Nothing Ever Happens in Linvale (8 Nov. 1963)

A sheriff investigates the disappearance of the wife of a man who has been acting suspiciously.

Director:

Herschel Daugherty

Writers:

Richard Levinson (teleplay), William Link (teleplay),

Stars:

Alfred Hitchcock, Gary Merrill, Phyllis Thaxter

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Alfred Hitchcock	...	Himself - Host
Gary Merrill	...	Harry Jarvis
Phyllis Thaxter	...	Mrs. Logan
Fess Parker	...	Sheriff Ben Wister
George Furth	...	Charlie
Robert P. Lieb	...	Dr. Wyatt
Burt Mustin	...	Mr. Bell
Jan Arvan	...	Al
Cathie Merchant	...	The Receptionist
Sammy Reese	...	Henry, The Barber (as Sam Reese)
Robert Roter	...	The Boy
Martine Bartlett	...	Mrs. Bergen

Storyline

A sheriff investigates the disappearance of the wife of a man who has been acting suspiciously.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 November 1963 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Shamley Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

Pushing Up Daisies.

Typical entertainment from the series. Phyllis Thaxter, an appealing actress, is one of those nosy neighbors who can't help noticing that the wife of her neighbor, Gary Merrill, hasn't been see for some time. Moreover, Merrill sneaks out at night and digs a hole in his garden, apparently burying something. She calls in the police chief, in the form of what I first took to be a tall leafless trunk of blackjack oak but turned into the affable Fess Parker. Merrill's house is a mess and he himself looks as if he's been doing a lot of urban camping, unshaven, filthy, needing a haircut. Merrill himself is indignant and says his wife went away on a trip.

Prodded by Thaxter, Parker digs up the garden and finds only a buried dog. The dog died a natural death and Merrill admits shamefully that his wife has left him for good, headed for parts unknown, but he didn't want to admit it and be the subject of gossip. The good old days, when divorce was uncommon and conjugal misery prevailed. Merrill lays his cards on the table with stoic resignation, reminding us of Socrates' pronouncement: "By all means, marry. If your wife is good you'll be happy. If your wife is bad you'll become a philosopher."

I don't know. I guess I won't reveal the ending because it came as a bit of a shock to me. So let me end with another little note on Socrates. If anybody knows about "bad wives", it should be Socrates. His own wife, Xanthippe, has entered legend as a venomous bitch.