ALFRED HITCHCOCK HOUR, THE: A TANGLED WEB (TV)
Summary
One in this series of macabre dramas presided over by the "master of suspense," film director Alfred Hitchcock.
In this episode, wealthy Mrs. Spaulding is surprised by a burglar in her home, while elsewhere David Chesterman shocks his blue-blood mother by spontaneously announcing that he intends to marry their timid French maid, Marie Petit. She coldly dismisses them both and David runs off with Marie, asking his eager fiancée if she will remain with him "no matter what." They visit David's friend, erudite wigmaker Karl Gault, and he declares that love does not exist, but toasts their speedy engagement nonetheless. He then gives David $500 for Mrs. Spaulding's stolen jewelry. David and Marie are quickly married and enjoy a "honeymoon" at a local carnival. David displays his hothead temper when he gets into a brawl with a stranger, while back at home Karl reveals his deep resentment of his young "friends" at he throws darts at David and Marie's photo.
David obtains a flashy new car and takes Marie back to his mother's empty house; he expertly breaks in upon discovering that she has changed the locks. When David begins disappearing for many long evenings, a lonely Marie spends time with Karl, who eventually tells her the unpleasant truth: that her husband is an experienced thief and ex-convict. Shocked, Marie informs David that she is leaving him; David, injured from his latest would-be robbery, points out that Karl is his accomplice and often gives him tips for potential victims. Protesting that he was "trapped" in his life of crime, he agrees to give it up if she will stay with him. Marie agrees. Some time later, on David's birthday, Marie gifts her husband with a monogrammed scarf as she jubilantly tells Karl that he must be wrong about love, as David has reformed and found a "respectable" job for her sake. David, however, privately admits that he was fired because of his misbehavior and is in need of money. Karl then tells him about a rich woman who has opted to be buried with her many jewels.
David breaks into the mortuary to rob the coffin, but is caught by the caretaker. Later, Marie hears that a "D.C." scarf was found at the scene of the caretaker's brutal murder and immediately wonders if David is the culprit. He swears that he fled from the scene after stealing the jewelry. Marie agrees to sell her hair to one of Karl's demanding customers. Later, Karl tells her about David's violent past and his time in prison; when she stubbornly refuses to believe that he has committed murder, Karl angrily confesses to being jealous of her love for him. The couple attempts to flee to Mexico, though David is soon arrested, thanks to Karl. Karl reveals his obsessive love for Marie as he tricks her into staying away from the trial, where he testifies that David confessed to the caretaker's murder. David is soon found guilty, and Karl admits to orchestrating his former friend's conviction so that he might have Marie to himself. She escapes him and bolts for the courthouse, where she learns that David has been sentenced to death. Distraught, she climbs onto a high window ledge and threatens to jump if her protests are not heard; David is brought to her and finally admits that he did kill the mortuary caretaker in a fit of anger. He brings Marie back inside, begging her forgiveness and urging her to "live for them both." Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: 9:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:48:23
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: 136883
- GENRE: Drama, mystery/suspense
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, mystery/suspense; Crime and criminals; Romance
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1962-1964; NBC, 1964-1965
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Norman Lloyd … Producer
- Gordon Hessler … Associate Producer
- Alf Kjellin … Director
- James Bridges … Writer
- Nicholas Blake … Based on the novel by
- Alfred Hitchcock … Host
- Lyn Murray … Music by
- Robert Redford … Cast, David Chesterman
- Zohra Lampert … Cast, Marie Petit
- Barry Morse … Cast, Karl Gault
- Gertrude Flynn … Cast, Ethel Chesterman
- Cathleen Cordell … Cast, Mrs. Spaulding
- Joan Houseman … Cast, Mrs. Flingston
- Elizabeth Thompson … Cast, Student's Girl
- Ronnie R. Rondell … Cast, College Student
- Hinton Pope … Cast, Cab Driver
- Hal Bokar … Cast, Reporter
- Syl Lamont … Cast, Photographer