"Alfred Hitchcock Presents" The Case of Mr. Pelham (1955)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Alfred Hitchcock

Writers:

Francis M. Cockrell (teleplay)
Anthony Armstrong (story)

TV Series:

"Alfred Hitchcock Presents" (1955)

Original Air Date:

4 December 1955 (Season 1, Episode 10)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

A series of troubling incidents lead Mr. Pelham to believe that he has a double who is deliberately impersonating him.

Plot Keywords:

Apartment | Double | Psychiatrist | Impersonation | Servant

Cast

Tom Ewell	...	Albert Pelham
Alfred Hitchcock	...	Himself - Host
Raymond Bailey	...	Dr. Harley
Justice Watson	...	Henry Peterson
Kirby Smith	...	Tom Mason
Kay Stewart	...	Miss Clement
John Compton	...	Vincent
Jan Arvan	...	Harry
Norman Willis	...	Bartender
Tim Graham	...	Lawyer
Richard Collier	...	Bartender
Diane Brewster	...	Secretary

Runtime:

USA:30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Shamley Productions

Movie Connections:

Version of The Man Who Haunted Himself (1970)

Who Is That Guy in the Mirror

Al Pelham is a mild-mannered, average-looking New Yorker with a small brokerage business. Then, strange things start happening. Someone is impersonating him for no apparent reason, a look-alike down to the smallest detail of appearance and memory bank. Whoever it is, he's taking over Pelham's life, easing him slowly out of existence. But why? Who could envy such a routine existence.

The premise seems more appropriate for the Twilight Zone since there appears to be no natural explanation. Even more relevant is the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), which was probably in development about the time this episode aired. Nonetheless, it's an intriguing 30 minutes, low-keyed, without hysteria or adornment as Pelham's predicament becomes ever more precarious. Lending a nice sinister touch is the predatory-lion painting that overhangs the last scene. It's thoughtful touches like this that can make the difference between a good episode and a memorable one. Those looking for a more natural explanation of Pelham's predicament might consider the emergence of a second, more assertive and success-oriented personality. But, however you take it, the premise was challengingly novel for the depths of 1950's TV, and is still one of the more memorable episodes.