The Derelicts (5 Feb. 1956)

Inventor Ralph Cowell murders his silent partner Alfred, only to be blackmailed by vagrant Peter Goodfellow, who witnessed the crime.

Director:

Robert Stevenson

Writers:

Robert C. Dennis (teleplay), Terence Maples (story)

Stars:

Alfred Hitchcock, Robert Newton, Phillip Reed

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Alfred Hitchcock	...	Himself - Host
Robert Newton	...	Peter J. Goodfellow
Phillip Reed	...	Ralph Cowell (as Philip Reed)
Peggy Knudsen	...	Herta Cowell
Johnny Silver	...	Fenton Shanks
Robert Foulk	...	Det. Sgt. Monroney
Cyril Delevanti	...	Alfred J. Sloane

Storyline

A year ago, Mr. Sloane lent Ralph the money he needed to develop and market a new invention, in return for 50% of the profits. Now Sloane calls Ralph to ask for his share, but Ralph has spent all of his earnings on his attractive, materialistic wife. When Sloane insists on payment, Ralph kills him in a park and takes his wallet, expecting to recover the IOU he had written. But the murder is witnessed by a vagrant, who also recovers the IOU in Sloane's cigarette case. The vagrant and a friend come to confront Ralph, demanding heavy payment in return for their silence.

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Plot Keywords:

vagrant | murder | iou | profit | wallet | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 February 1956 (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

One of the better episodes of season one

Cowell: "Did you see the man who did it?"

Goodfellow: "Oh, yes, as clearly as I can see you now."

Robert Newton, as the unwashed, stubble-faced Goodfellow, steals the show, among other things, in this very entertaining, well-written episode, of a blackmailer and his accompaniment who, after witnessing a homicide, make hell for the murderer – moving in with him, making themselves at home, and becoming his dependants. The obtruders are vagabonds, you see, who seize the opportunity to experience living with a roof over their heads and brandy in their stomachs. Newton is superb as the jolly, manipulative Goodfellow and had me thinking of Albert Finney as a great choice for the role in, say, a modern rendition of the teleplay. There's a second actor here who resembles another screen performer, as well. Cyril Delevanti, as the fogey millionaire, Mr. Sloane, who is asphyxiated to death by his killer, both looks and speaks as if he could have been John Hurt's father. Really, the similarity is quite uncanny.

Peggy Knudson plays the killer's pampered wife, a fortune huntress obviously, into the boas, diamonds, and mink coats, enough to make her sugar daddy resort to bloodying his hands just so as to keep supporting her and her lavish, spendthrift ways. A blonde dish who's got her husband, Ralph Cowell, by the curlies, though you wonder why the guy puts up with her?

Finally, the debonair Phillip Reed plays the poor sap who's in over his head financially and criminally. Well-groomed and nattily attired, he may look wealthy, but he's barely breaking even (thanks to his wife) and owes Mr. Sloane $10 000 and 50% of the profits from his lucrative business. (Reed has a Henry Fonda quality to him, don't you think?)

Back to Goodfellow. Face it, the guy's one clever, cunning bloke. For it's not out of lack of foresight that he pawns Mr. Sloane's personal effects. Think about it. The big ado over the IOU was nothing but a red herring.