Total Loss

Or not even any kind of loss at all, the complete opposite. "Total Loss" is the penultimate Don Taylor-directed 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episode, the penultimate one of seven. All of his seven outings are watchable and above, the weakest "Fatal Figures" (between that and "The Deadly") of the previous episodes still being decent if uneven. Though only "The Right Kind of House" was properly great in my view ("The Crocodile Case" came close) of his episodes.

"Total Loss" is a good penultimate episode for Taylor and is in the solid middle category ranking Season 4, a mostly solid one though with a few major bumps (i.e. "Don't Interrupt"). Of Taylor's episodes too, "Total Loss" is around the middle in ranking, not "The Right Kind of House" level but better than "The Deadly" and "Fatal Figures" (closest to "Listen Listen"). It is not much out of the ordinary story wise, but is compensated by the acting and the ending in particular. A lot is good here in "Total Loss", but it falls short of greatness.

It is a bit lacking when it comes to the suspense and the pacing could have been tighter early on, a little less talk would have solved that.

Did think too that the build up to the end was a little on the awkward side.

However, there is so much that is done incredibly well. Nancy Olson plays one of the season's most sympathetic lead characters very movingly and Ralph Meeker manages the balance of deceptive charm and cockiness very well without falling into the potential trap of being annoying. The two work very well together. Hitchcock's bookending is amusing and dry humoured and Taylor's direction is assured throughout.

Moreover, visually it is simple but doesn't look threadbare or cheap, did like the photography. The theme tune deserves its classic status. Most of the writing is thought provoking and intriguing and the story intrigues while easy to follow, the highlight being the nicely ironic ending.

Concluding, good if not great. 7/10.

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.

Jan (Nancy Olson) is a widow who runs her own dress shop. While she is very good at this in some ways, her business sense is lacking and her shop is deeply in depth and swamped in inventory. Here friend (Ralph Meeker) has a solution...burn the place to the ground and claim the insurance! Well, after not being able to get any loans and without any good options, she considers his plan.

This is a pretty good but not exactly amazing episode of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" and it strongly illustrates the idea that you should keep your mouth shut and say as little as possible when you are in trouble....and Jan, clearly, did not heed this advice. Well written and interesting.

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.