ALFRED HITCHCOCK HOUR, THE: THE LIFE WORK OF JUAN DIAZ (TV)
Summary
One in this series of macabre dramas presided over by the "master of suspense," film director Alfred Hitchcock.
In a small town in Mexico, a man named Juan Diaz prepares candy skulls to sell at the upcoming Day of the Dead festival. However, he experiences chest pains and realizes he is dying. He goes to see Alejandro, the owner of the local cemetery and asks to rent a burial plot for the next two years. Alejandro shows Juan his collection of mummies in the cemetery's catacombs, which are preserved due to the arid conditions of the air and soil and put on display for tourists. Juan hopes to avoid this fate and pays for two years of rent on his grave, as he cannot afford to buy the plot outright. Soon Juan's condition deteriorates and he is taken back to his home, where he is tended to by his wife Maria. He laments that he has always been unable to find success in his life, and wishes he could somehow provide for his family after his death. He tells Maria about his deal with Alejandro and warns her not to let him cheat her. In front of Maria and their three children, Juan dies.
Exactly one year and five days later, Alejandro decides to dig up Juan before the expiration of his rent. Before that, he visits Maria and claims that Juan paid for only one year of rent and pointing out that since Juan had no written contract with him, she cannot legally dispute his claim. Maria visits her brother Ricardo, the local chief of police, for help. He explains that Alejandro and the cemetery lie outside of his jurisdiction, but he, Maria, and her eldest son Jorge go to visit Alejandro anyway as he digs up Juan's grave. Ricardo and Alejandro argue about the situation and Alejandro remarks that he has no care for the "laws of the living." Incensed but unable to do anything, Ricardo, Maria, and Jorge leave just as Alejandro opens Juan's coffin.
Jorge visits the catacombs to see his father's mummified body and put a flower in his hand. He vows to somehow get him out of the cemetery and runs off. That night, he and Maria sneak into the cemetery while Alejandro, inebriated, stumbles around trying to find them. They hide in the catacombs while Alejandro comes down to talk to the mummies in a drunken rant. Jorge frightens Alejandro by blowing out his match and making it seem that Juan's corpse is responsible. Alejandro, shaken, exits the catacombs and Jorge and Maria make it seem that Juan's body is following him of his own accord. Alejandro collapses from fright, allowing Jorge and Maria to make off with Juan's body.
Later, Alejandro awakens and realizes that Juan's body is missing. He and Ricardo visit Maria's house, where he finds Juan's body propped up against the wall. He accuses Maria of theft, but she claims the body is a "life-sized toy" she made herself for the Day of the Dead festival. Ricardo plays along; both of them claim that even if the body is real, Alejandro has no jurisdiction over it, as his claim on Juan would not extend outside of the cemetery. Alejandro, defeated, leaves. Maria uses Juan's body as a tourist attraction and charges admission. She speaks to the body, explaining that she put him on display to fulfill his wish of providing for his family after his death. The episode ends as she asks Juan for forgiveness for what she's done. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: October 26, 1964 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:50:36
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: B:46565
- GENRE: Drama, mystery/suspense
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, mystery/suspense
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1962-1964; NBC, 1964-1965
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Norman Lloyd … Producer, Director
- Ray Bradbury … Writer, Based on a story by
- Bernard Hermann … Music by
- Alfred Hitchcock … Host
- Alejandro Rey … Cast, Juan Diaz
- Frank Silvera … Cast, Alejandro
- Pina Pellicer … Cast, Maria Diaz
- Valentin de Vargas … Cast, Ricardo
- Larry Domasin … Cast, Jorge
- Alex Montoya … Cast, The Coffin Maker
- Hinton Pope … Cast, The Man
- Audrey Swanson … Cast, The 2nd Woman
- Gale Lindsey … Cast, The Woman
- Mark Miranda … Cast, The 1st Boy
- Suzanne Barnes … Cast, The 3rd Woman
- Concepcion Sandoval … Cast, The 1st Child
- Yolanda Alonzo … Cast, The 2nd Child
- Vincent Arias … Cast, The 2nd Boy
- Carmelita Acosta … Cast, The 1st Girl