Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) 1.26

Whodunit

starring John Williams

written by C. B. Gilford, Francis Cockrell, Marian Cockrell

directed by Francis Cockrell

Author Alexander Arlington (John Williams) arrives in heaven where he learns he was murdered. He has no memory of the incident. He writes mystery novels and desperately wants to know how it happened and who did it. The archangel Wilfred, who is checking Alexander in offers to let him relive his last day on Earth so that he can find out who did it and why. Alexander accepts the offer and moments later wakes up in his bed  the morning of the day he was murdered.

Alexander forms a list of suspects that includes his assistant Talbot, his nephew Vincent, his wife Carol, and her lover Wally. All the suspects seem to have a good reason to murder him but as the time draws closer to the moment of truth he still can't figure out who is going to do it.

Thoughts

I love the humor in this episode. It more than makes up for them not revealing exactly who did it. I thought all the performances in this episode were very good. It makes me look forward to seeing other episodes that starred John Williams.

Notes

This is the third of 10 episodes of this show in which John Williams appeared. It is also the third of three episodes from the first season of this show in which he appeared. I saw most recently ago in 1.23 Home for Christmas. 

Amanda Blake played the part of Carol Arlington. This is the only episode of this show in which she appeared. She was in one episode of Four Star Playhouse.

Jerry Paris played the part of Wally Benson. This is the first of two episodes of this show in which he appeared. I've also seen a few movies in which he appeared including The Caine Mutiny (1954).

Philip Coolidge played the part of Talbot. This is the second of six episodes of this show in which he appeared. The first was 1.24 The Perfect Murder, in which he played Henri. He was in two episodes of The Phil Silvers Show, the second of which was 3.13 Bilko at Bay. He was also in North by Northwest (1959) and one episode each of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour and The Twilight Zone (1959).

Alan Napier played the part of Wilfred. This is the second of six episodes of this show in which he appeared. The first episode in which he appeared was 1.05 Into Thin Air. I saw him most recently in an episode of Four Star Playhouse, 1.09 The Man on the Train.

Ruta Lee made a brief appearance in this episode.

C. B. Gilford is credited with the story for this episode. This is the first of four episodes of this show that Gilford had a hand in writing. Gilford also had a hand in writing one episode each of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour and Tales of the Unexpected.

Francis and Marian Cockrell are credited with writing the screen play for this episode. This is the seventh of 18 episodes that Francis Cockrell had a hand in writing. This is the fourth of 11 episodes that Marian Cockrell had a hand in writing. This is the only episode on which they both were credited as writers.

This is the only episode of this show that Francis Cockrell directed.