All Program Information: General Details | Awards
Specific episodes:
106: “Lamb to the Slaughter”
113: “Dip in the Pool”
118: “Poison”
168: “Man From the South”
192: “Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel’s Coat
210: “The Landlady”
General Details
- First episode: October 2, 1955
- Runtime: 30 minutes (USA)
- Production Company: Shamley Productions
- Distributor: CBS Television (later moved to NBC)
Awards
- WON 1958 Golden Globe
- Best TV Show – Alfred Hitchcock
Episode 106: “Lamb To the Slaughter”
- First aired on April 13, 1958
- Based on “Lamb to the Slaughter”
- Story by: Roald Dahl
- Teleplay by: Roald Dahl
- Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
- Associate Producer: Joan Harrison
- Director of Photography: John L. Russell
- Cast:
- Alfred Hitchcock as Himself – Host
- Barbara Bel Geddes as Mary Maloney
- Harold J. Stone as Lieutenant Jack Noonan
- Allan Lane as Patrick Maloney
- Ken Clark as Mike – Policeman assistant
- Robert C. Ross as Forensic doctor
- William Keene as Fingerprint policeman
- Thomas Wilde as Photographer policeman (as Thomas Wild)
- Otto Waldis as Sam
- Hitchcock’s introduction: He gave me this ticket for blocking an aisle during the rush hour. I don’t understand; I was in the slow lane! I just stopped a moment at the condiment shelf where the store’s having a “Get Acquainted” sale on “Low Calorie Calories.” Tonight’s play is not unrelated to this milieu. It is called “Lamb to the Slaughter” but before we see it the store has asked that I direct your attention to their very best bargain.
- Hitchcock’s conclusion: Well, that’s the way the old meatball bounces. As for Mary Maloney, she would’ve gone scot free if she’d hadn’t tried to do in her second husband the same way. Unfortunately he was the forgetful type and had forgotten to plug in the freezer. The meat was as soft as jelly. Speaking of plugs, that is precisely what our sponsor wants to do for his product, after which I’ll wheel back. [pause] And now ladies and gentlemen, those of us who work in television have a technical term for this part of the program. We call it: The End. Next week we shall be back with another story. I must be going; I can’t risk another ticket. Good night.
Episode 113: “Dip In the Pool”
- First aired on June 1, 1958
- Based on “Dip in the Pool”
- Story by: Roald Dahl
- Teleplay by: Francis Cockrell
- Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
- Associate Producer: Joan Harrison
- Director of Photography: John F. Warren
- Cast:
- Alfred Hitchcock as Himself – Host
- Keenan Wynn as William Botibol
- Fay Wray as Mrs. Renshaw
- Philip Bourneuf as Mr. Renshaw
- Louise Platt as Ethel Botibol
- Doreen Lang as Emily
- Ralph Clanton as Ship’s Purser
- Doris Lloyd as Emily’s Mother
- Ashley Cowan as Captain
- Owen Cunningham as Auctioneer
- Barry Harvey as Steward
- Michael Hadlow as Waiter
- Margaret Curtis as Passenger
- Judith Brian as Passenger
- William Hughes as Bidder
- Hitchcock’s introduction: Oh, good evening. I’m on vacation from the rigors of television, and coming to you by remote pick-up. Our cameras are quite ordinary, but they are fastened to the longest extension cords in history. However, I find this vacation quite exhausting. Shuffleboard simply cannot be played from the prone position. Incidentally the captain informs me that changing channels is not only foolhardy but also extremely dangerous. So I don’t believe you ought to try it. I understand that in my absense you are to see a play based on the story “Dip in the Pool”. Having said that, I now return you to our studios.
- Hitchcock’s conclusion: You will be pleased to know that our story had a happy ending. The ship was delayed by engine trouble so that Mr. Botibol won the pool. Regrettably Mr. Botibol was not there to enjoy the money, but his wife and her second husband had a very good time with it. Our voyage should be over in a few minutes, but we’re approaching rough water. I think I shall move nearer the railing. You stay here, however, for I shall weave back in just one minute. [pause] That was worse than I expected. And to add insult to injury, the captain has asked me to get off the ship. He claims I’m tipping it over. It’s absurd of course, but all the passengers are with him, and it’s jump or be pushed. So until next week – bon voyage.
- Trivia: Look for Hitchcock’s only television cameo on the face of a magazine, a la his sea-bound film “Lifeboat.”
Episode 118: “Poison”
- First aired on November 5, 1958
- Based on “Poison”
- Story by: Roald Dahl
- Teleplay by: Casy Robinson
- Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
- Associate Producer: Joan Harrison
- Director of Photography: John L. Russell
- Cast:
- Alfred Hitchcock as Himself – Host
- Wendell Corey as Timber Woods
- James Donald as Harry Pope
- Arnold Moss as Dr. Ganderbay
- Weaver Levy as Dr. Ganderbay’s assistant
- Hitchcock’s introduction: Good evening. Here we are in all but once again. Most of tonight’s program will be taken up with a story called “Poison.” [rattles] A rattlesnake. It’s a new warning device I’ve instituted to sound an alarm when a pickpocket is at work. It comes in several sizes, including very small ones for ladies’ purses. He’s very alert. This is far superior to ordinary burglar alarms, for if a thief is foolhardy enough to put his hand in the pocket… [shrug] There are a few bugs in it. Once when a thief put his hand in my pocket the snake became confused and struck in the wrong direction. The doctor had to put a tourniquet around my stomach. Unfortunately that proved to be the wrong stomach. It was the snake who died. I see that it is now what my sponsor calls “High Time.” And here is what he thinks it is high time for.
- Hitchcock’s conclusion: For failure to call a doctor when his friend was bitten, Harry spent some little time in prison. Apparently the snake couldn’t keep his mouth shut. Which reminds me, I believe it is time for another message. However, I shall be back. [pause] If you are interested in obtaining one of my pickpocket alarms– Good heavens. I’ve been robbed. Good night!
Episode 168: “Man From the South”
- First aired on January 3, 1960
- Based on “Man From the South”
- Story by: Roald Dahl
- Cast:
- Alfred Hitchcock as Himself – Host
- Steve McQueen as Gambler
- Peter Lorre as Carlos
- Neile Adams as Woman
- Katherine Squire as Carlos’ Wife
- Tyler McVey as Referee
- Marc Cavell as Bellhop
- Phil Gordon as Bartender
- Hitchcock’s introduction: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. And welcome to the land of two dollar windows and quarter horses. Racing has been called the sport of kings, but here at the two dollar window I’ve met relatively few of them. Well apparently there’s no business like show business, and speaking of shows, we have one following the next race. Those of you who wish to bet may still do so. Naturally I can’t give you any tips, but there’s one entry that’s been timed at just one minute flat. Ah, there he is now…
- Hitchcock’s conclusion: Now you know how Venus De Milo got the way she is. By the time the poor old girl won an automobile it was impossible for her to drive it. Of late there’s been a great deal of talk about pay television. Actually, most of us already have it. And here is the gentleman who makes us pay. [pause I’m not sure what to say. That last commercial left me completely underwhelmed. Perhaps I shall simply bid you adieu until next week when my, um, sponsor and I shall return with another story. Good night.
Episode 192: “Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel’s Coat”
- First aired on September 27, 1960
- Based on “Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel’s Coat”
- Story by: Roald Dahl
- Teleplay by: Halsted Welles
- Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
- Associate Producer: Joan Harrison
- Director of Photography: John L. Russell
- Cast:
- Alfred Hitchcock as Himself – Host
- Audrey Meadows as Mrs. Bixby
- Les Tremayne as Dr. Fred Bixby
- Stephen Chase as The Colonel
- Sally Hughes as Miss Putney, Dental Assistant
- Howard Caine as Pawnbroker Employee
- Maidie Norman as Eloise
- Bernie Hamilton as Dawson the Butler
- Hitchcock’s introduction: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. And welcome to another season of “Alfred Hitchcock Presents.” As has been our custom, we shall present homey little stories of an unusual nature. We shall continue to give the little man – or woman – his due. When crime is occasionally dealt with, it will be crime as practiced by ordinary people like the fellow next door. I think that by spring, a large number of you will be thinking of moving. There is one aspect of this program which has changed. If you have tuned into hear me make snide remarks about an innocent sponsor, you are doomed to disappointment. I am proud to say I have resolved my antagonisms and have become completely sponsor-oriented. I have met our new sponsor and find him to be agreeable, charming, witty, honest, sincere, intelligent, dependable, trustworthy, loyal, brave, clean, and reverent. Tonight’s show is entitled “Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel’s Coat.” But first unfortunately we have one of those– But first fortunately we have one of those intelligent, amusing, dignified, provocative, brilliantly conceived but painfully short commercials.
- Hitchcock’s conclusion: My honeymoon with the sponsor lasted just as long as the first commercial. As for my present mood, will it outlast the final commercial? You shall see in a moment. [pause] At least my sponsor doesn’t seem to be taking any action as a result of my attitude. Until next week, good night.
Episode 210: “The Landlady”
- First aired on February 21, 1961
- Based on “The Landlady”
- Story by: Roald Dahl
- Teleplay by: Robert Bloch
- Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
- Cast:
- Alfred Hitchcock as Himself – Host
- Dean Stockwell as Billy Weaver
- Patricia Collinge as The Landlady
- Laurie Main as Wilkins
- George Pelling as Bert
- Barry Harvey as Tom
- Burt Mustin as Old man playing darts
- Jill Livesey as Rosie
- Hitchcock’s introduction: Good evening. This should be a relatively simple task. [cracks safe] Nothing to it really. I’m not really hungry, but I resent the implication that I haven’t the self control to stay on my diet. Tonight we have fried chicken, cold apple pie, potato salad, a story entitled “The Landlady,” and one fast frozen commercial.
- Hitchcock’s conclusion: So much for our tale of the talkative taxidermist. Now for a short soliloquy from a super salesman, after which a fast farewell from a hungry host. [pause] I don’t understand it. But I seem to have quite lost my appetite. That looks real, doesn’t it? It’s not. It’s stuffed. As for our dear landlady, she was eventually caught. Overconfidence and a flair for exhibitionism led her to make Billy into a throw rug for her entry hall. It was excellent for discouraging peddlers and agents, but it was no way to keep a secret. Next week we shall return with still another story. Until then, good night.
For more detailed information, visit the Internet Movie Database.