IMDb > "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour" Memo from Purgatory (1964)
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"The Alfred Hitchcock Hour" Memo from Purgatory (1964)


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"The Alfred Hitchcock Hour" (1962): Season 3: Episode 10 -- A New York City gang provides a young writer with firsthand information for a book.

Overview

User Rating:
6.7/10   25 votes
Director:
Writer:
Harlan Ellison (story)
Contact:
View company contact information for Memo from Purgatory on IMDbPro.
Original Air Date:
21 December 1964 (Season 3, Episode 10)
Plot:
The teleplay was adapted by Harlan Ellison from his autobiographical story "The Gang", which appears in his book "Memos from Purgatory"... more | add synopsis
User Comments:
"Memo..." not in usual Hitchcock mold more (2 total)

Cast

  (Episode Credited cast)

Alfred Hitchcock ... Himself - Host

James Caan ... Jay Shaw / Phil Beldone
Lynn Loring ... Filene - Girl Gang Member
Walter Koenig ... Tiger

Tony Musante ... Candle
Zalman King ... Fish
Simon Scott ... The Defender
Mark Slade ... Slats
Michael Lamont ... The Trooper
Johnny Silver ... Ben
Jacquelin Palmer ... Cherry (as Jacque Palmer)
Chuck Courtney ... Ski
Jimmy Joyce ... Proprietor
Will J. White ... Guard
Leonard P. Geer ... Derelict
more
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Additional Details

Runtime:
48 min
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

FAQ

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2 out of 3 people found the following comment useful.
"Memo..." not in usual Hitchcock mold, 26 October 2007
Author: (chuck-reilly) from Los Angeles

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Occasionally, Alfred Hitchcock would forgo his usual suspense vehicle and give viewers an hour-long public service episode. In "Memo from Purgatory" the story involves Juvenile Delinquency and how it preys on the community-at-large. A young James Caan, who is interested in writing about juvenile crime first-hand, infiltrates a New York City gang and records their activities. At first, Walter Koenig and Tony Musante, the leaders of the group, take a liking to him but eventually their suspicions are aroused. When Musante mistakenly stumbles on Caan's diary of events, he convinces the other gang members to kill him. The rest of the story is predictable and follows the pattern of many other early 1960's TV crime shows. The acting here is first-rate, however, and the three leads (especially James Caan) went on to bigger and better things.

After the proceedings, Hitchcock informs the audience about the seriousness of the problem they've just witnessed and he dispenses with the usual wry commentary.

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