Alfred Hitchcock Presents 1.13

The Cheney Vase

starring Patricia Collinge, Darren McGavin

directed by Robert Stevens

Lyle Endicott (Darren McGavin) is fired by his boss. He wiggles his way into a job as a caretaker for Martha Cheney (Patricia Collinge), an elderly artist who is confined to a wheelchair. She has a vase that is extremely valuable. He wants to get his hands on the vase. He takes over her life in the hopes of stealing the vase, killing her (if necessary), and selling it to someone in Germany (who is willing to pay top dollar for it).

Pamela, Lyle's girlfriend, is on board with his plans until it becomes clear to her the lengths to which he is willing to go. She tries to warn someone but in the end it turns out that Martha has come up with a way to foil Lyle's plans.

Thoughts

I like the end to this episode even though it seems a bit far fetched. I think what worked for me is the look on Lyle's face when he realize what Martha has done. I wouldn't say that this is a favorite but I enjoyed watching it.

Notes

This is the first of four episodes of this show in which Patricia Collinge appeared. She also appeared in two episodes of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour.

This is the second of two episodes of this show in which Darren McGavin appeared. The first was 1.03 Triggers in Leash.

Carolyn Jones played the part of Pamela. This is the only episode of this show in which she appeared. She also appeared in an episode of Four Star Playhouse. The most recent thing in which I have seen her is the third of three episodes of Wonder Woman in which she appeared, 1.13 Wonder Woman in Hollywood. She was also in Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956).

This is the fourth of 44 episodes of this show that Robert Stevens directed. The previous episode he directed was 1.11 Guilty Witness.