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Alfred Hitchcock Presents Season 1 Episodes
Season 1 Episode Guide
39 Episodes 1955 - 1956
Episode 1
Revenge
Sun, Oct 2, 195526 mins
Carl and Elsa Spann have moved into a trailer park in California, after Elsa suffered a nervous breakdown. She is adjusting well to a more peaceful lifestyle, after her rigorous training as a ballerina. But then Carl comes home from work to find Elsa shocked and traumatized after a man assaulted her in the trailer. The police investigate, but find little to go on. Carl becomes increasingly angry about what has happened, and he is determined to kill the man responsible, if he can find him.
Episode 2
Premonition
Sun, Oct 9, 195524 mins
Musician Kim Stanger returns to his hometown, but is troubled by a vague premonition that something is wrong. Indeed, his friends and family seem quite uncomfortable to see him. He particularly wants to see his father, but he learns that his father is dead. His family tells him that his father died of a heart attack while playing tennis four years ago, but Kim finds a number of discrepancies in the details they give him. He insists on finding out what really happened, even when everyone seems determined to stop him from learning the truth.
Episode 3
Triggers in Leash
Sun, Oct 16, 195530 mins
Although the bad weather means that she might not have many customers to cook for, Maggie sends Ben out to do some chores. After Ben leaves, Del comes in, and begins to act strangely. When Ben returns with a load of firewood, Del suddenly draws a gun on him. Ben then goes into town, while Maggie fixes a meal for Del. Soon afterward, when Red comes in, both men prepare to draw their guns. They tell Maggie about a bitter argument during a poker game the night before, and tell her to get out of the way while they settle things. Maggie begins desperately to try to stop them from shooting at each other.
Episode 4
Don't Come Back Alive
Sun, Oct 23, 195530 mins
Frank and Mildred Partridge are struggling with their finances. Frank has just landed a new job, but it won't start for another month. As they try to make light of their situation, Frank gets an idea. He persuades his wife to disappear for seven years, so that she can be declared legally dead in order to collect on their life insurance policy. She reluctantly agrees, and moves away under an assumed name. They plan to meet each other regularly, but an insurance investigator becomes suspicious of her absence, and thinks that Frank has killed her. Left almost entirely on her own, Mildred comes to prefer her new way of life.
Episode 5
Into Thin Air
Sun, Oct 30, 195530 mins
Diana Winthrop and her mother arrive in Paris. When Mrs. Winthrop starts to feel ill, Diana calls for a doctor. Things become more worrying when she returns to the hotel, and the desk clerk doesn't recall her, and her signature's disappeared from the register, and her mother's disappeared.
Episode 6
Salvage
Sun, Nov 6, 195530 mins
Dan has just been released from prison, and Lois is terrified. While he was behind bars, Dan's brother was shot and killed while trying to escape from the police, because Lois had told the police where he was hiding. Everyone whom Lois asks for help knows that Dan holds her responsible, and will not help her. So Dan confronts her in her room alone, prepared to kill her no matter how hard she begs for mercy. Dan is then baffled when Lois tells him to go ahead, since she is in despair and has nothing to live for.
Episode 7
Breakdown
Sun, Nov 13, 195526 mins
Mr. Callew, a demanding businessman, is resting by the beach when he receives a telephone call from a recently discharged employee. The man is in tears, but the unyielding Callew shows no sympathy, and hangs up on him. Later, when Callew starts to drive home, his car runs off the road at a construction site. When he comes to, Callew is paralyzed. Several persons come by, but he is unable to communicate with them, so they think he is dead. Fully aware of his predicament, he becomes increasingly terrified.
Episode 8
Our Cook's a Treasure
Sun, Nov 20, 195530 mins
Shortly after having a quick breakfast with his wife and the new cook whom they have recently hired, Ralph Montgomery suffers a bad attack of indigestion, and continues to have trouble afterward. Later, he reads a newspaper story about a housekeeper who has poisoned several of her employers, and who is still at large. Ralph begins to suspect the worst, and he takes a cup of cocoa from the kitchen to a chemist, in order to have it analyzed.
Episode 9
The Long Shot
Sun, Nov 27, 195530 mins
Down on his luck and heavily in debt, Charlie Raymond reads a newspaper advertisement asking for a native Londoner who is willing to accompany a British visitor on a trip from New York to San Francisco. He meets with Hendricks, the man who placed the ad, who agrees to hire him for the trip. As they drive across the country, Hendricks talks and incessantly asks questions about London, as Charlie grows increasingly bored. Charlie is just about to run off and leave Hendricks on his own, when he discovers his employer's reason for going to San Francisco, and sees an opportunity for himself.
Episode 10
The Case of Mr. Pelham
Sun, Dec 4, 195530 mins
Mr. Pelham consults a doctor about a series of troubling incidents. Recently a number of his acquaintances have claimed to have seen him in places where he could not have been. The doctor suggests that there must be another man with a strong resemblance to Pelham. But it soon becomes obvious that the other man is also deliberately impersonating him - even to the point of using Pelham's apartment as his own.
Episode 11
Guilty Witness
Sun, Dec 11, 195530 mins
Stanley Crane's working at his grocery when Mrs. Verber comes in with a black eye. Stanley's wife Dorothy thinks Mr. Verber hits his wife. At home, the Cranes hear the Verbers having another violent row in their apartment, upstairs. When Mr. Verber disappears, and a detective starts asking questions, the Cranes are convinced a murder happened.
Episode 12
Santa Claus and the Tenth Avenue Kid
Sun, Dec 18, 195530 mins
Petty thief Harold 'Stretch' Sears has served several prison sentences, and is again out on parole. He is given a job as a department store 'Santa Claus', but his cynical nature makes the job difficult. Miss Webster, who arranged the job for him, keeps trying to encourage Sears, but only succeeds in irritating him. As Sears does his best to get through the holiday season, he notices a bad-tempered boy who keeps coming to the store, arguing with him that there is no Santa Claus, and stealing small items from the store. Fearing for the boy's future, Sears feels an odd impulse to do something for the boy.
Episode 13
The Cheney Vase
Sun, Dec 25, 195525 mins
Lyle Endicott is a smooth manipulator, but he's not smooth enough to save his job at a Manhattan art museum. And his talent doesn't seem to have gotten him anywhere in life. "Why not just once can something go right for me?" he wonders. Luck finally seems to shine on him when he overhears his boss, Mr. Koether, talking to one of the museum's patrons, Martha Cheney, an invalid who uses a wheelchair. She and Koether call each other by their first names, but their friendship isn't enough to persuade Miss Cheney to sell him the famous Cheney vase. Lyle realizes the heirloom is worth a lot of money -- money that can be his if he manages to insinuate himself into the old woman's life.
Episode 14
A Bullet for Baldwin
Sun, Jan 1, 195630 mins
After the elderly Mr. Stepp is fired from Baldwin, King and Co., he goes to see Mr. Baldwin one more time to plead for his job. When Baldwin refuses to discuss it, Stepp takes a gun from his desk drawer, returns to Baldwin's office and shoots him dead. After wandering the streets aimlessly, Stepp decides to go back to his lodgings to wait to be arrested. Instead, he's awakened by a telephone call from Baldwin's secretary, asking why he is not at work. When Stepp arrives at the office, Baldwin is alive and well and everyone acts as if nothing is out of the ordinary. The baffled Stepp even gets his job back but still has something in mind for Baldwin.
Episode 15
The Big Switch
Sun, Jan 8, 195630 mins
Chicago, 1920: Gangster Sam Dunleavy has just returned to town, and is visited by Al, a former childhood friend who is now a police officer. Al knows that Sam's girlfriend has just dropped him, and he warns Sam not to try anything violent. But Sam does plan to kill his ex-girlfriend, and he knows he needs an alibi. He sees his friend Barney, who promises to give him a perfect alibi for $2500. They work out the details, and Sam returns to Barney's place later to put the plan into action. But Al also shows up, so Sam knows that the plan must work perfectly.
Episode 16
You Got to Have Luck
Sun, Jan 15, 195630 mins
A dangerous convict has escaped from the state penitentiary, and the alarm has gone out. The convict finds a house where a young wife is currently alone, waiting for her husband to return. He enters her kitchen, and threatens her with a knife. He listens to the radio to see how the search for him is coming, and then starts to give her orders.
Episode 17
The Older Sister
Sun, Jan 22, 195630 mins
One year ago, Mr. and Mrs. Borden were brutally murdered in their home, and it is widely believed that their daughter Lizzie committed the crimes, even though she was tried and acquitted. Lizzie and her sister Emma are still living in the same home, but Emma now plans to leave on a vacation to rest her nerves. The sisters' housemaid Margaret is also planning to leave, to avoid being alone with Lizzie. As Emma and Margaret discuss their plans, a woman arrives at the door, and introduces herself as a newspaper reporter. Emma desperately tries to get the visitor to leave, but the pushy reporter insists on questioning Emma about all of the details of the murders, bringing Emma to a state of near hysteria. In the midst of their confrontation, Lizzie herself comes down the staircase, and immediately takes control of the situation.
Episode 18
Shopping for Death
Sun, Jan 29, 195630 mins
Two retired insurance salesmen have been visiting the scenes of accidents and crimes, feeling that they have a responsibility to learn why such things happen. One of them has found an aggressive, hostile woman whom he considers to be a prime candidate for a personal disaster. On a blisteringly hot day, the two follow her as she does some shopping, and watch as she antagonizes everyone she comes in contact with. After some discussion, they decide to take a chance on helping her, and they go up to her apartment to talk to her.
Episode 19
The Derelicts
Sun, Feb 5, 195630 mins
In a prior year, Alfred Sloane loaned Ralph Cowell the money he needed to develop and market a new invention in return for 50% of the profits. Sloane calls on Ralph to ask for his share, but Ralph has already spent all the profits on his attractive, materialistic wife. When Sloane insists on payment, Ralph kills him in a city park and takes his wallet expecting to recover the IOU he wrote. But the murder is witnessed by a vagrant who recovers the IOU from Sloane's cigarette case. The vagrant and a cohort then confront Ralph demanding a heavy monthly stipend in return for their silence.
Episode 20
And So Died Riabouchinska
Sun, Feb 12, 195630 mins
A dead man is found in the basement of a theater, and a detective comes to investigate. He learn that the deceased had been seen near the theater asking for Fabian, the ventriloquist. As the detective questions Fabian in his dressing room, a voice comes from the box in which Fabian's female dummy is stored. When the dummy, Riabouchinska, continues to talk, the detective is annoyed, thinking that the ventriloquist is trying to be funny. But the detective humors him and 'talks' to the dummy, and he soon learns about a web of tensions involving Fabian, his wife, and his manager. Much of the tension concerns the dummy - and there is also a connection with the dead man.
Episode 21
Safe Conduct
Sun, Feb 19, 195630 mins
American journalist Mary Prescott is returning from a trip to a Communist state behind the Iron Curtain, traveling with a letter of safe conduct from that nation's President. Riding on the same train is Jan Gubak, captain of the country's soccer team and a national hero. Gubak visits the journalist in her compartment, asks her to dinner, and later persuades her to take a watch across the border for him, telling her that he plans to sell it to pay for an operation for his sister. She is then shocked when, at the border, Gubak himself reports her as a smuggler. She undergoes interrogation, while trying to determine whether there is anyone she can trust.
Episode 22
Place of Shadows
Sun, Feb 26, 195630 mins
A young man is picked up at a train station, taken to a nearby monastery, and met by Father Vincente, who is in charge of the monastery. The visitor introduces himself as Mr. Unser, and asks to see a friend named Rocco who is temporarily being cared for by the monks. But the priest realizes that the visitor is not Unser, but rather Clements, who blames Rocco for robbing him and ruining his life. Knowing that Clements has come for revenge, the priest returns the money that Rocco stole from him, but refuses to let him see Rocco. The priest urges Clements to forgive Rocco, but the young man remains consumed by hatred and anger, and persists in his efforts to gain revenge.
Episode 23
Back for Christmas
Sun, Mar 4, 195630 mins
Herbert is digging in his basement when his wife Hermione calls him upstairs to eat. She thinks he is making a wine cellar, but he is really planning to kill her and bury her in the basement. At lunch, Hermione goes over all the arrangements she has made for a business trip to California that they are about to take together. Several friends then come over to visit, and after they leave, Herbert looks for the opportunity to put his plan into practice.
Episode 24
The Perfect Murder
Sun, Mar 11, 195630 mins
Henri and his brother Paul attend the reading of their uncle's will, and learn that their Aunt Rosalie inherits everything, but that after her death the two nephews are to share the income from the estate. The excitement of the two brothers is tempered by their present lack of resources. Rosalie has little regard for either of her nephews, and she determines to outlive them both. Paul decides to win over his aunt, and he soon moves in with her. The two brothers then look for a way to kill her without arousing suspicion.
Episode 25
There Was an Old Woman
Sun, Mar 18, 195630 mins
Elderly Monica Laughton greets the milkman, and tells him that another relative of hers has passed away. The milkman then stops at a cafeteria, where he discusses Miss Laughton's wealth and eccentricity with the man at the counter. The conversation is overheard by Frank Bramwell, who then plans to visit Miss Laughton with his wife, so that they can rob her. When they reach her home, they are shown into an empty parlor, where she introduces them to a number of imaginary relatives, and shows them an open, empty coffin. Fearing that she is insane, Lorna Bramwell wants to leave, but Frank sees the situation as an even better opportunity than he'd hoped for - and he is not above using force to get what he wants.
Episode 26
Whodunit
Sun, Mar 25, 195630 mins
Recently deceased mystery writer Alexander Arlington appears before the recording angel in heaven. All goes well until he learns that his death was a murder, rather than a heart attack, as he had imagined. He receives permission from the angel to live his last day over again, so that he can find out who killed him. Back in his home, he relives a bitter fight with his assistant, and is certain that the assistant is the murderer. But when his nephew makes some threatening statements, and then he catches a glimpse of his wife warmly kissing a male friend, he starts to realize that almost everyone he knows has a motive for killing him.
Episode 27
Help Wanted
Sun, Apr 1, 195630 mins
Mrs. Crabtree's health is poor, and Mr. Crabtree is out of work, having been let go from his job because his personnel manager thought he had become too old for the work. He receives a call from an employer to whom he had written, and the employer sends his secretary to discuss the job with Crabtree. He begins working in a private office, reviewing financial information and writing reports, but he is baffled by his employer's secretive nature. Then one day he arrives at the office to find his employer waiting for him, with a most unexpected assignment.
Episode 28
Portrait of Jocelyn
Sun, Apr 8, 195630 mins
Mark Halliday takes his wife to an art gallery, to show her a painting he has purchased for their first anniversary. But instead of the painting he had seen, he is given a portrait of his first wife Jocelyn, who disappeared five years ago. Both he and his new wife are shocked and upset, so Halliday shows the portrait to Jocelyn's brother, who locates the artist for him. When Halliday goes in search of the artist, he encounters further coincidences and confusing developments, suggesting that Jocelyn is living very close by.
Episode 29
The Orderly World of Mr. Appleby
Sun, Apr 15, 195630 mins
Mr. Appleby's antique shop is losing money because he is so fond of the best items that he refuses to sell them to anyone. A representative from a supplier visits the shop and tells Appleby that he must pay his bill within two weeks, or else the supplier will reclaim his inventory. Appleby's wife has a moderate endowment, but she will not help him, so he kills her and makes it look like an accident. He gets away with it, and marries a wealthy woman whom he had met in the shop. But he soon learns that she knows all about him, and has made careful arrangements to protect herself.
Episode 30
Never Again
Sun, Apr 22, 195630 mins
Karen wakes up in an unfamiliar bed, with a hangover that's even worse than usual. She knows that by getting drunk again she has once more broken her promise to her boyfriend Jeff. Then she realizes that her hand is bandaged and badly injured, and she struggles to remember what happened the night before. She had gone to a party with Jeff, but she felt uncomfortable and lonely, and had started to drink. She tries to piece together the rest of the night, but all she can remember is being angry and drunk.
Episode 31
The Gentleman from America
Sun, Apr 29, 195630 mins
In 1940, a rich American named Latimer is visiting a club in England. Sir Stephen, a gambler deep in debt, befriends Latimer in the hope of winning some money from him. With the help of his friend Derek, Sir Stephen tells Latimer about a ghost that supposedly haunts a manor home that Sir Stephen owns. The ghost is supposed to appear and threaten anyone who tries to spend the night in a certain room of the house. Latimer agrees to bet 1000 pounds that he can make it through the night, and they agree on the terms. Latimer suspects that the two Englishmen plan some sort of trick, and he prepares himself accordingly.
Episode 32
The Baby Sitter
Sun, May 6, 195630 mins
A detective questions babysitter Lottie Slocum about the murder of Clara Nash, for whom Lottie had been working. Lottie exasperates the detective. After the detective leaves, she tells a friend about the night of the murder. Lottie's so vocal in her disapproval of Clara, and in her affection for Mr. Nash, her friend wonders whether Lottie was involved.
Episode 33
The Belfry
Sun, May 13, 195630 mins
Clint is determined to marry Ellie, the county's schoolteacher, and he is building a house for them to live in. But Ellie is not interested, and she tells him that she has just become engaged to another man. Clint is enraged, and when he meets Ellie's fiancé, he kills him with an ax. He decides to hide in the bell tower of Ellie's schoolhouse, since he thinks no one will look for him there. He also likes the idea of being close to Ellie, so that he can have the chance to strike back at her too.
Episode 34
The Hidden Thing
Sun, May 20, 195630 mins
When a young man sees his fiancée struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver, he is inconsolable. When questioned by the police, he is unable to remember anything that he saw, even though he wants very much to have the driver caught. A week later, he is visited by a stranger who claims he can help. The visitor tells him that his own son died in the same way, and he offers to help the young man to remember the license plate number that he saw, by using special memory recall methods. It's not clear, though, what the visitor's motive for helping might be.
Episode 35
The Legacy
Sun, May 27, 195630 mins
A well-known author is visiting Palm Beach, and he meets some old friends. He tells them that he will be writing his next book about Prince Burhan, a noted playboy from India, who will be arriving that evening. Also staying at the resort are Howard and Irene Cole. Howard spends most of his time with a young actress, and the others are baffled by Irene's tolerance. When the prince arrives, he surprises everyone by spending all of his time with the plain-looking Irene, and by insisting that he is in love with her. Before long, Prince Burhan tells Irene that if she does not divorce Howard in order to marry him, he will kill himself.
Episode 36
Mink
Sun, Jun 3, 195630 mins
The wife of an accountant is tired of being wrapped in her old cloth coat while all her friends seem to be draped in fur. It's not just that she feels frumpy and outshone, it's that it makes her husband look unsuccessful and is bad for him in his position, she argues. Then she hears about a secondhand mink that's not only beautiful but available at a price that's a real steal.
Episode 37
Decoy
Sun, Jun 10, 195630 mins
Secretly in love with a married singer, Gil Larkin learns that she is being abused by her husband. Confronting the man in his office, Gil is knocked unconscious, only to awaken and learn he's being framed for the husband's murder - and must now discover who is really behind the crime.
Episode 38
The Creeper
Sun, Jun 17, 195630 mins
Ellen and Steve live in a New York neighborhood that is being terrorized by a strangler known only as The Creeper. When Steve goes to work on the night-shift, Ellen becomes increasingly frightened and keeps asking the hardware store to have a bolt and chain installed on her door as soon as possible. While waiting for this to happen, she starts to suspect everyone she encounters could be The Creeper.
Episode 39
Momentum
Sun, Jun 24, 195630 mins
After his boss tells him the firm is close to bankruptcy, Dick Paine agrees to work for half pay. Dick is nagged by his wife Beth into standing up for himself. He goes to his boss and demands the money he has not been paid. His boss refuses to give him the money and Dick must resort to murder.
