Hitchhiker Dies (23 Apr. 1956)

A man who picks up a hitchhiker is accused of complicity in an armed robbery when coincidence and circumstantial evidence point strongly toward his guilt.

Director:

Herbert L. Strock

Writer:

Jack Laird (screenplay)

Stars:

Broderick Crawford, James Stone, John Close

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Broderick Crawford	...	Chief Dan Mathews
James Stone	...	Warren Siddons
John Close	...	Stash Erwin (as John V. Close)
William Boyett	...	Officer Johnson
Emmaline Henry	...	Gloria Burgess / Margaret Mason
Dan Sturkie	...	Mr. Steadman, Payroll Supervisor (as Daniel B. Sturkie)
Charles H. Gray	...	Officer Edwards (as Charles Gray)
Shirley O'Hara	...	Payroll Clerk
Sid Cassel	...	Guard at Gate
Art Gilmore	...	Narrator (voice)

Storyline

Holdup man "Stash" Irwin robs the Apex Industrial Plastics Company of a $28,000 payroll, but is critically wounded while attempting to flee. He abandons his car, hides the money in a culvert, and hitches a ride with Warren Siddons (an Apex employee who is driving a nearly identical vehicle). After Irwin dies, Siddons is arrested at a Highway Patrol roadblock and appears to be complicit in the robbery, especially after Irwin's accomplices plant additional "evidence" in Siddons' home and office. Siddons steadfastly maintains his innocence in the face of seemingly overwhelming evidence to the contrary, and Dan Mathews and Officer Johnson eventually deduce that Siddons is either an innocent man or a fool. Betting on the former, they set a trap for Irwin's two accomplices.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama

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Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 April 1956 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

ZIV Television Programs

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

$28,000 in 1956 had the same purchasing power as $221,000 in 2009.

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Goofs

The robber makes his getaway in a gray 1956 Ford convertible license number 3517106. After stashing his failing car he is picked up hitchhiking by a man in an identical but supposedly different gray 1956 Ford convertible, also with license number 3517106.

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Quotes

Chief Dan Mathews: The careless driver isn't driving his car - he's aiming it!

User Reviews

On being at the wrong place at the wrong time

A robber in a rubber mask steals money from the Ajax Plastics Company's payroll office after knocking out the male employee and tying up the female employee. He flees but the woman scoots over and sets off the alarm just as the robber is at the security gate. He shoots the security guard and is in turn shot by the guard. Wounded, the robber runs off the road and starts hitch hiking. A motorist picks him but is soon stopped by the Highway Patrol. Mathews believes that the robber had to have an accomplice working inside the plastics company because of knowing there would be a lot of money in the office and his so easily getting through security. The wounded robber dies and Mathews believes that the motorist who picked him up must be the accomplice as he also works for the plastics company. The guy protests his innocence and Mathews comes to believe him. The real culprits plant evidence against the innocent motorist. But then, with the innocent motorist's help, Mathews sets a trap for them. A pretty interesting yarn but it does prove that Mother was always right: do NOT pick up hitch hikers!