Mail Order Prophet

This is one of my favourite episodes and very, very underrated.

This episode is unlike the other ones in the series where we often see some murder or some attempt on killing someone or the other but rather it has its share of suspense and plot twist at the end.

The twist at the end is too good and makes you think for a while. And then when you add 2 and 2 together then everything makes sense.

The actors are great and they surely help carry the flow.

A must see episode.

...in every school in America.

This is one of my favorite episodes. We get to see a couple of disgruntled office workers, one of whom (E.G. Marshall) begins receiving "psychic" letters encouraging him to bet on events (election, title bout). Jack Klugman is a rationalist co-worker who tries to convince him it's a racket.

Could the mail order prophet be legit? It's hard not to wonder where this is going to lead. They even throw in office theft to up the ante. Not to give anything away, but I found the ending very satisfying. Plus, Klugman and Marshall are great to watch.

James Neilson directed twelve episodes of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents', some good, some not so good though none terrible certainly. Have liked EG Marshall and Jack Klugman in other things, with more familiarity actually with Klugman. Did like the premise, but was a bit worried about it being based around a gimmick. Have seen a lot of films and television episodes revolving around gimmicks, and not all worked with some being very interesting and well done and others too gimmicky and indulgent.

Luckily "Mail Order Prophet" is in the former category and it has to be said too that Season 3 has in my opinion had a mostly quite strong first half and its quality better than the previous two seasons' first halves. Was near-bowled over by the previous episode "The Glass Eye", and this episode "Mail Order Prophet" has been every bit as good (if not quite one of the best episodes of the series). Also think that it is an episode that is not appreciated enough, if anybody is worried about it revolving around a gimmick, having seen films or television episodes revolving around them and not doing them, don't worry as this is one that does it well. So well in fact that this reviewer actually forgot there was a gimmick momentarily.

There is actually not really anything wrong, though the ending is not an ingenious one or one that stays in the mind forever.

Marshall and Klugman give note perfect performances however that balance humour and mystery beautifully. They sound like an odd couple together on paper and their characters are very different but actually they gel together like a fine wine and moist cheese (hoping that is a compliment). The script is a very clever one that is both funny and tense with no signs of rambling. Neilson's direction is controlled and taut and the suspense flows nicely.

Script wise, it is a good mix of light-hearted and tautly suspenseful, meaning that it doesn't take itself too seriously in a witty and hearty way while not treating it as a joke. The story is slight but still intriguing and suspenseful, with no dull stretches. Hitchcock's bookending entertains, while the episode is slickly made and the theme tune is suitably haunting.

Overall, great and a case of different done well. 9/10.

Yes, just a curious story in AH PRESENTS show, without any murder or suspense of any kind. Just a light comedy drama, where you wonder all the time where lt ieads you to...In the end, you just have a solution, an explanation, that's all. Nothing more. Certainly not the famous twist ending. It may interest many folks, though, because you can imagine yourself one of the characters presented here. Not bad, but, for me, it has nothing to do there.

The best part of this episode is before the episode starts. Alfred Hitchcock stands at a desk behind a pile of ticker tape, looking out an open window. He announces that he had just teased his business partner that they had just lost most of the money they had invested. He also points out that the elevator man would be upset because he became confused when the people he brought up didn't ride the elevator down.

The story now focuses on two men, played by Jack Klugman and E. G. Marshall. They have worked for years in the same investment firm, sitting among a line of desks and bemoaning the fact that they may be trapped there for life. Marshall's character talks about finding a way out. Klugman is the classic naysayer who throws a wet blanket on everything. The "evil" boss brings a personal letter to Marshall and with a harumph drops it on his desk. It is from a mysterious man who says he can predict the future, but who cannot benefit from his predictions. While Klugman is warning his friend of the dangers of getting involved in this "scheme," Marshall begins to try out the tips, much to his great satisfaction. Finally, however, he reaches a fork in the road and that's what we are waiting for. I won't ruin the fun. It's a fun story and does a good job of carrying us on.