Gil Larkin is suspected of murder when Mona Cameron's allegedly abusive husband is shot dead in front of him and he gets knocked out by an unknown assailant.Gil Larkin is suspected of murder when Mona Cameron's allegedly abusive husband is shot dead in front of him and he gets knocked out by an unknown assailant.Gil Larkin is suspected of murder when Mona Cameron's allegedly abusive husband is shot dead in front of him and he gets knocked out by an unknown assailant.
- Ben Cameron
- (as David Orrick)
- Secretary
- (as Eileen Harley)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaFrank Gorshin's TV debut.
- Quotes
[first lines]
Himself - Host: [Hitchcock is holding a huge magnifying glass the size of his face in front of him] Good evening.
[puts down magnifying glass]
Himself - Host: I've been examining the fingerprints on the inside of your television screen. Very unusual. They're all thumbs.
[He glances upwards and points to the screen]
Himself - Host: That's it. They must've been left by your television repairman.
[brings up magnifying glass over his face again]
Himself - Host: You know, I could use this to watch television. I have a 27-inch set with an 8-inch screen.
[puts down magnifying glass]
Himself - Host: It also has an adjustment for color. The adjustment consists of a palette and brush and the viewer simply fills in the numbered squares.
[gesticulates with thumb and fingers in an 'OK' sign]
Himself - Host: It takes a very deft hand. Tonight's tale is provocatively captioned "Decoy." Do I pique you? I hope so. A program host should always be a good piquer. In watching this story, I want you to pay particular attention to the three undraped ladies who dance in the final scene. Because one of these young ladies has since married a titled Englishman and her face is now quite well-known.
- SoundtracksFuneral March of a Marionette
Written by Charles Gounod
As far as the series and Season 1 go, "Decoy" is one of the middle of the pack outings. There are worse episodes on both counts (meaning of both the series and Season 1), but also a lot better likewise. This is an episode that is worth watching and is not a bad outing, there is just nothing special about it either. The premise intrigues, but "Decoy" could have done a good deal more with it. This is all personal taste though that will be agreed with by some but disagreed with by others.
While there are better looking episodes of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' definitely, "Decoy" does have some nice slickness and atmosphere. Gounod's "Funeral March of a Marionette" is still made iconic use of for the main theme. When used, the music is suitably ominous without being over emphasised. Hitchcock's bookending is suitably dry humoured in both writing and delivery.
The script has some tautness and intelligence and the story has some nice suspense early on. The acting is very good from all, particularly from Robert Horton with touching Cara Williams close behind, and it is directed assuredly enough.
On the other hand, "Decoy" agreed would have benefitted from being longer. It did feel rushed and like there was too much crammed in, which meant that not everything had clarity and it could have had more depth. The suspense could have been more in the slightly too coincidence-heavy second half and personally did think that the ending was not that much of a surprise.
It is agreed too that the sets do look sparse and under-budgeted side.
Concluding, worth watching if unexceptional. Had good potential early on that wasn't carried all the way through. 6/10.
- TheLittleSongbird
- Apr 13, 2022
Details
- Runtime30 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1