Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV Series) The End of Indian Summer (1957) User Reviews

Did she or didn't she?

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 21 February 2021]

Joe Rogers (Steve Forrest) is an insurance investigator who is in a bit of hot water. After all, he felt that Mrs. Gillespie's husband died of natural causes. But now that the second husband has died the same way, he's convinced she (Gladys Cooper) is out to cheat the insurance company AND kill again. So, he insinuates himself into her life and he learns, naturally, that she's about to marry husband #3! What's next and what is the twist?

This is an enjoyable installment of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents"....neither a bad nor a great episode. The twist is okay...the acting very nice. Not much more to say about this one without having any spoilers.

Steve Forrest, comedien?

[cpotato1010 · 8/10 · 19 November 2018]

Steve Forrest, who played the insurance investigator, was primarily know for his dramatic roles. For me, it was the original TV S.W.A.T. series.

However, the way he delivers his lines at the end makes me think he would have made a good comedic actor as well, the way that Leslie Nielsen made a second career with the Naked Gun and Airplane movies.

Most of the rest of the parts are spot-on, although Joe's wife could have been treated a little better.

If it weren't for seeing so many similar types of shows over the years, the ending would have been more surprising. But it was still a fun episode to watch, for the writing and actors.

"You will keep our little secret, won't you?"

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 21 August 2021]

When the premise of the story was laid out by insurance executive Sam Henderson (Philip Coolidge), I felt that the suspected insurance scam was being foisted by some young, good looking gold digger. I think Joe Rogers expected the same thing judging by his reaction to Marguerite Gillespie (Gladys Cooper), a sweet, elderly woman you wouldn't expect capable of murder in a million years. However her prior husbands dying shortly after both of their respective marriages to Mrs. Gillespie had nothing on old Howard Fieldstone's (James Gleason) four previous wives dying in their bathtubs! I don't know what Hitch and the writer were going for with that little revelation, but it took the story from the possible to the improbable in a snap. If you disregard it though, you come up with a satisfying conclusion that says one or the other of the scheming future newlyweds was going to get what they had coming. You just had to wonder who was quicker on the draw.

Looks Like Crime Does Pay

[dougdoepke · 17 November 2016]

Engaging Hitchcock half-hour. Insurance investigator Rogers (Forrest) is ordered to follow up on a life insurance beneficiary (Cooper) who's suspiciously collected big money on two dead husbands. So, did Rogers screw up earlier by letting her collect under suspicious circumstances. Worse, she's taken out a new policy on an intended new husband. So Rogers better get to work fast. But who's that stranger who keeps turning up as Rogers investigates. Since it's Hitch, we know things aren't as they seem.

I like that opening exchange between Rogers and his boss (Coolidge). Hostility simmers beneath the well-written needling. And what a sweetie is Rogers' wife Katleen Maguire. I kept worrying for her well-being. Anyway, the upshot's a really ironical one. In my book, it's among Hitch's best, and one I certainly didn't see coming. Note that Hitch's epilog doesn't set things right as it usually does. There's not much action, but overall the episode's engaging and well thought out.

The two pigeons deserve each other

[Cristi_Ciopron · 8/10 · 17 August 2009]

This TV series was almost implausibly good—implausibly well written, directed and acted ….

THE END OF Indian SUMMER, a delightful and snappy sketch about two oldie crooks of the sharp and bruised cynicism that was daddy Hitchcock's trademark, shown as a Teleplay by James Cavanagh, based on a story by Maurice Baudin Jr, is both exquisitely written and played (Steve Forrest, Gladys Cooper and the others …).

An insurances inspector has to inquire into a fishy affair—one woman's two successive husbands both died leaving her to raise a good insurance for each …. Now this widow is about to marry for a 3rd time. What can be done to prevent another fraud? The inspector is quite intent on rescuing the widow's new victim, a soft—spoken oldster ….

The insurances inspector's wife is cute and pretty.

COULD I HAVE IT ALL IN ONE LUMP SUM???

[tcchelsey · 10/10 · 15 March 2024]

Another James Cavanagh classic, and possibly taken from real life headlines. True, fact is stranger than fiction, and how many bizarre stories come from insurance claims?

In this case, sweet, retiring Gladys Cooper plays Mrs. Gillespie who has buried --and very quickly -- two husbands, and both insured for $50,000 each, netting her quite a windfall in her declining years.

What to do about it. Enter Hitchcock favorite Philip Coolidge (as Sam), and insurance company manager and his lead investigator Joe (played by young Steve Forrest). Joe naturally pays a visit to Mrs. Gillespie to find out what sort of a lady she is... and does he have his hands full.

Interestingly, another senior citizen called Howard (well played by James Gleason) enters the picture. Watch how all this comes together, which will either surprise the heck out of you or make you laugh out loud.

Neat take on the insurance industry, and/or human nature again at its very worst. You be the judge.

Spotlight, of course, on Dame Gladys Cooper, who was nominated three times for an Oscar, and no doubt a friend of Hitchcock, also born in England.

Cheers also for James Gleason, who played dozens of detectives in classic films.

SEASON 2 EPISODE 22 remastered Universal dvd box set.

Double Indemnity with a twist

[Brian_o_Vretanos · 7/10 · 12 April 2007]

A woman takes out a large insurance policy on her husband, who dies shortly afterwards. Everything seems above board, but the senior claims investigator for the insurance company smells a rat. Sound familiar?

This story clearly owes a lot to Double Indemnity, though it is not as deadly serious.

Joe Rogers' reputation is on the line as he is sent to re-investigate the "femme fatale" who has buried two husbands and made $100,000 in the process.

We follow Joe on his journey of discovery. Not a journey of dark psychology, complex plot turns, or even comedy, but one that leads to a satisfying conclusion...

Deadly insurance

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 22 June 2022]

Robert Stevens was the most prolific director of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents', though not all his work completely succeeded. Most did, such as "Our Cook's a Treasure" as far as previous episodes go, but not all. Also saw "The End of Indian Summer" for the two leads, have always liked Gladys Cooper, who was always a scene stealer to me, and have also liked Steve Forrest in other things (such as standout multiple appearances in 'Murder She Wrote', my introduction to him actually).

While not one of my favourite episodes of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' or of the season "The End of Indian Summer" is still pretty solid. It is not one of the best episodes of the series directed by Stevens, but it is also not one of the weakest. Personally would put it around high middle, and there is nothing to be ashamed of putting anything in that category. There is a lot done right here, just that other episodes of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' did their components better and there is not much exceptional here.

"The End of Indian Summer" has a lot of good. The production values are slick and atmospheric, especially the photography. The audio is suitably ominous, and Bernard Hermann deserves a lot of credit for such an effectively macabre use of Gounod's "Funeral of a Marionette" (which has become quite iconic because of this series), which suits the tone of the series very well.

Moreover, it is well scripted, it doesn't ramble and it isn't cheesy. The story is mostly intriguing and has atmosphere, and benefits from its nice ironic twist. Stevens' direction is more than solid and at its best accomplished, while both Forrest and Cooper give very strong performances in roles perfect for them.

Did feel though that "The End of Indian Summer" was a little lacking in suspense and tension.

As well as a little dragged out later on.

On the whole though, it was a well executed episode. 7/10.

The Computer Would Have Caught It!

[Hitchcoc · 5/10 · 14 June 2013]

Very ordinary episode. The insurance company has paid out two claims to a widow whose husbands have died shortly after the honeymoon. Foul play is suspected but cremation has done its job and now she is about to be married again. I don't know what the laws were, but an insurance company wouldn't have to issue a third life policy if they did not want to. The agent who sold the original policies is sent with his wife to do surveillance on the old gal. She is pretty good at all this, but, of course, there is a likely third victim, a nice old man who meets our agent. What do you do? There is a Hitchcock twist at the end which is fairly satisfying and pretty predictable.