I've only seen Skip Homeier in a few projects, in all of which he's portrayed an undesirable. In 1950's "The Gunfighter", he shoots Gregory Peck's character in the back, and before Jimmy Ringo dies, he advises the punk that he'll eventually get exactly what he deserves. You could say that pretty much happens here too, not that Dick Paine deserved to die, but his unpredictable behavior led to unintended consequences that ultimately proved tragic. The twist ending for this story wasn't seen coming by this viewer, and it was more than ironic, given Paine's dubious struggles with Burroughs (Ken Christy) and the finance company guy (Henry Hunter), both of which ended with an accidental gunshot. That coincidence detracted from the story somewhat for me, and was compounded by the fact that there was no bullet hole or blood to be seen on the stricken Paine. That was a pretty glaring oversight, somewhat overlooked in that final scene when Paine learns his wife (Joanne Woodward) had already resolved their situation.
10 Reviews
Nice to See Joanne Woodward
Hitchcoc30 October 2008
This is one of those episodes where you would like to crawl into the screen and start straightening things out. First of all, the husband is, in many ways, about as wimpy as you can get. They have no food, but he doesn't have the guts to talk to a man who owes him dearly. He would rather get himself involved in a convoluted plot to get the money, breaking and entering and destroying his life in the process. It's a bit much. I noticed that when this episode is written about, the Joanne Woodward character is described as a nagging wife. Other than quietly urging him to be a man and take care of his family, she is much kinder that she needs to be. With the death of Paul Neuman, it was nice to see his wife in some of her earlier work. Anyway, about all the young man has left is to run away, no plan, no end in mind. She tries to stay with him. Unfortunately, there is an even bigger fly in the ointment.
An Unnecessary Death.
rmax30482316 April 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Another couple on the brink of poverty -- Joanne Woodward looking pretty good despite a haircut that looks like a medieval helmet, and Skip Homeier, whose name I recently learned is pronounced as it would be in French -- Home-yay. Skip is out of work and desperate for money.
He believes his boss still owes him $450 -- a lot of dough in 1955 -- for some work, so he visits the employer's home to have it out with him. However, he overhears the boss speaking to another visitor. Homeier peeks through the window as well as he can, spots his boss withdrawing several hundred from a small box filled with cash, and handing it over to the unseen visitor, who then leaves.
With the lights out and his employer out of the room, Homeier enters through the window and begins prying at the cash box with the intention of making a withdrawal. Enter the boss with a pistol. A struggle, and the boss is killed. Homeier makes off with his $450 and the pistol At home, he sends Woodward off to the bus station where he will meet her later, after he packs a few things. But another man forces his way into the apartment. Another struggle and Homeier gets a bullet in the shoulder before he's able to lock away the intruder in a closet.
He stumbles into the bus station, with the police looking all over for him by now, and collapses in his wife's arms. The ending is a surprise.
I'm sufficiently poor myself that I'm reaching the saturation point when it comes to shows about the financially distressed. How about a couple of Playboys, Hitch, along with the attendant Playgirls, just for a change? It's worth $450 to me, Hitch, in 2012 dollars.
He believes his boss still owes him $450 -- a lot of dough in 1955 -- for some work, so he visits the employer's home to have it out with him. However, he overhears the boss speaking to another visitor. Homeier peeks through the window as well as he can, spots his boss withdrawing several hundred from a small box filled with cash, and handing it over to the unseen visitor, who then leaves.
With the lights out and his employer out of the room, Homeier enters through the window and begins prying at the cash box with the intention of making a withdrawal. Enter the boss with a pistol. A struggle, and the boss is killed. Homeier makes off with his $450 and the pistol At home, he sends Woodward off to the bus station where he will meet her later, after he packs a few things. But another man forces his way into the apartment. Another struggle and Homeier gets a bullet in the shoulder before he's able to lock away the intruder in a closet.
He stumbles into the bus station, with the police looking all over for him by now, and collapses in his wife's arms. The ending is a surprise.
I'm sufficiently poor myself that I'm reaching the saturation point when it comes to shows about the financially distressed. How about a couple of Playboys, Hitch, along with the attendant Playgirls, just for a change? It's worth $450 to me, Hitch, in 2012 dollars.
The Wife Can Handle It
dougdoepke18 June 2007
Though the ending proves nicely ironical, the episode itself remains curiously flat. Young husband Skip Homeier wants to join the urban rat-race since he and long-suffering wife Joanne Woodward are perilously in debt. But he has no luck finding employment. Desperate, he goes to collect money still owed him from an old employer. Unfortunately, events plunge into a downslide from that point on-- hence, the title "Momentum".
Homeier made his mark playing ruthless young punks, and is well-cast since he can generate the appearance of a bomb about to go off . And looking like the little Dutch boy, Woodward plays her part of the drab housewife with an appropriate lack of color. So why does the entry lack excitement or suspense once the plot thickens. I expect it's because director Robert Stevens never gets the material to gel in an involving way. We remain spectators to the drama rather than participants. I can't help noticing the segment was made in 1955, but wasn't aired until mid-'56 and as the last episode of that season. To me, that suggests the producers too were disappointed with the results. All in all-- of interest to fans of early Woodward
Homeier made his mark playing ruthless young punks, and is well-cast since he can generate the appearance of a bomb about to go off . And looking like the little Dutch boy, Woodward plays her part of the drab housewife with an appropriate lack of color. So why does the entry lack excitement or suspense once the plot thickens. I expect it's because director Robert Stevens never gets the material to gel in an involving way. We remain spectators to the drama rather than participants. I can't help noticing the segment was made in 1955, but wasn't aired until mid-'56 and as the last episode of that season. To me, that suggests the producers too were disappointed with the results. All in all-- of interest to fans of early Woodward
Mankind at Rat's race is a trap for those less informed in the edge of the foolishness!!!
elo-equipamentos23 December 2022
Hitchcock introduces what's coming next in ironic mood as always, using a great eye on the wall, looking all us momentum like a rat's race, Joanne Woodward and Skip Homeier as top billing casting in this depressing episode about a young couple in financial trouble due since Richard Paine (Skip Homeier) left his last job didn't got any work to supply his house, however his last Boss owe him 450 dollars, his wife Beth Paine (Woodward) demands him looking for him settled the score due he sold his company lately, thus his Boss has the enough money to afford the debts.
Who knows why Richard tries borrow some money of a gabling bartender, which lost the bet in the wrong horse, the he head to his Boss's house decided to asking the money for all means, when he reach there, his Boss is talking to someone and gave a sum of money withdrawn from a iron box at his home-office, Richard hidden around the house waiting for the guest leaves the house, the he enters stealthily through the window in order to takes his money from there.
Sadly his Boss caught him in the act with a gun and tries call the police, Richard then holds him, in this struggles the Boss is deadly shot by his own gun, Richard in panic disappears and go back at his apartment having mind an escape to Mexico, even Beth trying tells him something the freak out Richard is out of control and is suspicious of everyone, sending his wife waiting him at bus station, when someone knock at his door another misunderstanding gonna happen, letting Richard deadly wounded, when he finally reach at bus station a whole thing is clarified, however too late.
Hitch in this tragic story allude the rush by survival that ravages the mankind in its lifestyle like a Rat's race.
Thanks for reading.
Resume:
First watch: 2022 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7.25.
Who knows why Richard tries borrow some money of a gabling bartender, which lost the bet in the wrong horse, the he head to his Boss's house decided to asking the money for all means, when he reach there, his Boss is talking to someone and gave a sum of money withdrawn from a iron box at his home-office, Richard hidden around the house waiting for the guest leaves the house, the he enters stealthily through the window in order to takes his money from there.
Sadly his Boss caught him in the act with a gun and tries call the police, Richard then holds him, in this struggles the Boss is deadly shot by his own gun, Richard in panic disappears and go back at his apartment having mind an escape to Mexico, even Beth trying tells him something the freak out Richard is out of control and is suspicious of everyone, sending his wife waiting him at bus station, when someone knock at his door another misunderstanding gonna happen, letting Richard deadly wounded, when he finally reach at bus station a whole thing is clarified, however too late.
Hitch in this tragic story allude the rush by survival that ravages the mankind in its lifestyle like a Rat's race.
Thanks for reading.
Resume:
First watch: 2022 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7.25.
Exquisitely written.
planktonrules19 February 2021
In 1957, Joanne Woodward had a breakout role in "The Three Faces of Eve"...and she won the Oscar for best actress for her excellent acting. Before then, Woodward had been very popular as a TV actress...but no especially famous. Well, "Momentum" came out a year before Woodward shot to fame.
The star of this episode is Skip Homeier, who plays Richard Paine. The Paine's are in a serious financial condition. While Richard is owed a lot of money, getting him to pay up has been difficult. So Richard plans something foolish...to sneak into the boss' house and take the money. When he does this, the boss shows up and pulls a gun. In the struggle, the boss is killed...and Richard is desperate. He contacts his wife (Woodward) and tells her to meet him at the bus station and to buy tickets for them to go to San Diego, since it's so close to Mexico. But things get worse...and Richard digs his hole even deeper. Now everyone is looking for the guy and he ends up getting shot as well! Is there any hope for the guy?
The ending of this was brilliant and made the episode. The point of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" is the twist ending, though quite a few episodes fall flat instead of delivering on this...but not with "Momentum"...it's really an exceptional episode...one you really should see.
The star of this episode is Skip Homeier, who plays Richard Paine. The Paine's are in a serious financial condition. While Richard is owed a lot of money, getting him to pay up has been difficult. So Richard plans something foolish...to sneak into the boss' house and take the money. When he does this, the boss shows up and pulls a gun. In the struggle, the boss is killed...and Richard is desperate. He contacts his wife (Woodward) and tells her to meet him at the bus station and to buy tickets for them to go to San Diego, since it's so close to Mexico. But things get worse...and Richard digs his hole even deeper. Now everyone is looking for the guy and he ends up getting shot as well! Is there any hope for the guy?
The ending of this was brilliant and made the episode. The point of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" is the twist ending, though quite a few episodes fall flat instead of delivering on this...but not with "Momentum"...it's really an exceptional episode...one you really should see.
Murder Gathers Momentum!!
kidboots24 July 2012
Warning: Spoilers
A neatly packaged crime story with an O'Henry twist at the end, it has none of the atmospheric noir of Woolrich's original story which first appeared as "Murder Always Gathers Momentum" in a 1940 issue of "Detective Fiction Weekly".
For a start, Woolrich's protagonist is a hard bitten veteran of the Depression who has been doing it tough for ten years after being laid off with money still owing to him. He has now hit rock bottom and desperately needs the money. In Hitchcock's tale the Paines are broke but young and eager and it is clear that he has only just been let go by his firm. Beth (a very young Joanne Woodward) encourages Richard to visit his boss and demand the $450 that Burroughs owes him. Richard eventually does go but decides to break in when he sees the lights out. Burroughs surprises him, there is a scuffle and Paine leaves the house - a murderer!!
The bodies pile up as Paine becomes completely desperate and by the end his one thought is to run for his life across the city to join his wife as they flee to San Diego. The episode is one of HItchcock's better ones but the original story is also worth seeking out.
For a start, Woolrich's protagonist is a hard bitten veteran of the Depression who has been doing it tough for ten years after being laid off with money still owing to him. He has now hit rock bottom and desperately needs the money. In Hitchcock's tale the Paines are broke but young and eager and it is clear that he has only just been let go by his firm. Beth (a very young Joanne Woodward) encourages Richard to visit his boss and demand the $450 that Burroughs owes him. Richard eventually does go but decides to break in when he sees the lights out. Burroughs surprises him, there is a scuffle and Paine leaves the house - a murderer!!
The bodies pile up as Paine becomes completely desperate and by the end his one thought is to run for his life across the city to join his wife as they flee to San Diego. The episode is one of HItchcock's better ones but the original story is also worth seeking out.
Doesn't lose momentum
TheLittleSongbird13 April 2022
Season 1 of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' was not a bad first season at all. In fact it was pretty solid and interesting, if not consistent. There are brilliant episodes, such as "Breakdown", "And So Died Riabouchinska", "The Case of Mr Pelham" and "The Creeper". But also some mediocre at best ones, such as "Triggers in Leash", "Shopping for Death" and especially "The Hidden Thing". There were also a few successful changes of pace, such as "Santa Claus and the Tenth Avenue Kid".
What a wonderful way to end Season 1. Although "Momentum" is one of those episodes that is not going to be for all, it certainly did it for me and it is up there among the best. Whether it does the original story justice is up for debate, but as somebody who has always judged adaptations on their own terms rather than dismiss adaptations when they deviate in any way from the source material. While it may not quite have the same atmosphere as the original story, "Momentum" is bleak and unsettling in its own way.
It looks fine, with some suitably eerie and bleak imagery that matches the story's very well indeed. "Funeral March of a Marionette" has a devillish yet ironic quality that is in perfect keeping with the tone of the series. Have always gotten a kick out of Hitchcock's bookending, did say in my first couple of reviews for the series that the quality of his bookends varied but in the case of Season 1 that opinion has changed.
Robert Stevens does one of his better directing jobs of Season 1, and his best since "Never Again", another unsettling episode. Especially towards the end, where some suspenseful touches can be seen. The script intrigues and doesn't ramble and the story is disturbingly bleak and very creepy, really did get the chills towards the end (which is one of the best ones of Season 1).
Furthermore, Skip Homeier and especially Joanne Woodward do great jobs in their psychologically fascinating roles. The psychology of their characters adds a lot to the unsettlement.
My one complaint is moments of lagging pacing in the middle.
Otherwise, to me this was wonderful. 9/10.
What a wonderful way to end Season 1. Although "Momentum" is one of those episodes that is not going to be for all, it certainly did it for me and it is up there among the best. Whether it does the original story justice is up for debate, but as somebody who has always judged adaptations on their own terms rather than dismiss adaptations when they deviate in any way from the source material. While it may not quite have the same atmosphere as the original story, "Momentum" is bleak and unsettling in its own way.
It looks fine, with some suitably eerie and bleak imagery that matches the story's very well indeed. "Funeral March of a Marionette" has a devillish yet ironic quality that is in perfect keeping with the tone of the series. Have always gotten a kick out of Hitchcock's bookending, did say in my first couple of reviews for the series that the quality of his bookends varied but in the case of Season 1 that opinion has changed.
Robert Stevens does one of his better directing jobs of Season 1, and his best since "Never Again", another unsettling episode. Especially towards the end, where some suspenseful touches can be seen. The script intrigues and doesn't ramble and the story is disturbingly bleak and very creepy, really did get the chills towards the end (which is one of the best ones of Season 1).
Furthermore, Skip Homeier and especially Joanne Woodward do great jobs in their psychologically fascinating roles. The psychology of their characters adds a lot to the unsettlement.
My one complaint is moments of lagging pacing in the middle.
Otherwise, to me this was wonderful. 9/10.
A Great Film Noir Episode!
Chance2000esl17 August 2008
Warning: Spoilers
This is based on a Cornell Woolrich story, as were so many episodes of anthology TV shows of the fifties and sixties. It has the stock 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents'/ O. Henry / 'The Whistler' surprise ending, but it has so much more, and in less than thirty minutes!
Here it is played like a film noir, with the nice guy hero (Skip Homeier) being pulled down by circumstances beyond his control and being swept out in the undercurrent to finally rob, commit murder and face his doom, all the while hoping to save himself and the woman he loves (excellently portrayed by Joanne Woodward).
These are all great noir elements!
I've spoiled enough of it. It's very different from ninety percent of the other first and second year episodes. I'll give it a 10.
Here it is played like a film noir, with the nice guy hero (Skip Homeier) being pulled down by circumstances beyond his control and being swept out in the undercurrent to finally rob, commit murder and face his doom, all the while hoping to save himself and the woman he loves (excellently portrayed by Joanne Woodward).
These are all great noir elements!
I've spoiled enough of it. It's very different from ninety percent of the other first and second year episodes. I'll give it a 10.
What's the opposite of momentum?
blacknorth19 April 2010
Warning: Spoilers
This pointless reduction of Cornell Woolrich's bleak and terrifying story makes one suspect that the golden age of US television experienced as many lows as highs. We are short-changed by at least three murders leaving us with a grand total of one manslaughter - not exactly what Woolrich had in mind when he crafted a story that heaped death upon death as a kind stumbling escalator of no return. I suppose the original story might have been too disturbing for a faithful translation to the small screen - in which case, I'd rather they hadn't bothered; there is nothing of Woolrich here, nor of his themes.
Skip Homeier plays Richard Pain, a fellow down on his luck, out of a job, broke and desperately seeking the rent money before he and his lovely wife (Joanne Woodward) are evicted from their apartment. Owed $450 by his former boss, he goes to ask for the money, ends by taking it, and leaves a body behind. From then on he's paranoid, on the run and still out of luck. The point of the original story was that Pain got used to killing - so much so that, after the first, he killed almost everybody he met. In this version he's reduced to knocking them out, locking them in cupboards - so his flight loses its deadliness. From being a bumbling psycho he is reduced to a petty criminal, and the momentum, the scrummage of casual murder, is all lost.
Read the original if you want to experience the full horror of an ordinary guy under Woolrich's treatment, and forget this pale imitation was ever made.
Skip Homeier plays Richard Pain, a fellow down on his luck, out of a job, broke and desperately seeking the rent money before he and his lovely wife (Joanne Woodward) are evicted from their apartment. Owed $450 by his former boss, he goes to ask for the money, ends by taking it, and leaves a body behind. From then on he's paranoid, on the run and still out of luck. The point of the original story was that Pain got used to killing - so much so that, after the first, he killed almost everybody he met. In this version he's reduced to knocking them out, locking them in cupboards - so his flight loses its deadliness. From being a bumbling psycho he is reduced to a petty criminal, and the momentum, the scrummage of casual murder, is all lost.
Read the original if you want to experience the full horror of an ordinary guy under Woolrich's treatment, and forget this pale imitation was ever made.
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