The Last Dark Step

Again, I adore Robert Horton's appearances on Alfred. I'm not sure if it's on purpose or just strokes of luck that a couple of Robert's episodes have his character living off a woman. I sometimes watch Wagon Train...especially if the episodes center on Flint (Robert's character on the series) and it kinda confuses me when Robert Horton passed away a few years ago that you didn't have media publications like TV Guide at least writing something in their magazine about him. He was a good actor and deserved the appreciation/spotlight imo.

Anyway, our episode features on three characters. Brad and Leslie aren't the best people in the world and you can see that by the plans they have for each other. Our third character is Janice.

Brad has been in a relationship with Leslie and been living off her. Brad's ready to move on. He's found a new love in Janice. But Leslie's not happy about that at all. Leslie goes into attack mode when it concerns Janice and she also goes into attack mode when it concerns how Leslie's willing to live a smaller/less expensive lifestyle so Brad's the one getting the perks out of the relationship. Janice wouldn't do that for you.

But this doesn't stop Brad. He sees only one way to get rid of somebody like Leslie and it's of course what you'd expect on this series. He kills her. But Leslie has done something that Brad's gonna end up on the hook for. Leslie has killed Janice and she's done it with Brad's knife!

Brad's really into it now. Detectives are at his place and he's completely in the dark about Janice's death. He thinks they're talking about Leslie! They clear that up and reveal they're talking about Janice. Brad's in shock by all of this as the episode ends. The ending is pretty interesting as you see just how trapped Brad is. Brad's about to confess that he was on the beach and he cuts himself off as he realizes Leslie's corpse will be at that beach. So Brad's truly gonna go down, whether it's a set up murder or the murder he truly committed.

I'd highly recommend this one as well, terrific writing and acting!

If only every AH PRESENTS episode could be like this one; I mean short, taut, sharp as a knife, as a razor's edge, and revealing a terrific ending. It s simple to follow, not too many characters nor a complex plot that you take thirty minutes and several viewings to understand. One of the best of the whole show for me, just after or the same level as the first one. I just advise you to watch it at all costs.

This would have been an interesting case for Perry Mason, but Hitchcock gives it a try.

Handsome Robert Horton plays Brad, one of those works of art who shamelessly juggles his life between two women. Of course, one of them (played by Fay Spain) is paying all the bills and listening to his baloney. Brad's plan is to simply dump her and go with the other. Period and no regrets.

There's only one Hitch, and pardon the pun. Leslie (Spain) is not so willing to let him go, and claims there will be dire consequences. Joyce Meadows plays Janice, his other love, who also plays for keeps.

Watch what happens, if you dare.

A fabulous tale, written by William Jerome Fay, who shot to fame after he wrote the "Man From the South" story starring Peter Lorre and Steve McQueen. Remember? He penned 14 solid episodes for the master of suspense.

Fay Spain, who began her career as a card dealer in Reno, was the queen of 50s cult films, later in many top tv shows. In the 70s, best remembered as Mrs. Roth in the GODFATHER, PART II. Fay is a knockout in this role, perhaps her best part ever on tv.

Great late night soap opera material. SEASON 4 EPISODE 18 remastered dvd box set. 2008.

I have always been a fan of Robert Horton and regret that he became typecast as a Western star as a result of his "Wagon Train" success. Before his tenure on that show, he did a lot of interesting work outside of the Western genre. Apparently, Hitchcock saw in him a lot of potential and used him in seven episodes of the show.

This is his best appearance. In it he is no "Flint McCullough" but rather a user and a gigolo. Heroes are a dime a dozen, but good heavies are worth their weight in gold. Horton proves he can be both hero and heavy in this role. This story is essentially a deadly love triangle built around two people who struggle to be more controlling and manipulative than the other. Without giving away anything, we do find that last laughs are best. This is one of the all time classic endings to any episode. The only episode with a more twisted ending than this one is "Final Escape" which, in this writer's opinion, was the zenith of all such endings. This one is a close second. If you are a fan of the show, this one is a "must see."

I have to say I was very impressed with the acting performance in this piece. Specifically Fay Spain who plays Leslie. I've never heard of her nor seen her in anything that I can remember. Especially in this time period in USA/Hollywood productions the best acting always came from the unknowns, never from the stars. That being said I was less impressed by the story. It needed a lot more time and the ending left me wanting. It just didn't hit me at all and while I often feel many movies an tv series overexplain too much and leave to little to the imagination, in this case it's the opposite. I would have liked to dig more into story. I'd rather had seen this later on when Alfred Hitchcock Presents became an hour long.