Whodunit

This entertaining mini-mystery is characterized by its dry British sense of humor, and by the occasional friendly witticisms about the murder mystery genre. John Williams, with his quintessentially British screen persona, was a good choice for the leading role. The script (by two of the show's regular screenwriters) efficiently adapts the original story into the program's format.

Williams plays a recently-deceased mystery writer who bargains with the recording angel, wanting to return to earth to find out who murdered him. The main story is patterned after the classic style of so many popular British-style detective novels, with some lighter touches that fit in with the premise. Williams does a good job of playing the amateur detective, gently parodying the way that such a character might appear in a book.

The main plot is framed by the two scenes in heaven, with Williams and Alan Napier (as the angel). In these scenes, as in the rest of the episode, the humor is understated and ironic, rather than openly funny. The tone is consistent throughout the story, and it works well if you enjoy the style.

Alfred Hitchcock liked a touch of humor in his stories, and sometimes a lot more than that. This is one example, a mystery writer who thinks he should have no trouble figuring out who murdered him given his last day to live over again. In the end he still needs help figuring it out, but also by then no longer really cares. Indeed, he now wonders how he ended up in Heaven -- only to learn that mystery writers always go there. God apparently has interesting tastes.

Famed mystery and suspense writer Alexander Penn Arlington finds himself in heaven after the shocking revelation that he was murdered over his assumption that he had a heart attack. Arlington talks with his recording angel Wilfred and the two come to an agreement that he can return to earth to live out his last day to discover who murdered him and why?. The question however isn't why but who as Williams plays such a cocky stuck up a** that its hard to imagine he wasn't murdered long before, the revelation of the perpetrator is pretty weak, the only sorta saving grace is the fact that Williams himself admits in the end that he was an a** and doesn't understand how he made it to heaven in the first place, the response to that is sadly even more stupid. I was more interested when Amanda Blake showed up in a rare appearance outside of Gunsmoke then anything else. However, the opening scene of John Williams riding into heaven on a cloud dressed in full angel get up (i.e. wings & harp) maybe one of the funniest things ever.

The premise was quite interesting and it is always nice once in a while to have an episode not directed by a series regular director, one of not many episodes of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' for that to be the case. John Williams, in his third appearance of the series, was always worth watching, providing some memorable turns in for example 'Dial M for Murder'. Same goes for Alan Napier, best known to me as Alfred Pennyworth in the 60s 'Batman' show.

Season 1 had some very good and more episodes. The very difficult to rate and review "Whodunnit" to me is not one of them though. It is not a terrible episode by all means and has its moments, but it didn't really click with me to be honest. 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' was no stranger to changes of pace and mostly did them well, but "Whodunnit" doesn't really do its premise justice and doesn't live up to its initial promise. As far as Season 1 goes, this is one of the weaker entries.

"Whodunnit" does have good things. Napier brings a lot of class and intrigue to his role. Also enjoyed the ironic and droll humour, along with the sophisticated and witty kinds when done well ironic and droll humour is great (less keen on the cruder type, which comedy today is full of). Hitchcock's bookending is typically fun.

It does start very well, intriguingly and humorously. It looks pretty decent. Did like the chemistry between Williams and Napier.

However, Williams is not at his best and this is one of his weaker guest appearances in a role that does not suit him. He does try definitely, but his character's pomposity is very overdone in the writing which made him impossible to connect with. Actually ended up not caring enough about the identity of the murderer. Have seen mixed views on the ending, to me it is more conclusive than has been said but it did feel rushed and took a while for me to get the head round.

Despite starting off promisingly, this promise is not kept all the way through. The rest of the story felt too over-stretched and it also came over as silly and muddled. The sets are on the sparse side and the direction is pretty run of the mill, getting the job done in an alright way but it doesn't ever feel distinguished or inspired.

Concluding, an odd one. 5/10.

Alfred Hitchcock presents a whodunit with difference. Alexander Penn Arlington (John Williams) is a deceased mystery writer who meets the recording angel.

Arlington learns that he had been murdered but the angel could not tell him who was the culprit.

Arlington simply wants to know. He persuades the angel to relive his final day so he can figure out the murderer.

Only to find out that Arlington was a horrid man. There was simply a queue of people who would want to kill him.

I liked how Arlington was shown to be urbane and charming up there at the beginning. Back on Earth he was a nasty piece of work. He did well with a young wife but no wonder she looked elsewhere.

The episode leaves the whodunit as a grey area but Hitchcock confirms it later.