This is a character study and had a little different feel to it than some of the other episodes. Of course, it's about the case of Lizzie Borden who was accused, then acquitted of the murder of her mother and father with an ax. This takes place a year after the trial, as Lizzie and her sister are holed up in their family home, dealing with the constant bombardment of reporters and nosy people. Children chant around their house and make their lives miserable. Enter a really offensive newspaper reporter who will not take no for an answer. She digs and digs and actually puts herself in harm's way. There is an interesting twist. There are some theories about these murders that involve questionable evidence gathered after the event. I'm sure police departments at the time had rather primitive means of collecting such evidence. Anyway, like most Hitchcock offerings, we are treated to a different perspective and a pretty well done little film.
14 Reviews
Hitch meets Lizzie
TheLittleSongbird23 February 2022
"The Older Sister's" story on paper was very interesting, and it's not everyday where a real life character (and a notorious one at that) features as co-lead in 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents'. Robert Stevens' previous episodes of the series were mostly of a very high standard, such as "Premonition", "Our Cook's a Treasure" and "You Got to Have Luck". It is very hard not hoping that a promising concept would be lived up to, being somebody who is immediately sold if an idea is good.
Luckily, "The Older Sister" on the most part was a case of having a promising concept on paper and being mostly lived up to in execution. Wasn't crazy about everything and one aspect did rub me up the wrong way. There are many fine things about "The Older Sister", that vastly outweigh the not so good, and the best aspects are truly excellent. It is not one of Stevens' best or one of the high points of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents', but it was very interesting, well executed and is very underrated here.
For me, the character of the reporter Nell Cutts is very annoying and represents everything that is bad about journalism, she just comes over as too aggressive, too over-zealous and too pushy, which the writing takes to extremes, and Polly Rowles overdoes it in the role.
Other episodes of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' have a consistently tighter pace, with it being a slight slow starter, and more suspense perhaps.
However, so much is good here. It is well made visually, especially the beautifully framed and suitably eerie photography. Stevens directs with ease and control as well as tautness when the things gets going. Its hauntingly scored and the main theme for the series fits so well and is effectively creepy, one of the greatest pre-existing classical music choices chosen as main themes for television. Hitchcock's dry drollness is great.
Also have no issues with the non-overwrought (easy to do with this type of story) and suitably tense script. The story starts slow but the tension does build to quite creepy effect and parts are also surprisingly poignant. The pace is lively on the whole. Apart from Rowles, the acting is very good. With a chillingly icy Carmen Matthews contrasting beautifully with a very touching Joan Lorring, their characters are also very well written and interesting psychologically. Likewise with their chemistry.
Concluding, very well done. 8/10.
Luckily, "The Older Sister" on the most part was a case of having a promising concept on paper and being mostly lived up to in execution. Wasn't crazy about everything and one aspect did rub me up the wrong way. There are many fine things about "The Older Sister", that vastly outweigh the not so good, and the best aspects are truly excellent. It is not one of Stevens' best or one of the high points of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents', but it was very interesting, well executed and is very underrated here.
For me, the character of the reporter Nell Cutts is very annoying and represents everything that is bad about journalism, she just comes over as too aggressive, too over-zealous and too pushy, which the writing takes to extremes, and Polly Rowles overdoes it in the role.
Other episodes of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' have a consistently tighter pace, with it being a slight slow starter, and more suspense perhaps.
However, so much is good here. It is well made visually, especially the beautifully framed and suitably eerie photography. Stevens directs with ease and control as well as tautness when the things gets going. Its hauntingly scored and the main theme for the series fits so well and is effectively creepy, one of the greatest pre-existing classical music choices chosen as main themes for television. Hitchcock's dry drollness is great.
Also have no issues with the non-overwrought (easy to do with this type of story) and suitably tense script. The story starts slow but the tension does build to quite creepy effect and parts are also surprisingly poignant. The pace is lively on the whole. Apart from Rowles, the acting is very good. With a chillingly icy Carmen Matthews contrasting beautifully with a very touching Joan Lorring, their characters are also very well written and interesting psychologically. Likewise with their chemistry.
Concluding, very well done. 8/10.
Carmen Matthews Gives an Outstanding Performance
Chance2000esl10 July 2008
Warning: Spoilers
A year after Lizzie Borden (Carmen Matthews) is acquitted of "giving her mother forty whacks and... her father forty-one," a feisty newspaper woman (Polly Rowles) tries to get an interview out of her. Even though this is a spoiler, I don't want to tell you how the 'real' murderer is revealed at the end. What is important is that, for several reasons, this is one of the best 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episodes.
First, the bravura performance by Carmen Matthews, usually type cast as a ditzy older sister in other AHP episodes. She really stretches here in a highly dramatic and touching turn about performance. Second, the episode doesn't follow the O. Henry last minute surprise ending fade out so typical of the majority of AHP episodes. The whole episode is a character study. The final slow fade is a poignant one of Lizzie sitting on a sofa stroking her cat. Third, we get Polly Rowles as the tough and persistent newswoman, Nell Cutts. We can also see her feisty toughness in her final movie 'Springtime in the Rockies' (1937) as Gene Autry's college educated ranch boss. Hitchcock's daughter Patricia plays the maid, once again showing us her limitations as an actress. But so what.
This great episode will stay with you as a real standout because of Carmen Matthew's best TV performance. I'll give it a 7.
First, the bravura performance by Carmen Matthews, usually type cast as a ditzy older sister in other AHP episodes. She really stretches here in a highly dramatic and touching turn about performance. Second, the episode doesn't follow the O. Henry last minute surprise ending fade out so typical of the majority of AHP episodes. The whole episode is a character study. The final slow fade is a poignant one of Lizzie sitting on a sofa stroking her cat. Third, we get Polly Rowles as the tough and persistent newswoman, Nell Cutts. We can also see her feisty toughness in her final movie 'Springtime in the Rockies' (1937) as Gene Autry's college educated ranch boss. Hitchcock's daughter Patricia plays the maid, once again showing us her limitations as an actress. But so what.
This great episode will stay with you as a real standout because of Carmen Matthew's best TV performance. I'll give it a 7.
A Tense & Very Interesting Take on the Lizzie Borden Case
Snow Leopard1 March 2006
This episode of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" offers a tense and very interesting take on the notorious Lizzie Borden case, with a good cast and a carefully-crafted script. The gruesome, fascinating historical mystery is in itself a natural for the series, but this episode also adds psychology and depth to the story. Even though Hitchcock himself did not write or direct the episode, it is one of many examples of the keen eye that he and his associates had for material that would work especially well in the anthology show's format.
Adapted from a story by Lillian De La Torre, the plot picks up a year after the bloody killing of Mr. and Mrs. Borden. Lizzie and her sister Emma, still living in the same house, are visited by a pushy reporter who is determined to get something new for her paper. The story then uses this setup to present its own interesting theory about the crime.
It's pretty resourceful in using the reporter's ruthless badgering of Emma to review the historical facts of the case, rather than presenting them in a dry exposition. The reporter also clearly relishes each horrifying detail, an interesting way of 'allowing' the audience to experience a macabre thrill along with her, even as they sympathize with the panic-stricken Emma.
The small, all-female cast performs quite well, with Carmen Mathews giving Lizzie an icy self-control, and Joan Lorring even better as the delicate, troubled Emma. Pat Hitchcock also appears in a smaller role as their frightened housemaid. The episode is quite interesting, both for the tense situation that it sets up and for the well-conceived psychological portraits of the two sisters.
Adapted from a story by Lillian De La Torre, the plot picks up a year after the bloody killing of Mr. and Mrs. Borden. Lizzie and her sister Emma, still living in the same house, are visited by a pushy reporter who is determined to get something new for her paper. The story then uses this setup to present its own interesting theory about the crime.
It's pretty resourceful in using the reporter's ruthless badgering of Emma to review the historical facts of the case, rather than presenting them in a dry exposition. The reporter also clearly relishes each horrifying detail, an interesting way of 'allowing' the audience to experience a macabre thrill along with her, even as they sympathize with the panic-stricken Emma.
The small, all-female cast performs quite well, with Carmen Mathews giving Lizzie an icy self-control, and Joan Lorring even better as the delicate, troubled Emma. Pat Hitchcock also appears in a smaller role as their frightened housemaid. The episode is quite interesting, both for the tense situation that it sets up and for the well-conceived psychological portraits of the two sisters.
The new approaching of the Lizzie Borden case thru Hitch's look!!
elo-equipamentos3 October 2020
The Lizzie Borden notorious case were exploited by movie industry on several times, due they never found the real murder committed in 1892, thus the macabre roots of Alfred Hitchcock wisely introducing the episode with an Axe at his own hands creating a fear atmosphere, he explains that will approach the case one year ahead of the trial, which Lizzie Borden (Carmen Mathews) was claimed not guilty, the unsettled Emma Borden (Joan Loring) the young sister of Lizzie wants leaves the house afraid his old sister, although sudden appears a nagging reporter Nell Cutts (Polly Howles) overstress an interview from Lizzie, Emma is worries about to getting late on train station, when she gets rid of the annoying reporter, however show up his old sister Lizzy, she tries explains all about the reporter, then Lizzy Borden takes a hidden axe and shows to Emma, here Hitch implies his own version of the double murders, a psychological study of a sick mind, there's no doubt about who kill the father and the stepmother, plainly in that time the forensic procedures wasn't still proper developed yet, intriguing episode!!!
Resume:
First watch: 2020 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7.5
Resume:
First watch: 2020 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7.5
The two sisters and the Axe
AvionPrince162 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
So the episode is quite interesting: we had a murder and one year later there are still mysteries: where is the axe? Who really killed? And everything really make Lizzie the main suspect (everyone seemed to not appreciate her) but after the visit of Nell everything shift: Emma revealed to be really different and we are beginning to understand that she is not that innocent and that Lizzie is protective nothing more. I love also that Lizzie and the talk with her sister let us understand them better and what really happened and how Lizzie tried to cover things up. They should do a little bit more suspense when Nell discover the axe but it seemed that they have run out of the time maybe. Anyway i really enjoyed it and everything are not what it seemed. Pay attention!
Contradicting the legend
gregorycanfield25 February 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This episode has a notably unattractive, all female cast. Not one actress here is particularly engaging, either in personality or looks. The Lizzie Borden legend is contradicted, as the story suggests that Lizzie was covering up for her sister. Whether or not you believe this version of the Lizzie Borden story doesn't really matter. The problem is that the unappealing cast doesn't make anything resonate. Carmen Matthews as Lizzie Borden? Give me a break! Also, give me the movie with Elizabeth Montgomery. This episode, unfortunately, misses the mark.
The Older Sister
Prismark1023 October 2023
Alfred Hitchcock was correct. There really was a tru life case of Lizzie Borden and she did inspire a folk rhyme. Borden was tried and acquitted of the axe murders of her father and stepmother in Fall River, Massachusetts in 1892.
This television drama is a what if scenario set a year after the murders and after Lizzie Borden was found not guilty. Nell Cutts is the pushy journalist who doorsteps younger sister Emma Borden as she is about to set off to a holiday home.
Emma is vulnerable and unsettled around the journalist and might have said too much even though she was in another town when the murders happen.
The icy Lizzie sends the journalist packing but not before Nell instils doubts about there the axe might have been hidden.
The story itself is right up Hitchcock's street. It might have been better if he had directed it. The story falls apart in the second half when the axe appears.
You wonder how thorough the police investigation actually was according to this. In real life it was Emma who was the older sister.
This television drama is a what if scenario set a year after the murders and after Lizzie Borden was found not guilty. Nell Cutts is the pushy journalist who doorsteps younger sister Emma Borden as she is about to set off to a holiday home.
Emma is vulnerable and unsettled around the journalist and might have said too much even though she was in another town when the murders happen.
The icy Lizzie sends the journalist packing but not before Nell instils doubts about there the axe might have been hidden.
The story itself is right up Hitchcock's street. It might have been better if he had directed it. The story falls apart in the second half when the axe appears.
You wonder how thorough the police investigation actually was according to this. In real life it was Emma who was the older sister.
WHAT'S THE REAL STORY, LIZZIE?
tcchelsey13 February 2024
This Robert C. Dennis tale is just so fascinating, sort of in the "what if..." tradition of creative writing. And Dennis was, perhaps, the best creative writer of them all.
It takes place about a year after the brutal killings of Lizzie Borden's father and stepmother, who are visited by "super snoop" reporter Nell Cutts, played by Polly Rowles. Note her weird name, again thanks to Robert Dennis and his unique sense of humor, which I am sure had Hitch laughing.
Nell is arrogant, intrusive and wants the REAL story as to what happened --especially since Lizzie can't be tried again. She has nothing to lose and everything to gain? This is about as good as it gets, and it certainly keeps you wondering if Nell Cutts is going to get a few whacks from the old axe?
No one better actress than Carmen Matthews to play Lizzie, she handles this unique role with so much style. Matthews was an actors actor, a real treat to watch in whatever role she played.
There are some historical mistakes here. Lizzie and her sister, Emma, are found still living in the same house where the murders occurred. Factually, both sisters, upon inheriting their late father's large estate, immediately sold the house and moved into a much larger home and lived quite well. It appears here they are living a drab and very modest life, perhaps written that way to give it a more depressing atmosphere.
Polly Rowles, whose career dated back to the 1930s, was a regular in the DEFENDERS tv series.
Well done on every level, and fun for all us history buffs. SEASON 1 EPISODE 17 remastered.
It takes place about a year after the brutal killings of Lizzie Borden's father and stepmother, who are visited by "super snoop" reporter Nell Cutts, played by Polly Rowles. Note her weird name, again thanks to Robert Dennis and his unique sense of humor, which I am sure had Hitch laughing.
Nell is arrogant, intrusive and wants the REAL story as to what happened --especially since Lizzie can't be tried again. She has nothing to lose and everything to gain? This is about as good as it gets, and it certainly keeps you wondering if Nell Cutts is going to get a few whacks from the old axe?
No one better actress than Carmen Matthews to play Lizzie, she handles this unique role with so much style. Matthews was an actors actor, a real treat to watch in whatever role she played.
There are some historical mistakes here. Lizzie and her sister, Emma, are found still living in the same house where the murders occurred. Factually, both sisters, upon inheriting their late father's large estate, immediately sold the house and moved into a much larger home and lived quite well. It appears here they are living a drab and very modest life, perhaps written that way to give it a more depressing atmosphere.
Polly Rowles, whose career dated back to the 1930s, was a regular in the DEFENDERS tv series.
Well done on every level, and fun for all us history buffs. SEASON 1 EPISODE 17 remastered.
A historical What If....
planktonrules17 February 2021
"The Older Sister" is a well acted and modestly enjoyable episode of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents"....but it's also one with no basis in historical fact. Try to remember this if you watch the show.
The story takes place a year after the infamous ax murder of Lizzie Borden's step-mother and father. A snoopy and thoroughly obnoxious reporter barges into the Borden house looking for a story. There, she encounter's Lizzie's sister and she tries to get Emma to give her a story. When Lizzie finds out, she chases the woman away. Following this, Lizzie finds the ax used in the murder. What's next?
Many folks think Lizzie Borden committed the double murder, though she was acquitted in court. The show is a 'what if'....what MIGHT have been the actual story. It's interesting....just not at all true.
By the way, towards the end of the show, on the left side of the screen is a portrait of the actual Lizzie Borden...who looks little like the actress playing her in the show.
The story takes place a year after the infamous ax murder of Lizzie Borden's step-mother and father. A snoopy and thoroughly obnoxious reporter barges into the Borden house looking for a story. There, she encounter's Lizzie's sister and she tries to get Emma to give her a story. When Lizzie finds out, she chases the woman away. Following this, Lizzie finds the ax used in the murder. What's next?
Many folks think Lizzie Borden committed the double murder, though she was acquitted in court. The show is a 'what if'....what MIGHT have been the actual story. It's interesting....just not at all true.
By the way, towards the end of the show, on the left side of the screen is a portrait of the actual Lizzie Borden...who looks little like the actress playing her in the show.
"Is there a history of insanity in your family?"
classicsoncall21 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Not sure what the point of this episode was. Lizzie Borden (Carmen Mathews) was found not guilty for the murder of her parents, and she remained so when the story was over, even if she told the obnoxious newspaper reporter (Polly Rowles) that she did it. She was covering for her sister Emma (Joan Lorring) who DID kill the parents, at least in this retelling of the story, while moving on, supposedly never to be heard from again. The sudden appearance of the murder weapon, hidden in what I wouldn't consider to be an unlikely place, offered the reporter some food for thought in case she wanted to delve further into the case. The dumbest move in the whole episode occurred when Lizzie 'hid' the axe under a newspaper on the couch, like it would be entirely invisible there! If there were to be some irony in the story's conclusion which was a staple of Hitchcock's little program, it was entirely lost on this viewer.
Would I recommend this as one of the better Hitchcock episodes? - Don't axe me.
Would I recommend this as one of the better Hitchcock episodes? - Don't axe me.
Hitch Meets Lizzie Borden
dougdoepke7 February 2016
As I recall, this is one of the episodes that helped put the series on the TV map, probably because it's an imaginative take on a legendary double murder. So why did Lizzie Border take an axe and give her parents 81-whacks. Well, a breakfast of cold mutton does sound like it could addle the brain. Just the thought makes me gag. Anyway, to find out why, we're given lots of talk and few scene changes. Happily, strong acting and direction do a lot to compensate. Basically, the story's a drawing room drama with gripping undercurrents. On the cast side, I especially like Joan Loring as the innocent looking Emma, Lizzie's sister.The baby-face actress had a short but stellar career in 40's noir. Then too, Carmen Mathews is commanding as the intimidating Lizzie, while Polly Bowles is duly tricky as the inquiring reporter. In fact, for 30-minutes there's not a man in sight, which strikes me as unusual for the time.
I doubt that any other series could have gotten away with the ending, which is one reason many of us were drawn to the format at the time. Note too that Hitch doesn't balance the scales in his epilogue. Rather, we're left with a contemplative fade-out that seems ironically appropriate given the case's actual history. Anyway, it's a riveting character study, courtesy sedate New England, 1892.
I doubt that any other series could have gotten away with the ending, which is one reason many of us were drawn to the format at the time. Note too that Hitch doesn't balance the scales in his epilogue. Rather, we're left with a contemplative fade-out that seems ironically appropriate given the case's actual history. Anyway, it's a riveting character study, courtesy sedate New England, 1892.
Ok character study
coltras3512 May 2022
One year after Mr. And Mrs. Borden were brutally murdered, reporter Nell Cutts tries to interview Lizzie Andrew Borden and her sister Emma about the killings. Ok character study with a "what if" scenario with some good acting and interesting revelations and some macabre tension, however it's not too much of a standout.
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