Alfred Hitchcock Presents 1.25

There Was an Old Woman

starring Estelle Winwood

written by Marian Cockrell, Jerry Hackady, Hal Hackady

directed by Robert Stevenson

Frank and Lorna Bramwell smell an opportunity when they learn about Monica Laughton, a rich elderly woman who lives in town. They go to see her but she seems to be hallucinating all sorts of things, including other guests in her home and the body of a relative for whom she says they are holding a funeral.

Frank gets increasingly agitated with the Mrs. Laughton. They wind of staying the night. Mrs. Laughton promises to be more cooperative in the morning. 

Thoughts

This was fun but not great. I would place it in the same category as 1.24 The Perfect Murder. I like it. It has a nice twist but it's a middle tier episode in my opinion. There's nothing truly remarkable about it.

Notes

This is the first of two episodes of this show in which Estelle Winwood appeared. She also appeared in one episode of The Twilight Zone (1959).

Charles Bronson played the part of Frank Bramwell. This is the second of three episodes of this show in which Charles Bronson appeared. The first was 1.20 And So Died Riabouchinska.

Norma Crane played the part of Lorna Bramwell. This is the first of three episodes of this show in which she appeared.

Dabbs Greer played the part of Theodore, the milkman. He was only seen at the beginning and ending of the episode. This is the first of two episodes of this show in which he appeared. He was also in at least six movies I have seen including Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) and Day of the Outlaw (1959). He appeared in one episode of The Invaders, 1.02 The Experiment. He also appeared in episodes of The Twilight Zone (1959), Kraft Suspense Theatre, and The Outer Limits (1963).

This is the third of 11 episodes of this show that Marian Cockrell had a hand in writing. The previous one she had a hand in writing was 1.12 Santa Claus and the 10th Avenue Kid. This is the only episode of this show that Jerry Hackady and Hal Hackady had a hand in writing.

This is the fifth of seven episodes of this show that Robert Stevenson directed. One of the previous episodes he directed was 1.19 The Derelicts.