank? Actually a very clever idea, although you know this chap is going to face a Hitchcock complication.

Bank tellers and office workers with sticky fingers seemed to interest Hitch, and this may be one of the best ironic tales of 'em all. You be the judge.

Harris is supported by Joanne Linville (Millie), a fantastic actress in her own right. James Neilson, who directed a total of 12 episodes, handles this perfectly. You can't take your eyes off Harris. Look for comedian and director Jerry Paris as Harris' brother, and what a sorry team they make.

Best of SEASON 3 remastered Universal dvd box set. 2007 release. 5 dvds. 16 hrs running time.

This is another one of those episodes where we actually pull for the guy. While he is a despicable masher who cares about no one but himself, he does set up a great pension for himself by using murder as his vehicle. Unfortunately, he doesn't count on variables that can do in the whole plan. He also doesn't allow himself to keep a low profile. He is combative and arrogant and this is his downfall. This is another case of a person who doesn't think things through. When painting a floor, always leave yourself an out. He, unfortunately for him, leaves himself no options. This is pretty well done, though the concluding scene seems a bit strained. It does have that nice Hitchcock twist and I enjoyed it.