The Last Dark Step

This has all the elements of a true Hitchcock mystery. We have a man who would like to start fresh, begin a romance with a young, innocent (but rich) woman. Unfortunately for him, he has baggage up to here, most notably a sugar momma relationship with a woman writer who has him in the palm of her hand. She knows what he is and she is not going to let her go. Forward to a murder plot. He has confronted this woman and she has said she will do anything it takes to keep him on her leash. He acquiesces for the moment, but decides to take her to an ocean front property and kill her. Everything plays out nicely, but then comes the kicker. In true Hitchcock style, things never quite go the way they could have. Robert Horton is sympathetic enough for us to root for him, but his past is his past and that is going to stack the deck.

Herschel Daugherty's 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' output was uneven, though it was not hard to see why he was one of the series' most regular directors as most of his previous episodes ranged between decent and outstanding. He directed some outstanding episodes, with "The Creeper" and "Little White Frock" being two of my favourite episodes of the series, but he was also responsible for one of the series worst and its oddest "Sylvia". Had no doubt that "The Last Dark Step" would be at least good, with a premise this good.

"The Last Dark Step" didn't disappoint at all. It is a premise that is very 1940s Hitchcock-like and is executed in a way that is very Hitchcockian, despite it not being directed by him. As far as Season 4 goes up to this point, which has generally been solid, "The Last Dark Step" is one of the best along with "Poison" and "The Crooked Road". And it is one of the best Daugherty-directed 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episodes along with "The Creeper" and "Little White Frock".

Everything works. It is impeccably acted, with Robert Horton giving his best guest turn of the series with him expertly making his character as detestable as possible while also giving him a little sympathetic edge at points. Which is why his character is so interesting. Fay Spain is alluring and charming with strong chemistry with Horton. Daugherty's direction never tries to do too much while keeping the drama tight and not letting the suspense levels drop.

Moreover, the story is constantly intriguing and is incredibly atmospheric in a suspenseful way. The ending is completely unpredictable and is absolutely priceless. The production values are slick and atmospheric enough and Hitchcock's bookending is suitably droll in writing and delivery as per usual. Gounod's "Funeral March of a Marionette" is a great choice for the theme music.

All the script is tight and intriguing, nothing feeling soapy or unnecessary.

Summing up, brilliant. 10/10.

Vintage Hitchcock. Handsome Brad (Horton) proposes marriage to sloe-eyed Janice (Meadows), except he's already the kept-man of the fierce Leslie (Spain) who's not going to let him go. Brad's got himself in a bind since neither woman is anyone to mess with. So what's he going to do now.

Small cast gets the most out of the material. Spain is almost scary as the fiercely possessive screenwriter. Her scene with the straying Brad amounts to a rare portrait of a small woman's assertive dominance over a macho man. The question is whether Brad will accept this humiliation in return for a lavish lifestyle.

Beefcake star Horton gets to bare his manly chest in the type role that made hearts throb on TV's mega-hit Wagon Train. At the same time, it's too bad the fine actress Spain died young. Together, their scenes are exceptionally convincing. Anyway, the upshot is appropriately ironical, just the sort that has kept the series in perpetual re-runs.

I really like most of the AHP episodes. Even the 'worst' are still well worth watching for the most part. 'The Last Dark Step' however is among my personal favorites. Imagine if you had to cram a movie length story about a cheating ne'er-do-well, his manipulative, 'ex' girlfriend, and naive girlfriend. It would probably feel rushed; the story and characters would be hard to develop. Not with TLDS. They absolute nail it and throw in an excellent ending that I didn't see coming.

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.