"Alfred Hitchcock Presents"
There Was an Old Woman (1956)

Director:

Robert Stevenson

Writers:

Marian B. Cockrell (teleplay)
Jerry Hackady (story) ...

TV Series:

"Alfred Hitchcock Presents" (1955)

Original Air Date:

18 March 1956 (Season 1, Episode 25)

Genre:

Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

A dishonest couple visits the home of a wealthy, eccentric woman, with the intention of robbing her.

Plot Keywords:

Rat Poison | Wreath | Poison | Milkman | Deception

Cast

Estelle Winwood	...	Monica Laughton
Charles Bronson	...	Frank Bramwell
Norma Crane	...	Lorna Bramwell
Dabbs Greer	...	Milkman
Emerson Treacy	...	Deli Manager

Runtime:

USA:30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Company:

Shamley Productions

Quotes:

Frank Bramwell: [threatening Miss Laughton with a knife] Do you dig up that money right now, or do I use this on you?
Monica Laughton: I haven't quite decided.

Very Good Macabre Humor

"There Was An Old Woman" devotes its entire screen time to the kind of macabre humor that was such an enjoyable part of so many episodes of this television series. The deceptively light feel of the episode conceals some grim truths that lie underneath, and it succeeds very well in carrying off some markedly offbeat story ideas. The writing, production, and acting are all of very good quality.

Estelle Winwood is wonderful as a very pleasant but decidedly delusional woman, with the habit of planning imaginary funerals. Charles Bronson and Norma Crane work well together as an unscrupulous couple who hear about her wealth and invade her home, only to find it necessary to respond to a weird and unexpected situation. Bronson is particularly effective in sometimes showing scorn and incredulity towards the elderly woman's delusions, and at other times trying to think along with her, to turn the situation to his advantage.

The story is written and told with careful pacing, and it includes a simple but plausible explanation for everything. The ending is gruesomely ironic, and the main story is framed very neatly by the two visits from the stoic milkman (played by Dabbs Greer), which contain some clever parallels. It's a very offbeat episode, and it would be understandable if it is not to everyone's taste. But for those with a morbid sense of humor, it could prove quite enjoyable.