The Jokester

Yes, this topic looks very close to another one, from Alfred Hitchcock Présents series: BREAKDOWN, starring Joseph Cotten. Not the same topic, but I repeat, very close though. Surprising and unusual plot, far better thann other ones at least.

Albert Salmi is a practical joker. The thing is that his jokes are juvenile and tasteless. He also has an Achilles heel, a neck condition that can cause temporary paralysis. He is a reporter who along with his cronies (among them a young James Coburn) hang around the police station and the morgue, hoping to get inside information. The man who runs that morgue is a sad old fellow who is losing his abilities. He is hard of hearing, can't see well, and he makes mistakes in judgment at times. He also has a sick wife and really needs to keep his job. Salmi's character, instead of feeling for the old guy uses him as his foil. The man is sincere and trusts these men. They play a joke on him, putting Salmi in one of the compartments. He rises from the dead, scaring the old man, who runs to his superior. This could be the last straw for the man and so the joke is doubly cruel. The episode then focuses on Salmi's character and his drunkenness and bad behavior. He gets into it with some hard characters in a local bar. The story is far fetched but like most of these stories, we can enjoy it if we don't think too much. Don't ask too many questions. Just go along for the ride.

All four of Arthur Hiller's previous episodes are watchable, though only "Post Mortem" was great. Likewise with all the other twelve episodes that followed "The Jokester". His output (seventeen episodes altogether) was inconsistent, not unexpected as none of the regular directors for 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' were consistent, but none of his episodes misfired massively or season or series low points. Did like the premise here, though did worry as to whether it would get too silly, and as has been said frequently this reviewer has a thing for good premises.

"The Jokester" mostly did a quite good job with its premise, though did fall short of reaching full potential. It is not as good as "Post Mortem", but despite a few not so minor debits it is a solid outing and proof that Hiller's work was still worth a look. There are far better 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episodes, including the Season 4 opener "Poison", but it is infinitely better than the very weak previous outing "Don't Interrupt" (one of my least favourites of the series).

It is not a great episode. It is very far fetched at the end, with what happens being like being in a universe different to reality like with not checking for a pulse.

Did feel too that it did get too over silly at times and at others a little too cruel.

However, a lot works. Albert Salmi was looking as though he was really enjoying himself, and is an expert mix of the funny and the unsettling. Hitchcock's bookending is amusing, fitting with the story's tone more than ideally, while Hiller's direction is some of his most accomplished.

Moreover, the production values are slick and atmospheric, neither overblown or cheap. The music fitted very well, at times ominous and at other times offbeat. The dialogue is entertaining and thought provoking, while not being too reliant on too much talk.

While the story isn't perfect, it is never dull and isn't too derivative despite it not being novel. It is often suspenseful and it is also darkly offbeat.

Pretty good episode all in all. 7/10.