Barry Harvey Movies
- 1961
New in town, bank clerk Billy Weaver (Dean Stockwell) rents a room from a slightly daffy old woman (Patricia Collinge). After a few days, Billy begins to wonder why he never sees any of the lady's other tenants. While he doesn't get any answers right away, he does find out that his landlady is rather fond of stuffed domestic animals -- and exotic beverages. This merrily macabre episode was given the full "Hitchcock" treatment by both its original author Roald Dahl and its adaptor Robert Bloch. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1960
While on a sea voyage with his family, the eminent Sir Richard Musgrave (Eric Portman) is unnerved by the presence of a fellow passenger named Keyser (Oskar Homolka), who looks just like Sir Richard's former prospecting partner. Of course, Keyser could not possibly be whom he appears to be -- especially since Sir Richard left his partner for dead 20 years ago. Indeed, when confronted, Keyser insists he has never met Sir Richard in his life...but enough doubt remains to force Musgrave into taking drastic action! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1959
Scotland Yard inspector Benson (played by future "James Bond" Roger Moore) seems determined to monitor every movement made by Lady Gwendolyn Avon (Hazel Court). Benson informs his superiors that he is convinced that Lady Gwendolyn plans to smuggle a valuable emerald necklace out of the country, and then sell it so she won't have to pay the taxes on it. The story takes an unexpected turn when the necklace is stolen by a "person or persons unknown." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1959
Season five of Alfred Hitchcock Presents gets under way with a darkly humorous character piece, directed by Hitchcock himself. Laurence Harvey heads the cast as Arthur Williams, a fairly prosperous New Zealand poultry farmer. Ever since he was jilted by his sweetheart, Helen (Hazel Court), Arthur has vowed to remain a bachelor. When the avaricious Helen comes back into his life, Arthur tries to explain that he is "set in his ways" and not interested in matrimony. Not long afterward, Helen vanishes without a trace, compelling the police to pay a visit Arthur's farm. Though the cops can find no signs of foul play, it is obvious to the viewer that a certain amount of "fowl" play has occurred. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1959
Heavily in debt, John Manbridge (Denholm Elliott) cannot wait to inherit the money promised him by his wealthy uncle Felix (Torin Thatcher). Hoping to speed up the process, John kills Uncle Felix, and then arranges a "perfect alibi." Only when Felix's body is found does John discover that the murder was entirely unnecessary -- but by then, he too has suffered his uncle's curious fate. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1958
After several years' separation from her husband, Laura Bowley (Jessica Tandy) leaves London and heads for a reunion with Mr. Bowley (Murray Matheson) in Hong Kong. Upon her arrival, Laura is met by a chauffeur driving a black sedan. When Laura expresses a preference for a yellow sedan, she is surprised to learn that the car had previously been yellow before it was painted black. Nor is this only curious happenstance encountered by Laura en route to her husband: the sedan seems to be haunted, with an eerie female voice telling Laura about a torrid romance. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1958
Roald Dahl's classic short story A Dip in the Pool has been dramatized numerous times on both radio and TV, though never more memorably than in this episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents. While taking an ocean voyage, chronic gambler William Botibol (Keenan Wynn) bets every penny to his name on a shipboard contest, predicated on the number of miles the ship will travel each day. When it appears as though he will lose his wager, Botibol hatches a desperate scheme: he will jump into the ocean, forcing the captain to turn the ship around and save him, thereby remaining within the "proper" mileage. But first, Botibol needs to find a friendly stranger who will witness his overboard leap and immediately report it to the captain. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1957
A strangler is plaguing fog-bound London, and each time the culprit strikes, two men are the first to arrive at the murder scene. One of them is Ottermole (Theodore Bikel), the police sergeant investigating the murders; the other is an obnoxious newspaper reporter (Charles Davis). Trouble is, the reporter always manages to beat the detective to the crime scene -- a fact that will result in tragedy for at least one of the two protagonists. Generally regarded as one of the best mystery stories ever written, Charles Davis' The Hands of Mr. Ottermole had previously been dramatized on both the radio and TV versions of Suspense. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
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