Total Loss

Not bad plot, a drama involving a character suffering from money issue and ready at anything to solve this problem. Nothing really exciting, but the twist ending is the only element that justifies the watch. Just routine story to achieve the thirty none episodes for the fourth season. There has been worse, but also better.

May I add to the other excellent reviews here, this one slight observation: What a world it was when Hitchcock, during his droll introduction, could dissuade "...those who suspect they've wandered into a production of Salomé, with me playing the part of John the Baptist," because we see only his head above a steam cabinet. Today's producers would never permit any show to assume this level of cultural literacy among its audience. And more's the pity.

While I'm at it: Nancy Olson and Ralph Meeker are totally winning and perfectly cast. It's an above-average episode but not one of the best. Still very much worth watching.

This episode has always fascinated me because there's so much realism to it. Ask any fire chief out there who will share some bizarre insurance scam stories.

Nancy Olson, in a very convincing performance, plays Jan, the desperate owner of a once thriving dress shop that is losing business fast. After her bank cancels a loan, comes a suggestion from crafty salesman Ralph Meeker (as Mel). He claims it can be rigged very easily to burn the place down, write it off as a total loss and collect a big, fat insurance check. Just like that...

This is potent stuff, and you feel sorry for Jan. The business is her life. Realistically though, she could have just sold her more expensive dresses at any cost, take the loss, and start all over. But we're in Hitchcock-LAND and Mel is a force to be reckoned with.

Don Taylor, who directed seven episodes, brings out some good performances here, especially Ralph Meeker, a cross between a shameless love 'em and leave 'em type and a real con. Take your pick. Taylor, who had a long career, directed many episodes for LASSIE.

Believe it or not, written by Robert Lees, behind ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN, many other classic A & C films.

This episode was a return to Hollywood for Nancy Olson, who retired from the screen five years earlier. She would next appear in Walt Disney's POLLYANNA.

Dedicated to us armchair thrill seekers. SEASON 4 EPISODE 17 remastered Universal dvd box set. 5 dvds. 2008 release.

After being refused a bank loan, a struggling dress shop owner (Olson) is tempted by fast- talking salesman (Meeker) into recouping her losses illegally.

On the whole, it's an average episode, distinguished nonetheless by typical series strengths of fine acting and ironical ending. Olson makes such a sympathetic business owner, it's hard not to suffer with her. Her career was largely built on an attractive wholesome quality that's just right for the part. Then too, was there ever any actor better at a cocky swagger than Ralph Meeker, e.g. Kiss Me Deadly (1955). Here his leering smile and line of blarney is half-charming and half-obnoxious. Too bad Jan (Olson) can't resist those martinis he keeps plying her with. Watch too for that fine utility actor Dave Willock, a familiar face, as the affable claims adjustor.

Nothing special here, except average Hitchcock, but average Hitch is so much better than average anything else of its time.

A young entrepreneur runs a dress shop. She has little experience in buying and has overstocked the store. Her inventory causes her to fall into financial trouble. To make matters worse, along comes sales rep, Ralph Meeker, who is on the hunt for her. When her request for an increase on her loan is turned down, he takes her out for drinks and proposes that arson may be her best bet. He explains that he can pull it off with the help of a friend. She doesn't agree, but has so many martinis that her memory is not the best. While she is sleeping, her phone rings. The store is on fire. What transpires is one of those things where justice doesn't always work its way out.

The young woman, Nancy Olson, is a hard working, loving, driven person. We can't help but feel for her, but the fates seem to step in.