Alfred Hitchcock Presents 1.05

Into Thin Air

starring Patricia Hitchcock, Geoffrey Toone, Alan Napier

directed by Don Medford

Diana Winthrop and her mother, traveling from India, arrive in Paris. They have reservations at Hotel Madeleine. Diana's mother isn't feeling well. A doctor examines Diana's mother and sends Diana to get medicine. Diana's mother has vanished by the time Diana returns.

No one in the hotel seems to remember Diana when she gets back. She turns to the British embassy for help. The story ends with the reveal that Diana's mother died of the plague.

Thoughts

This story doesn't work for me. The mystery is solved by the end of the episode but the bits and pieces don't add up. There are clues dropped that something sinister is afoot but in the end that doesn't seem to be the case. Why drop hints only to sweep them into the trash in the end? It's a shame because I was intrigued up until the "twist" ending.

Notes

This is the first of 10 episodes of this series in which Patricia Hitchcock, daughter of the show's creator, appeared. She also appeared in a couple other movies directed by her father including Strangers of a Train (1951) and Psycho (1960).

Alan Napier played the part of Sir Everett. He is best known to me for playing the part of Alfred in the Batman (1966) movie and TV show. He also appeared in episodes of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (2), The Twilight Zone (1), and five more episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955). I have also seen him in Johnny Belinda (1948) and Cat People (1942).

Don Medford also directed 1.03 (Triggers in Leash). He also directed episodes of The Invaders (3) and The Twilight Zone (5).