Disappearing Trick (6 Apr. 1958)

A bookie asks womanizing tennis player Walter, who's short on cash, to look up an inactive, high-rolling client. Walter discovers the old gambler died when his sailboat sunk, leaving his ... See full summary »

Director:

Arthur Hiller

Writers:

Kathleen Hite (teleplay), Victor Canning (story)

Stars:

Alfred Hitchcock, Robert Horton, Betsy von Furstenberg

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Alfred Hitchcock	...	Himself - Host
Robert Horton	...	Walter Richmond
Betsy von Furstenberg	...	Laura Gild
Perry Lopez	...	Julio
Raymond Bailey	...	Herbert Gild
Frank Albertson	...	Regis
Percy Helton	...	Newspaperman
Thomas Wilde	...	Doctor (as Thomas Wild)
Dorothea Lord	...	Nurse
Joe Conley	...	Insurance Agent

Storyline

A bookie asks womanizing tennis player Walter, who's short on cash, to look up an inactive, high-rolling client. Walter discovers the old gambler died when his sailboat sunk, leaving his beautiful young widow with little money. Sparks fly between Walter and the widow, when he finds out the gambler (Raymond Bailey, The Beverly Hillbillies' banker) placed bets 3 months after the accident.

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Plot Keywords:

tennis player | widow | tennis | bookie | boat accident | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 April 1958 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Republic Studios - 4024 Radford Avenue, North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Shamley Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

Smoothly Done

Solid Hitchcock. Actor Robert Horton was an early favorite of the series. Certainly, he could play the handsome, virile young man to the proverbial T. Here, he shills for a bookie, using his manly charms as a part-time gigolo. That is, until he runs into a flirty young widow (Furstenberg). Their initial scene together is a little gem of predatory cats circling one another-- she all coy and leading, he all self-assured and playing the game. The innuendo is perfect for the restrictive 1950's. Just as importantly, it's hard to know where the story is going. When it comes, the payoff itself is mildly amusing and suitably ironic. Excellent turn by both performers, but what, I wonder, became of Furstenberg. She certainly had a distinctive look about her.