Customer Reviews

Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Season Four

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

... and let me tell you the competition is stiff for that title in this series.

The 36 episodes included in this excellent season are:

118 1 Poison October 5, 1958 - directed by Alfred Hitchcock
119 2 Don't Interrupt October 12, 1958 - directed by Robert Stevens guest starring Cloris Leachman
120 3 The Jokester October 19, 1958 - directed by Alfred Hiller guest starring James Coburn
121 4 The Crooked Road October 26, 1958 - directed by Paul Henreid
122 5 The Two Million Dollar Defense November 2, 1958 - directed by Norman Lloyd
123 6 Design for Loving November 9, 1958 - directed by Robert Stevens, written by Ray Bradbury
124 7 A Man with a Problem November 16, 1958 - directed by Robert Stevens, guest starring Elizabeth Montgomery
125 8 Safety for the Witness November 23, 1958 - directed by Norman Lloyd
126 9 Murder Me Twice December 7, 1958 - directed by David Swift
127 10 Tea Time December 14, 1958 - directed by Robert Stevens starring George Navarro
128 11 And the Desert Shall Blossom December 21, 1958 - directed by Arthur Hiller
129 12 Mrs. Herman and Mrs. Fenimore December 28, 1958 - directed by Arthur Hiller
130 13 Six People, No Music January 4, 1959 - directed by Norman Lloyd
131 14 The Morning After January 11, 1959 - guest stars include Fay Wray
132 15 A Personal Matter January 18, 1959 - directed by Paul Henreid
133 16 Out There - Darkness January 25, 1959 - directed by Paul Henreid, guest stars include Bette Davis
134 17 Total Loss February 1, 1959
135 18 The Last Dark Step February 8, 1959
136 19 The Morning of the Bride February 15, 1959 - directed by Arthur Hiller starring Barbara Bel Geddes
137 20 The Diamond Necklace February 22, 1959 - stars Claude Rains
138 21 Relative Value March 1, 1959
139 22 The Right Price March 8, 1959 - directed by Arthur Hiller
140 23 I'll Take Care of You March 15, 1959 - directed by Robert Stevens costarring Ralph Meeker
141 24 The Avon Emeralds March 22, 1959 - costarring Alan Napier
142 25 The Kind Waitress March 29, 1959 - directed by Paul Henreid
143 26 Cheap Is Cheap April 5, 1959 - costarring Dennis Day
144 27 The Waxwork April 12, 1959 - directed by Robert Stevens costarring Everett Sloane
145 28 The Impossible Dream April 19, 1959 - directed by Robert Stevens costarring Franchot Tone and Mary Astor
146 29 Banquo's Chair May 3, 1959 - directed by Alfred Hitchcock costarring John Williams
147 30 A Night with the Boys May 10, 1959 - directed by Norman Lloyd costarring Brian Keith
148 31 Your Witness May 17, 1959
149 32 The Human Interest Story May 24, 1959 - Steve McQueen in a small part
150 33 The Dusty Drawer May 31, 1959 - guest stars Dick York
151 34 Curtains for Me June 7, 1959
152 35 Touché June 14, 1959 - guest stars Paul Douglas
153 36 Invitation to an Accident June 21, 1959 - guest stars Gary Merrill

This season set also includes a featurette - "Fasten Your Seatbelts: The Thrilling Art of Alfred Hitchcock".

After a couple of years of seemingly abandoning the effort of putting Alfred Hitchcock Presents out on DVD, it is good to finally see Universal putting the fourth season out. The Master of Suspense actually only directed two episodes this season, but it might interest you to know that one of the big stars of the 1940's, Casablanca's Paul Henreid, really showed his talent behind the camera by directing four episodes this season and a total of 28 for the series run. Another very good director, Arthur Hiller, directed another five. You'll notice stars this season that are just coming into their own or will in the next few years such as Elizabeth Montgomery, Steve McQueen, and Dick York. You'll also spot stars of the big screen making guest appearances such as Claude Rains, Bette Davis, her husband at the time Gary Merrill, Everett Sloane, Franchot Tone, Mary Astor, and even Fay Wray. Writers for the season include Roald Dahl and Ray Bradbury.

I have childhood memories of being scared out of my wits by the Twilight Zone, since that show's scripts were not bound by natural law. Alfred Hitchcock, however, stays within the natural bounds of what is possible and explores the darkness of man's heart. Since just about every episode involves murder with motive, you'd think that the episodes would get old, but they don't. I heartily recommend this season for fans of Hitchcock and classic TV in general.

A 25 month wait for season 4 of Alfred Hitchcock Presents!!! Far too long. Please give us the final 3 season's faster and of course the 3 seasons of the Alfred Hitchcock Hour afterwards. A Customer waiting to buy all, Universal

I was very happy to see Alfred Hitchcock Presents come back after missing last year for a DVD release. I was hoping they would release a couple of seasons a year, but I guess it will take another 6 years to get the entire series. This release will feature John Williams last appearance in the series. He has always been a favorite of mine since I saw him in To Catch a Thief and Dial M for Murder. Also, we get the other Steve Mcqueen episode in this set. Another reviewer was asking about the release of Thriller. There are plans to release the entire set next year. No date has been announced yet, but at least it's coming.

A great classic series.

The First Season was released in 2005, the second in 2006, the third in 2007, then they skipped 2008 and returned in Nov. of 2009. And it looks like they'll skip this year again. The first three seasons they released in Oct., just before Halloween so I could have a nice countdown to my favorite holiday by watching a few Hitchcocks. In 2009 they release it in Nov.!?

The people in the marketing dept. at Universal must be the most incompetent people in the film business.

They should release AT LEAST a season a year. At this rate I'll be in my 70s by the time they release all of these (just exaggerating).

WHAT IS TAKING SO LONG?

If we can have all the seasons of Dukes of Hazard, why can't we have all, or at least MORE of the Hitchcocks? It boggles the mind. I don't understand.

These are classics, stop hoarding them in a vault. Twilight Zone, Night Gallery, Thriller -- they're all out. And when do they plan to get to the ALfred Hitchcock Hour episodes?

Get on the ball, Universal!

This is one of the all time best in television programming. I personally feel these television episodes actually out do Hitchcock's full length features. It was that every October a Alfred Hitchcock Presents Season was being released. Season 4 was delayed for an immense time and now it seems like they're on hold indefinitely. There must be enough of a demand for these time enduring classics. Please release the rest of this series. Pleeeeeezzze!!!!! As my three year old son would say. :)

I really love Alfred Hitchcock Presents Series on DVD. I hope Universal Studios does not take as long to release Season 5 as they did with Season 4. I would like to see Season 5 released this Autumn of 2010. The stories in this season are captivating, and the acting is unsurpassed. It is one of the greatest programs of classic television.

I seriously do not understand why we have not heard any word on AHP season 5. Universal obviously knows there are people waiting for season 5 to be released yet they don't even give out any news on when or even if the season will be released. They should just release the remaining seasons AS WELL as releasing the Alfred Hitchcock Hour all at once so that at least those of us who are not willing to wait until were 100 years old can enjoy them! GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER UNIVERSAL!

I had been waiting for a long time for the release of Season Four, and it was worth the wait! I own the prior three seasons and will buy any others released (please hurry and do that, ok?)

What I love:

Hitchcock is even more caustic, clever and amusing with his introductory and closing aspersions toward the "sponsahs." He really got away with murder on some of those! I love his delivery, too. His expression never changes. Worth your money just to watch him

The story lines are the usual twisting and turning sort where most times you can't guess the end. It's a lot of fun to try and figure it out only to be proven wrong in the end. I did guess a couple, but only because I've watched so many that I'm training myself to think like a sleuth. (I think watching these are good brain exercises!)

The acting and characters are top notch whether quirky scoundrels or conniving cold-hearted killers.

Of course, the suspense! Hitchcock is the master, and he has a way of drawing you in within the first minute. Suddenly you care about what will happen next and I think this is my favorite part- you can get lost in the "play" as he calls it and be highly entertained for a half an hour. Also, I love the styles of the 50's, so it's great from that angle, too!

No complaints about this DVD!

"Alfred Hitchcock Presents" premiered in October, 1955. Hitchcock himself introduced each show with his trademark dry wit, and directed selected episodes. The anthology series featured tales of mystery and suspense, horror and the supernatural, usually with a surprise ending. It ran for ten seasons and was the forerunner of such series as "Thriller" and "The Twilight Zone." The 36 episodes from 1958-1959's Season Four, now available in a four-disc set, are one of the series' best collections of stories.

"Poison," directed by Hitchcock and based on a Roald Dahl short story, finds plantation owner Harry Pope (James Donald) awakening to find that a deadly snake has crawled into bed with him and is now asleep under the covers on his chest. Suspense mounts as Harry, his partner Timber Woods (Wendell Corey), and a neighboring doctor attempt to figure a way to save him from a lethal bite.

"The Waxwork" is a creepy tale of reporter Ray Hewson (Barry Nelson) who convinces wax museum owner Mr. Marriner (Everett Sloan) to let him spend the night in the museum's murderers' row gallery so he can write a story about its atmosphere. Later that night, Hewson is stunned to see the unfinished figure of a murderous barber named Bourdette suddenly spring to life. Bourdette claims he was scheduled for execution the following morning, but escaped and hid in the museum.

A personal favorite, "Banquo's Chair," also directed by Hitchcock, stars frequent series cast member John Williams as Scotland Yard Inspector Brent, who sets up a plan to entrap a man (Kenneth Haigh), acquitted of murdering his aunt years earlier, into confessing to the crime. Brent hires an actress to appear as the ghost of the dead woman to shake up the nephew at a dinner party, prompting a confession. This episode is wonderful in its use of reaction shots to illustrate the growing tension and then panic of the nephew as he sees his aunt's "ghost" while casual dinner conversation takes place around him.

Bette Davis stars in "Out There, Darkness" as wealthy Miss Fox, who hires the elevator boy to walk her beloved pet poodle. When Eddie asks her for a loan, she turns him down and he refuses to walk the dog any longer. That night, Miss Fox is mugged and her handbag and valuable ring are stolen. Assuming Eddie is the perpetrator, she informs the police and Eddie is arrested but, after he's spent a year in jail, the actual culprit is caught. Eddie is released and a penitent Miss Fox tries to make amends.

Other stars appearing in fourth season episodes include Claude Rains, Franchot Tone, Joyce Meadows, Brian Keith, Steve McQueen, Dick York, Paul Douglas, Cloris Leachman, Richard Kiley, Leslie Nielsen, and Elizabeth Montgomery. Also included in the set is the featurette "Fasten Your Seatbelt: The Thrilling Art of Alfred Hitchcock."

I am 46 years old.So Alfred Hitchcock presents is a little before my time.But it is the best Television show i have ever seen.These shows are really short half hour movies.Brilliantly written with great acting.And with clever finishes.How we can only have 4 seasons on DVD is unbelievable.The final 3 seasons of Alfred Hitchcock presents and the 3 seasons of the Alfred Hitchcock hour should be released together without delay.I could go on for hours about all of the devastatingly great episodes.There is nothing to truly compare.Not Thriller the overrated series hosted by Boris Karloff.I have seen every episode of Thriller.It is alarmingly flat and doesn't come close to Hitchcock presents.Or the even better and more detailed Alfred Hitchcock hour.There's a reason Thriller lasted only 2 seasons.Nor the twilight zone.Which ventured into imagination and super natural.Alfred Hitchcock explores reality.The evil nature of human beings.The things you here about on your local news everyday.The generation that loved this show are dying off quick.If they don't get this out soon.There won't be anyone alive who enjoyed this show so much to buy them.Please Universal release the rest of this series now.It has been 45 years since the last episode of the Alfred Hitchcock hour.This show should never be forgotten.Its just that good.