Herschel Daugherty's 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' output was uneven, though it was not hard to see why he was one of the series' most regular directors as most of his previous episodes ranged between decent and outstanding. He directed some great episodes, "The Creeper" being one of the series' best in my view and "The Belfry" being one of the better first episodes of all the directors that directed more than one episode. He did have disappointments though, such as "My Brother Richard" and "Sylvia".
"Return of the Hero" is in neither the best or worst categories when talking about Daugherty's previous episodes and of his 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' output overall. It is though certainly a big improvement over his previous episode "Sylvia", didn't like that at all. Put it somewhere around solid middle and am another person who found it a good episode with a lot to recommend in its own way. It's not my favourite kind of episode usually when it comes to 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents', but this is one of the "sad", romantic episodes that comes off successfully.
There is admittedly a preference for the dark and more suspenseful kind of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episodes, with the likes of "Breakdown" and "The Creeper" immediately coming to mind.
Maybe the pacing could have been tighter, particularly at the start, and more backstory for the fling and Susan Kohner's character.
However, "Return of the Hero's" great things are many. It is an extremely well acted episode, with Jacques Bergerac bringing charm and poignancy to his role and Kohner being similarly moving without being melodramatic. Their chemistry is lovely, not of the hair raising intensity kind but of the more subtle kind. Daugherty directs with great control and always seems at ease.
Furthermore, is well made visually, especially the photography which has a lot of style and atmosphere. Great use of the setting too. The main theme in the music, "Funeral March for a Marionette" has never been utilised better in film or television, is still haunting and has always fitted perfectly with the tone of the series. The script is thought provoking and not talky or soapy, with some typically ironic bookending from Hitchcock, while the story did wrench my heart with one of the saddest, bleakest twists of the series.
Overall, not a great episode but more than worth your time. 7/10.
"Return of the Hero" is in neither the best or worst categories when talking about Daugherty's previous episodes and of his 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' output overall. It is though certainly a big improvement over his previous episode "Sylvia", didn't like that at all. Put it somewhere around solid middle and am another person who found it a good episode with a lot to recommend in its own way. It's not my favourite kind of episode usually when it comes to 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents', but this is one of the "sad", romantic episodes that comes off successfully.
There is admittedly a preference for the dark and more suspenseful kind of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episodes, with the likes of "Breakdown" and "The Creeper" immediately coming to mind.
Maybe the pacing could have been tighter, particularly at the start, and more backstory for the fling and Susan Kohner's character.
However, "Return of the Hero's" great things are many. It is an extremely well acted episode, with Jacques Bergerac bringing charm and poignancy to his role and Kohner being similarly moving without being melodramatic. Their chemistry is lovely, not of the hair raising intensity kind but of the more subtle kind. Daugherty directs with great control and always seems at ease.
Furthermore, is well made visually, especially the photography which has a lot of style and atmosphere. Great use of the setting too. The main theme in the music, "Funeral March for a Marionette" has never been utilised better in film or television, is still haunting and has always fitted perfectly with the tone of the series. The script is thought provoking and not talky or soapy, with some typically ironic bookending from Hitchcock, while the story did wrench my heart with one of the saddest, bleakest twists of the series.
Overall, not a great episode but more than worth your time. 7/10.