This is an episode where the central figure acts in the most outrageous way to get what he wants and realizes he is now saddled with more problems than he can imagine. He murders a woman's husband because she has, in a random way, said she would like to be rid of him. Her pursuer needs her to ally with him, to keep the police from finding out. She alibis him and all is well. Well, not really. While she may be a prize physically, she is a knucklehead. She is totally spoiled and lacking in any sense of reality. She becomes fixated on an alligator case that was in the car of her late husband the night he was murdered. She sets herself and her new friend up for suspicion by insisting on getting the case back. The detective notices that she is more upset about the case than the death of her husband. Well, you get the picture. The Sword of Damocles hangs over the murderer and her fixation is going to bring them down. Not without merit.
11 Reviews
A clever twist make this one well worth your time.
planktonrules1 April 2021
Not every episode of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" had an excellent and ironic twist, though the best of them sure did every time. "The Crocodile Case" is clearly an episode which features a great twist.
When the show begins, you see a younger man (Denholm Elliott) murdering an elderly man by running him over deliberately. Soon you realize why...the young guy was having an affair with the victim's wife and killing the guy was a lot quicker and cheaper than a divorce! At first the wife is horrified to learn what he'd done but soon she accepts this and seems happy about everything except that the killer did not bring her beloved crocodile skin bag with him from the dead man's car....he just left it behind with the body. How will this end up being the killer's undoing? See the show and find out for yourself.
Well written, clever and up to the standards you'd expect for the series....this one is one to see.
When the show begins, you see a younger man (Denholm Elliott) murdering an elderly man by running him over deliberately. Soon you realize why...the young guy was having an affair with the victim's wife and killing the guy was a lot quicker and cheaper than a divorce! At first the wife is horrified to learn what he'd done but soon she accepts this and seems happy about everything except that the killer did not bring her beloved crocodile skin bag with him from the dead man's car....he just left it behind with the body. How will this end up being the killer's undoing? See the show and find out for yourself.
Well written, clever and up to the standards you'd expect for the series....this one is one to see.
Neatly Done.
rmax30482325 June 2012
Warning: Spoilers
It's not a masterpiece. How could any half-hour show on television in the 50s have been a masterpiece? They were ground out like hamburgers. Yet, it's nicely written and professionally executed. Denholm Elliot is especially effective as a man who murders the husband of the woman he loves. A momentary fit of remorse and she's as happy as he is.
The problem is that she's a terribly spoiled woman. Elliot left the body in a car that contained some of her own effects, including an expensive crocodile suitcase she'd just bought. She pesters Elliot and the police about it, to the point of endangering their scheme.
The growing spats between Elliot and his new wife are engaging but a bit extended, perhaps five minutes too much. After a year or so, the crocodile case turns up at the scene of fencing process, along with many other stolen goods. Elliot is asked by the police to identify the case. He rejects the crocodile case shown to him because, as he emphatically states, his wife's had her initials on the side.
This is a big mistake on Elliot's part. Without his having any way of knowing it, the case had just had those initials applied before the murder victim picked it up from the shop. No one could have known about the initials except the murderer. The episode ends with a close up of Elliot's angry, balked glare, as if he'd just been told he needed a dental extraction.
It's all rather light hearted and not to be taken seriously.
The problem is that she's a terribly spoiled woman. Elliot left the body in a car that contained some of her own effects, including an expensive crocodile suitcase she'd just bought. She pesters Elliot and the police about it, to the point of endangering their scheme.
The growing spats between Elliot and his new wife are engaging but a bit extended, perhaps five minutes too much. After a year or so, the crocodile case turns up at the scene of fencing process, along with many other stolen goods. Elliot is asked by the police to identify the case. He rejects the crocodile case shown to him because, as he emphatically states, his wife's had her initials on the side.
This is a big mistake on Elliot's part. Without his having any way of knowing it, the case had just had those initials applied before the murder victim picked it up from the shop. No one could have known about the initials except the murderer. The episode ends with a close up of Elliot's angry, balked glare, as if he'd just been told he needed a dental extraction.
It's all rather light hearted and not to be taken seriously.
"The Crocodile Case" is well-done but minor Hitchcock entry
chuck-reilly13 September 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Denholm Elliott plays a suave Englishman who is smitten with a married woman (Hazen Court). Apparently, she has given him the idea that the two of them should be together forever and that means her husband has to go. Mr. Elliott makes sure that his demise is swift and after he informs Ms. Court of his dastardly deal, she agrees to alibi him when the police (Scotland Yard) arrive. After crying some crocodile tears when she is informed of her husband's death, dim-witted Hazel quickly changes her demeanor and starts bugging the inspectors about an expensive crocodile case that was left in her late husband's car. It seems Hazel is far more concerned with that piece of luggage than her own husband being brutally murdered. Naturally the police take serious note of all this. To make matters worse, even after their initial investigation is dropped, Hazel keeps calling up the boys at Scotland Yard to find out if they ever located her precious crocodile case. When Mr. Elliott finds out that she's still hounding the police and "keeping the 'case' open," he blows his top. Soon the two lovers go their separate ways, but not for long. Scotland Yard begins to put the pieces together (thanks to Hazel's persistent lunacy) and Elliott is called in when they "find the case." In fact, the case itself points right at the guilty party due to a few newly printed initials on it. After Elliott is caught red-handed, host Hitchcock returns for his final comments and informs the audience that dingbat Hazel has also been arrested as an accessory to murder. This isn't one of the better episodes of the half-hour shows, but at least viewers get to see a young Denholm Elliott and classy Hazel Court. Mr. Elliott is more familiar to latter-day audiences as the butler in "Trading Places" and as a regular in the "Indiana Jones" series. Ms. Court did her best work in the 1950s and 1960s where her brilliant red hair made her a standout in the made-in-England Hammer Studio films. Patricia Hitchcock (Alfred's daughter) also makes a brief appearance as a disapproving friend of Hazel's who suspects something is amiss with the unfolding scenario. Her instincts are correct.
In the 50s, murderers NEVER got away with it
LCShackley29 November 2008
Here's a fine example of one of the most common plot types on AHP: a murderer gets caught because of a tiny detail.
THE CROCODILE CASE is especially enjoyable because of the teaming of a very young Denholm Elliot and the charming Hazel Court. In several deftly-written scenes, we watch their relationship disintegrate from illicit passion to boredom and disgust.
And Pat Hitchcock makes one of her many AHP appearances, as usual playing the dumpy sister/cousin/friend of the main female character.
Hazel Court and Don Taylor (who directed this episode) were married a few years after this was filmed. Perhaps someone can tell us whether this episode was the occasion of their first meeting.
THE CROCODILE CASE is especially enjoyable because of the teaming of a very young Denholm Elliot and the charming Hazel Court. In several deftly-written scenes, we watch their relationship disintegrate from illicit passion to boredom and disgust.
And Pat Hitchcock makes one of her many AHP appearances, as usual playing the dumpy sister/cousin/friend of the main female character.
Hazel Court and Don Taylor (who directed this episode) were married a few years after this was filmed. Perhaps someone can tell us whether this episode was the occasion of their first meeting.
"Wanting your own husband dead. It's wicked!"
classicsoncall26 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Ahh yes, a cleverly written episode, one of the better ones for the Hitchcock series. Although you have to wonder, as the police did, why Phyllis Chaundry (Hazel Court) appeared to be more upset over her missing crocodile case than her dead husband. And if you were Jack Lyons (Denholm Elliott), would you readily tell the woman you were having an affair with that you killed her spouse? As Bugs Bunny would say, 'what a maroon'!
The 1945 movie "Conflict" with Humphrey Bogart and Sidney Greenstreet used a similar plot device to uncover Bogey as the murderer of his wife. It involved a brooch she wore that he would only have known about by seeing it on the day she was killed. And to think, Jack Lyons got tripped up by the initials 'P. C.' You would think he'd know that killing his lover's husband wasn't politically correct.
The 1945 movie "Conflict" with Humphrey Bogart and Sidney Greenstreet used a similar plot device to uncover Bogey as the murderer of his wife. It involved a brooch she wore that he would only have known about by seeing it on the day she was killed. And to think, Jack Lyons got tripped up by the initials 'P. C.' You would think he'd know that killing his lover's husband wasn't politically correct.
What's in the case?
TheLittleSongbird8 March 2023
All four of Don Taylor's previous 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episodes are worth watching and well above average, if not exceptional in the case of three of them. "The Right Kind of House" though was absolutely excellent and a standout of Season 3's second half. Denholm Elliott makes one of two 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' appearances here as well, the other being "Relative Value". The premise for "The Crocodile Case" was very interesting, which was the case with much of Season 3.
"The Crocodile Case" on the whole was very good. Not as much as "The Right Kind of House", but it comes to Taylor's 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episode this for me is definitely one of the better ones. Is it one of my favourites of Season 3? No. Or of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents?' Again no. "The Crocodile Case" though has a lot of truly great things and has very little to fault actually, though not one of those episodes with likeable characters (other episodes fared worse though).
So much is good. Elliott is riveting in a performance full of intensity, while Hazel Court manages to not overplay her character's negative traits so she doesn't come over as annoying. The two have really strong chemistry together, both really relishing the plentiful sparring. Sparring that has the right amount of wit, tautness and tension. Hitchcock's bookending is suitably ironic and Taylor's direction has momentum while not hurrying through.
Visually, it is simple but doesn't look threadbare or cheap, did like the photography. The series' theme music is as haunting as ever. The script on the whole is taut and clever and the story always engages and has nice dark tension throughout. The twist ending is one of the best of the season, unexpected and suspenseful and in no way anti-climactic or far fetched.
It is not a perfect episode though. Did think that some of the sparring at times could have been trimmed, a few exchanges being overlong.
Did also feel that some of the character behaviours were hard to buy, especially the lead character giving himself away so easily to the last person most in his position would tell. Court's character is also made to look a little too foolish.
Overall though, very good. 8/10.
"The Crocodile Case" on the whole was very good. Not as much as "The Right Kind of House", but it comes to Taylor's 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episode this for me is definitely one of the better ones. Is it one of my favourites of Season 3? No. Or of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents?' Again no. "The Crocodile Case" though has a lot of truly great things and has very little to fault actually, though not one of those episodes with likeable characters (other episodes fared worse though).
So much is good. Elliott is riveting in a performance full of intensity, while Hazel Court manages to not overplay her character's negative traits so she doesn't come over as annoying. The two have really strong chemistry together, both really relishing the plentiful sparring. Sparring that has the right amount of wit, tautness and tension. Hitchcock's bookending is suitably ironic and Taylor's direction has momentum while not hurrying through.
Visually, it is simple but doesn't look threadbare or cheap, did like the photography. The series' theme music is as haunting as ever. The script on the whole is taut and clever and the story always engages and has nice dark tension throughout. The twist ending is one of the best of the season, unexpected and suspenseful and in no way anti-climactic or far fetched.
It is not a perfect episode though. Did think that some of the sparring at times could have been trimmed, a few exchanges being overlong.
Did also feel that some of the character behaviours were hard to buy, especially the lead character giving himself away so easily to the last person most in his position would tell. Court's character is also made to look a little too foolish.
Overall though, very good. 8/10.
forget about that damn dressing case or will both end up regretting it!
sol121811 November 2012
Warning: Spoilers
***SPOILERS*** After bocking the road and having Arthur Charndary, Arthur Gould-Porter, get out to check what's happening Jack Lyons, Denholm Elliott, comes out of hiding and bops him from behind smashing his skull and killing him. Rushing back to the party that Arthur's wife Phyllis and her kid sister Aleen, Hazel Court & Pat Hitchcock, are attending Jack offers them a ride home since Arthur is no longer available or, unknown to them, alive to do it.
It's at the Charndry residence that Jack breaks the good news to Phyllis whom he's secretly having an affair that the old man is no longer around and the two can soon marry. At first shocked about the news Phyllis is soon very concerned when the police in the person of inspector Karslak, Jack Alderson, show up with not only the news of her husbands murder but that her prized crocodile, that Arthur was holding for her, suitcase is also missing. Obsessed in getting her crocodile suitcase back Phyllis has the police go into overdrive in tracking it down which in the end turned out to be disastrous for both her and Jack. In ways the two never expected, but should have known better, to happen!
**SPOILERS*** It was Jack's bad luck to be so descriptive of Phyllis suitcase when it was finally recovered by the police. If he only kept his mouth shut he as well as Phyllis, who was an accessory to the cover up of her husband Arthur's murder, would have gotten away Scot-free with the crime. But in Jack in trying to cover all the bases he had uncovered a clue, that the police set up for him, that eventually ended up sinking both him and Phyllis.
It's at the Charndry residence that Jack breaks the good news to Phyllis whom he's secretly having an affair that the old man is no longer around and the two can soon marry. At first shocked about the news Phyllis is soon very concerned when the police in the person of inspector Karslak, Jack Alderson, show up with not only the news of her husbands murder but that her prized crocodile, that Arthur was holding for her, suitcase is also missing. Obsessed in getting her crocodile suitcase back Phyllis has the police go into overdrive in tracking it down which in the end turned out to be disastrous for both her and Jack. In ways the two never expected, but should have known better, to happen!
**SPOILERS*** It was Jack's bad luck to be so descriptive of Phyllis suitcase when it was finally recovered by the police. If he only kept his mouth shut he as well as Phyllis, who was an accessory to the cover up of her husband Arthur's murder, would have gotten away Scot-free with the crime. But in Jack in trying to cover all the bases he had uncovered a clue, that the police set up for him, that eventually ended up sinking both him and Phyllis.
Not one of my favorites....
kwally-139625 January 2023
Warning: Spoilers
....mostly due to the stupidity of the protagonist. If he hadn't been dumb enough to tell his peabrained girlfriend that he'd killed her husband, he might have got away with it. To make it even worse, he does this right at the beginning, so this episode is really just a half hour of waiting for the inevitable to occur. I can't think of another thing to say about this very humdrum episode-it's not terrible, but it's not really worth watching, either-the performances are OK, not outstanding-we aren't told enough about these people to develop any empathy toward them. I wouldn't call it a stinker, but most definitely a skip-er.
The Crocodile Case
bombersflyup28 January 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The episode's okay, not great. It all hinges on Jack reacting for no reason. No response should be quick or precise. I guess getting someone else in as the suspected guilty party may have gotten him out of that frame of thought, which is clever.
They make a perfect pair...
ronnybee211217 October 2023
Warning: Spoilers
A man takes an offhanded comment from a married girl friend a bit too literally and eventually regrets it ! This guy has been spending some time with a married lady that is rather spoiled,bored,and not very bright. The man slowly comes to learn the hard way that he is actually far dumber than she is.
The man acts-out a sinister plan to do-away with the husband of the married lady. He succeeds in killing the man,and had he simply kept it all to himself,that would have likely been the end of it,ie he wouldn't have been caught.
However,when he tells the married lady what he's done,it is all downhill from there.
The woman becomes fixated upon an alligator box or case of some sort that was lost in the shuffle after the murder. Apparently this alligator case was purchased long-ago for the woman by her husband.
The problem is that the woman seems to be much- more upset over the missing alligator case than she is over the death of her husband !
This glaring fact doesn't escape the detective who comes to tell her about the death.
Eventually,a seemingly minor detail with the alligator case ends-up unravelling the whole sordid and shameful plot.
The viewer is left with the undeniable impression that the man will end-up being far happier in prison than he would have been with the cheating widow.
The man acts-out a sinister plan to do-away with the husband of the married lady. He succeeds in killing the man,and had he simply kept it all to himself,that would have likely been the end of it,ie he wouldn't have been caught.
However,when he tells the married lady what he's done,it is all downhill from there.
The woman becomes fixated upon an alligator box or case of some sort that was lost in the shuffle after the murder. Apparently this alligator case was purchased long-ago for the woman by her husband.
The problem is that the woman seems to be much- more upset over the missing alligator case than she is over the death of her husband !
This glaring fact doesn't escape the detective who comes to tell her about the death.
Eventually,a seemingly minor detail with the alligator case ends-up unravelling the whole sordid and shameful plot.
The viewer is left with the undeniable impression that the man will end-up being far happier in prison than he would have been with the cheating widow.
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