It's not hard to imagine real life families involved in the kind of dysfunction that disables Charlie Boerum (Richard Waring) and his sister Celia (Carmen Mathews), even if they do live in the same house and converse with the least amount of communication possible. You would think after twenty years the family attorney (Edmon Ryan) would get it, and he does, but goes for the old college try to bring them together one more time on Christmas Eve. Unquestionably, Charlie's being mired in the past is well beyond the average person's ability to grieve for a spouse, while Celia's life is spent defending herself against Charlie's incriminating remarks, even though she was cleared of any wrongdoing in Jessie's death. The story never does answer the question of her actual guilt or innocence, only that a court proceeding found her not liable. Charlie's not too subtle attempt to do away with his sister should have been a turning point on the story, but instead we learn that twenty years have already gone by with no hope of reconciliation. Not the kind of twist ending Hitchcock generally went for, but more of a statement on the life consuming tragedy that a major grudge can inflict on a person.
8 Reviews
They Deserve Each Other
Hitchcoc6 July 2013
A man arrives at a depressing, dark house on Christmas Eve, bearing presents. The inhabitants of the house include an aging spinster and her mentally ill brother. The brother's wife has died at some point, having fallen down a stairway, and he blames his sister. She was charged, but exonerated for lack of evidence. They continue to coexist, although he never leaves his room. John, the visitor, tries to talk sense into both of them, but to no avail. Their hell-on-earth existence is actually the glue that holds things together, be it in the sickest, most depressing way. At one point, the brother tries a quid pro quo, tying a rope across the stairs, the same way he believed the sister killed his wife. There is a lot of negotiating and John finally has to get out of there. There are a lot of questions one would ask if he or she thought for more than a few seconds. Once we find out the kicker at the end we must ask ourselves why anyone would go to that house. While pretty unbelievable, it is highly atmospheric and engaging.
"Alfred Hitchcock Presents"....a most unhappy and miserable Christmas tale.
planktonrules1 April 2021
This is the anti-Christmas episode which, for some reason, aired in May...not Decemher, 1958. But the setting is Christmas and the show finds a brother and sister living together...and loathing every second they spend under the same roof together. He blames her for the death of his wife and she thinks he's full of it. A friend arrives and tries to spread Christmas cheer as well as to get his friend to leave the house once and for all.
The twist in this one isn't so much scary or ironic...but more pathetic. Not a bad show at all...but one about two truly miserable and awful people...one that might leave you feeling a bit depressed as well.
The twist in this one isn't so much scary or ironic...but more pathetic. Not a bad show at all...but one about two truly miserable and awful people...one that might leave you feeling a bit depressed as well.
Less than festive
TheLittleSongbird25 February 2023
"The Festive Season" is Arthur Hiller's third 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' entry, after "Flight to the East" (rather mixed, leaning towards disappointing) and "Disappearing Trick" (pretty good). Did like the premise for "The Festive Season", which did sound very creepy and very Hitchcockian. Carmen Matthews is no stranger to 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents', she was in three previous episodes and made a strong impression in all and went on to star in two more after.
As far as Season 3 goes, "The Festive Season" is not one of the best or one of the worst. Personally put it somewhere in the middle, finding it a decent, above average episode that could have been a lot better considering the premise. It's also in my mind rather misleadingly titled, something that also struck me even reading the synopsis, with there being nothing festive or holiday-ish and instead a melodrama centered around unpleasant people. Not saying that that is a bad thing as such, just that it wasn't what leapt into my head reading the premise.
Did find a lot of good things in "The Festive Season". For one thing, to me it is very well acted. Matthews does controlling truly chillingly, definitely her most chilling 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' performance, and Richard Waring portrays the brooding bitterness of his character more than convincingly and with the broodiness increasing. The chemistry between them scintillates and evokes enough suspense. Hiller does direct with a quite good eye for atmosphere.
It looks pretty good, the setting being simple but not overly so and there is a lot of slickness and moodiness in the photography and lighting that enhance. The audio is suitably ominous and the series' theme music is still a classic. Hitchcock's bookending is amusingly ironic as usual and doesn't jar surprisingly with the more serious tone of the story. The episode starts off quite well and is a very intriguing character study, the characters are very unpleasant but also very interesting and with a strong chemistry.
Having said all of this, "A Festive Season" could have been more. It could have done with a lot more suspense, as the premise is one that cries out for it, as well as more dark mood (there in spurts but not all the way through), a tighter pace (the middle felt too stretched) and surprises.
Did also find it too heavy on the talk, some of it not adding much and being too wordy, and that the ending had a very run out of ideas and anaemic quality, indicative of being unsure how to end.
Overall, decent and above average but not the very good or more episode it could have been. 6/10.
As far as Season 3 goes, "The Festive Season" is not one of the best or one of the worst. Personally put it somewhere in the middle, finding it a decent, above average episode that could have been a lot better considering the premise. It's also in my mind rather misleadingly titled, something that also struck me even reading the synopsis, with there being nothing festive or holiday-ish and instead a melodrama centered around unpleasant people. Not saying that that is a bad thing as such, just that it wasn't what leapt into my head reading the premise.
Did find a lot of good things in "The Festive Season". For one thing, to me it is very well acted. Matthews does controlling truly chillingly, definitely her most chilling 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' performance, and Richard Waring portrays the brooding bitterness of his character more than convincingly and with the broodiness increasing. The chemistry between them scintillates and evokes enough suspense. Hiller does direct with a quite good eye for atmosphere.
It looks pretty good, the setting being simple but not overly so and there is a lot of slickness and moodiness in the photography and lighting that enhance. The audio is suitably ominous and the series' theme music is still a classic. Hitchcock's bookending is amusingly ironic as usual and doesn't jar surprisingly with the more serious tone of the story. The episode starts off quite well and is a very intriguing character study, the characters are very unpleasant but also very interesting and with a strong chemistry.
Having said all of this, "A Festive Season" could have been more. It could have done with a lot more suspense, as the premise is one that cries out for it, as well as more dark mood (there in spurts but not all the way through), a tighter pace (the middle felt too stretched) and surprises.
Did also find it too heavy on the talk, some of it not adding much and being too wordy, and that the ending had a very run out of ideas and anaemic quality, indicative of being unsure how to end.
Overall, decent and above average but not the very good or more episode it could have been. 6/10.
More Curious Than Suspenseful
dougdoepke19 April 2011
Rather sour entry with weak payoff. Feuding brother and sister in same household conspire against one another over strange death of brother's wife. It's a talky 30-minutes with basically only a single set. Fortunately, the small 3-person cast comes through with the series strength of good performances, especially Ryan as the on-looker and Mathews as the sister.
The episode manages some suspense— actually more like curiosity—over undercurrents among the characters; however the plot is more character study than involving story. In fact, the humorous Hitchcock wraparound may be the best feature. In my book, it's an unfortunately lesser entry.
The episode manages some suspense— actually more like curiosity—over undercurrents among the characters; however the plot is more character study than involving story. In fact, the humorous Hitchcock wraparound may be the best feature. In my book, it's an unfortunately lesser entry.
A VERY MERRY AND MISERABLE CHRISTMAS!
tcchelsey17 April 2024
If you're a long time fan of the series, you'll notice Hitch favored single and two character studies, the more desperate the better. This definitely is as desperate as it gets, ironically set during Christmas Eve, all about a feuding sister and brother.
Versatile Carmen Mathews returns to the series, in a role made just for her, playing Celia, the old maid sister to an extremely bitter gentleman called Charlie (played by Richard Waring), and with one big chip on his shoulder. It's long been his belief Celia delibertly killed his wife and he may be next -- unless he does something about it. Hoping to mend fences is family attorney Edmon Ryan, and good luck with that chore!
The surprise here is the ending is not quite what you would expect -- without giving too much way, but is fairly strange, and this is one bizarre story, Hitchcock style to be sure. Exceptionally directed by Arthur Hiller, known for LOVE STORY. It's a tossup as to who outdoes the other, Mathews or Waring.
I agree with the last reviewer; the episode was NOT originally aired at Christmas time, and perhaps that was Hitch's intention with a little chuckle. Although, if you ever have the chance to watch this story during the holidays, you may come away a tad depressed, but with a great deal of respect for the actors, they are that covincing. You be the judge.
From SEASON 3 EPISODE 31 remastered box set.
5 dvd set. Released by Universal, 2007.
Versatile Carmen Mathews returns to the series, in a role made just for her, playing Celia, the old maid sister to an extremely bitter gentleman called Charlie (played by Richard Waring), and with one big chip on his shoulder. It's long been his belief Celia delibertly killed his wife and he may be next -- unless he does something about it. Hoping to mend fences is family attorney Edmon Ryan, and good luck with that chore!
The surprise here is the ending is not quite what you would expect -- without giving too much way, but is fairly strange, and this is one bizarre story, Hitchcock style to be sure. Exceptionally directed by Arthur Hiller, known for LOVE STORY. It's a tossup as to who outdoes the other, Mathews or Waring.
I agree with the last reviewer; the episode was NOT originally aired at Christmas time, and perhaps that was Hitch's intention with a little chuckle. Although, if you ever have the chance to watch this story during the holidays, you may come away a tad depressed, but with a great deal of respect for the actors, they are that covincing. You be the judge.
From SEASON 3 EPISODE 31 remastered box set.
5 dvd set. Released by Universal, 2007.
Misery loves company
kellielulu10 December 2022
Warning: Spoilers
That saying has always seemed a little odd to me but it's not inaccurate.
The plot is of a brother and sister who would prefer to wallow in the past instead of look to the future. The brother Charlie believes his sister Celia arranged for his wife to fall to her death. An inquest clears her but he doesn't believe it . Family attorneys and friend John arrives on Christmas Eve trying to reconcile the two. He tries to encourage both to move on separately or as family. All his attempts fail . They seem to need to hold onto bitterness.
John leaves the house and goes to a bar where the mood is actually brightened some. The bartender is cheerful. They talk about what happened in that house and how John would just like to remove this day and because of what happened - twenty years ago! That's right the brother and sister continue to wallow in their misery together. No one else need suffer.
The plot is of a brother and sister who would prefer to wallow in the past instead of look to the future. The brother Charlie believes his sister Celia arranged for his wife to fall to her death. An inquest clears her but he doesn't believe it . Family attorneys and friend John arrives on Christmas Eve trying to reconcile the two. He tries to encourage both to move on separately or as family. All his attempts fail . They seem to need to hold onto bitterness.
John leaves the house and goes to a bar where the mood is actually brightened some. The bartender is cheerful. They talk about what happened in that house and how John would just like to remove this day and because of what happened - twenty years ago! That's right the brother and sister continue to wallow in their misery together. No one else need suffer.
Tension.
rmax30482311 June 2012
Warning: Spoilers
An old friend, John, comes to visit Celia and Charley, brother and sister, who live together in a large country house. Celia and Charley don't get along. They haven't gotten along since the accidental death of Charley's wife, who stumbled down the dark staircase one night. Charley believes Celia had deliberately strung a piece of cord across the top of the stairs and caused the accident.
Now Charley lives in his boyhood room, unshaven and brooding. Celia acts as normal as possible under the circumstances, fixing Charley's meals, although they no longer sit at the table together.
Poor John, the friendly visitor, would like to bring them together because, after all, it's Christmas Eve, but Charley will have none of it. He goes so far as to try killing Celia and failing.
I won't give away the ending because it doesn't amount to much and is as irrelevant to the plot as a clown's cap on an organ grinder's monkey. The music cues us that this is The Big Reveal but the viewer's response is likely to be, "So what?" It seems to be a recurring weakness of the show that the story we witness isn't much more than a routine melodrama, routinely acted and directed, with an attempt at surprise or irony augured in at the end after a few minutes of additional thought.
Now Charley lives in his boyhood room, unshaven and brooding. Celia acts as normal as possible under the circumstances, fixing Charley's meals, although they no longer sit at the table together.
Poor John, the friendly visitor, would like to bring them together because, after all, it's Christmas Eve, but Charley will have none of it. He goes so far as to try killing Celia and failing.
I won't give away the ending because it doesn't amount to much and is as irrelevant to the plot as a clown's cap on an organ grinder's monkey. The music cues us that this is The Big Reveal but the viewer's response is likely to be, "So what?" It seems to be a recurring weakness of the show that the story we witness isn't much more than a routine melodrama, routinely acted and directed, with an attempt at surprise or irony augured in at the end after a few minutes of additional thought.
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