Pilot (5 May 1985)

Four episodes are remakes of the original episodes from the original "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" series. In the first, "Incident In A Small Jail", a mild-mannered traveling businessman is ... See full summary »

Directors:

Randa Haines, Joel Oliansky,

Writers:

Joel Oliansky (teleplay), Henry Slesar (story),

Stars:

Ned Beatty, Lee Ving, Tony Frank

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Ned Beatty	...	Larry Broome (segment "Incident In A Small Jail")
Lee Ving	...	Curt Venner (segment "Incident In A Small Jail")
Tony Frank	...	Sheriff Noakes (segment "Incident In A Small Jail")
John Shearin	...	Roker (segment "Incident In A Small Jail")
Arthur Taxier	...	Skelly (segment "Incident In A Small Jail")
Walter Klenhard	...	Gas Station Attendant (segment "Incident In A Small Jail")
Gene Ross	...	Max Spaulding (segment "Incident In A Small Jail")
Richard Lineback	...	Billy (segment "Incident In A Small Jail")
Jerry Curtin	...	Mob Member (segment "Incident In A Small Jail")
Cynthia Hartley	...	Young Girl (segment "Incident In A Small Jail")
John Huston	...	Carlos / Narrator (segment "Man From The South")
Melanie Griffith	...	Girl (segment "Man From The South")
Steven Bauer	...	Gambler (segment "Man From The South")
Tippi Hedren	...	Waitress (segment "Man From The South")
Kim Novak	...	Rosa (segment "Man From The South")

Storyline

Four episodes are remakes of the original episodes from the original "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" series. In the first, "Incident In A Small Jail", a mild-mannered traveling businessman is pulled over for speeding in a small town where he is locked up in a jail with a murder suspect which takes another turn when a vigilante mob lays siege to the place. In "Man From The South" a gambler in Las Vegas accepts a bet with a mysterious old southern man, that he can light his cigarette lighter 10 times and if he misses one light, the man from the south will chop off the gambler's little finger on his right hand. In "Bang! You're Dead!" a little girl takes her visiting uncle's .38 caliber revolver and goes around pointing it at people and yelling "bang" in which she eventually loads with real bullets. In "An Unlocked Window" a wife learns that her husband has a lot of secrets that she does not know about.

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Plot Keywords:

remake | lighter | bet | murder | anthology | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 May 1985 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal TV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Remade as Don't Give Me the Finger (2005)

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Soundtracks

"Funeral March of the Marionettes"
(Title Theme)
Composed by Charles Gounod

User Reviews

Favorite Hitchcock episode

I did a bit of research and found out Carlos was played by Jose Ferrer in the 1979 version and by Peter Lorre in the 1960 version (starring the unknown Steve McQueen!). I don't know how this version of Man from the South rates in comparison, but it's easily my favorite of the colored Hitchcock TV episodes. Also, John Huston is excellent (probably reprising his role as Noah Cross in Chinatown). It's interesting that this character, Carlos, has been played by three excellent actors. Maybe it's necessary in order to portray how monstrous Carlos is. Times have really fallen when the guy makes a bet for what looks like a TransAm. McQueen was going to get a Jaguar. The premise itself is inherently suspenseful and probably director-proof.