Actually thought that "Miss Bracegirdle Does Her Duty" had some potential. Mildred Natwick was a fine actress and rarely disappointed, and had no doubt that she would do well here as the role sounded as though it would suit her. Robert Stevens was responsible for some fine episodes, Season 3 having coincidentally two of his best ("The Motive" and "The Glass Eye"). Have always liked droll humour, it more often than not worked in Hitchcock's bookending throughout this series, and there are episodes that are more reliant on humour than suspense that have worked well.
"Miss Bracegirdle Does Her Duty" is one of those episodes that could have executed this a lot better than it did. Had absolutely no problem with the lead performance, but it is a case (like quite a number of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episodes) of the lead performance being better than the episode itself. It is not one of Stevens' worst episodes, nowhere near, or one of the worst of Season 3 (it never for example reaches "Sylvia" bad). It is also not one of the best. Not a terrible episode, but it did feel somewhat bland and a disappointment after "The Motive".
The best thing about "Miss Bracegirdle Does Her Duty" is Natwick, who is excellent and was clearly at ease with this type of humour. The acting is fine in general. Hitchcock's bookending is typically dry humoured and does amuse, more so than the humour in the rest of the episode.
Production values are suitably slick, simple but not cheap. The theme music is as macabre as ever.
However, "Miss Bracegirdle Does Her Duty" could have been a good deal better. Story-wise, it is pretty thin on the ground and emphasis on dialogue over anything eventful happening made it feel dull and over-stretched. Especially when the dialogue is very talky, too much so and some of it felt like it was there to pad out the episode. There is not much to it in terms of atmosphere, the droll humour came over more as tired and not particularly funny (other than in the bookending) and there is very little suspense.
Did also find the episode rather forgettable, not much here is innovative and little new is done with it. The ending is another going out on a whimper ones and another one of those where it was difficult to remember any of it. Stevens directs competently, but nothing feels inspired.
In conclusion, watchable but rather bland. 5/10.
"Miss Bracegirdle Does Her Duty" is one of those episodes that could have executed this a lot better than it did. Had absolutely no problem with the lead performance, but it is a case (like quite a number of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episodes) of the lead performance being better than the episode itself. It is not one of Stevens' worst episodes, nowhere near, or one of the worst of Season 3 (it never for example reaches "Sylvia" bad). It is also not one of the best. Not a terrible episode, but it did feel somewhat bland and a disappointment after "The Motive".
The best thing about "Miss Bracegirdle Does Her Duty" is Natwick, who is excellent and was clearly at ease with this type of humour. The acting is fine in general. Hitchcock's bookending is typically dry humoured and does amuse, more so than the humour in the rest of the episode.
Production values are suitably slick, simple but not cheap. The theme music is as macabre as ever.
However, "Miss Bracegirdle Does Her Duty" could have been a good deal better. Story-wise, it is pretty thin on the ground and emphasis on dialogue over anything eventful happening made it feel dull and over-stretched. Especially when the dialogue is very talky, too much so and some of it felt like it was there to pad out the episode. There is not much to it in terms of atmosphere, the droll humour came over more as tired and not particularly funny (other than in the bookending) and there is very little suspense.
Did also find the episode rather forgettable, not much here is innovative and little new is done with it. The ending is another going out on a whimper ones and another one of those where it was difficult to remember any of it. Stevens directs competently, but nothing feels inspired.
In conclusion, watchable but rather bland. 5/10.