Help Wanted
starring John Qualen, Lorne Greene
written by Stanley Ellin,
directed by James Neilson
Mr. Crabtree (John Qualen) accepts a job working for a mysterious man (Lorne Greene) who hires him to work in an office by himself and write reports. The mysterious employer visits Mr. Crabtree in his office one day and explains to him that he has a new assignment for him. He wants him to kill a man.
Mr. Crabtree doesn't know what to say. He really needs the money he's been making. His wife is sick and needs an operation. The employer has it all figured out. He explains to Mr. Crabtree how it will work. It's foolproof according to his employer but Mr. Crabtree has his doubts.
I enjoyed this episode very much. I thought both lead actors were very good. They are both playing types but they do great work with their roles or maybe it just all comes down to the casting.
There's a twist in the end that I thought could have been handled better. I enjoyed the episode so much up to that point that it didn't ruin the experience for me. They didn't stick the landing but it was good enough for me to consider it to be an upper tier episode.
Notes
This is the third of three episodes of this show in which John Qualen has appeared. The second one was 1.18 Shopping for Death.
This is the only episode of this show in which Lorne Greene appeared.
Stanley Ellin wrote the story upon which this episode was based. This is the first of eight episodes of this show that were adapted from stories he wrote.
Mary Orr and Reginald Denham are credited with writing the adaptation. This is the only episode of this show that either of them had a hand in writing.
Robert C. Dennis is credited with writing the teleplay for this episode. This is the seventh of 30 episodes that he had a hand in writing. The one he wrote prior to this one was 1.22 Place of Shadows.
This is the first of 12 episodes of this show that James Neilson directed. He also directed an episode of Four Star Playhouse.
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