Mail Order Prophet

This episode of ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS is a great example of how to make absorbing, compelling drama with minimal means. E. G. Marshall and Jack Klugman are two fine character actors who, earlier in the year this episode was broadcast (1957), appeared together in the classic jury room film 12 ANGRY MEN. In fact, in that film they sat side by side at the jury room table. I'd wager a bet that they were cast together in this episode based on their performace together in the movie. Marshall and Klugman couldn't be more different, yet they share a wonderful chemistry here as two cogs in a corporate machine who long to break out and find freedom. Klugman is wordly-wise, hard-nosed, cynical, yet has an almost tender regard for the welfare of his friend. Marshall is a mild-mannered milquetoast, just the type who would be taken in by the machinations of a con artist. The episode consists almost entirely of the interactions of these two friends as they discuss Marshall's increasing obsession with the money he can win from betting on he clairvoyant predictions of one "J. Christiani," a mysterious "mail-order prophet."

The names strike me as symbolic. Klugman plays "George Benedict" - Benedict meaning blessed, because he is the one who is wise enought to see through "Christiani's" ruse. Marshall is "Ronald Grimes" - he gets his hands dirty in the process of looking for an easy fortune. As for "J. Christiani," he is obviously a false Christ, a phoney prophet who will lead one astray.

If you are not familiar with the stock market and financial parlance (I'm not), then some of the dialog and plot twists toward the end might be confusing. But this is a small matter, since the upshot of the story still comes across. The twist ending is not what I expected, but still satisfying.

A classic of 1950s TV, typical of the thought-provoking entertainment that filled that era.

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.

...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.

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.

Other things I've reviewed such as Twilight Zone and Hammer House of Horror I was already familiar with. Only recently did I discover AHP, and with 268 episodes I'll be occupied for quite some time. I'm watching them in rating descending order, which risks boredom with later below par episodes, although my favourites are seldom the most popular.

At the time of writing I've chalked up thirty, and enjoyed this one the most, for two reasons. I'm hopeless as guessing whodunit or anticipating a Hitchcockian twist, but with a financial services background I did twig why the prophet's predictions turned a (ahem) profit. It was clever to cast against type. Lugubrious looking Jack Klugman is good at playing desperate losers so you expect him to be the one suckered into a scam. But it's E G Marshall, usually a hard-headed sobersides, who is taken in.

Also very memorable: HOOKED - man plots to get rid of older wife and marry young girlfriend, with a trademark twist. THE GLASS EYE - aging spinster falls for handsome ventriloquist, maybe a bit slow but a startling denouement. ARTHUR - some way down the ratings but I couldn't delay seeing the lovely Hazel Court playing a flighty foil to a superbly sardonic Laurence Harvey.

That's 30 episodes down, 238 to go, so watch this space...