'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' may not have been a consistently great series, with some misses in all the seasons, but when it was at its best it was absolutely brilliant. Had no doubt that "Man with a Problem" would work. While Robert Stevens was not always consistent in his output for the series, he did do some great work. The premise is one of Season 4's most intriguing ones and very Hitchcockian and have liked what has been seen of Gary Merrill's work.
"Man with a Problem" to me was an excellent episode with only one real problem. Even that one real problem wasn't enough to stop it from being one of the best episodes of Season 4's first half and one of Stevens' best Season 4 outings. When ranking it with his other 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episodes, "Man with a Problem" is in the top tier. Maybe not one of my very favourite 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episodes, but it is a very strong example of how good the series is when on form.
For me, the only issue with "Man with a Problem" is the epilogue, which felt too much like an unnecessary cop out and one of the epilogues to feel tacked on.
However, a lot is excellent. Everything else is absolutely splendid. Especially the acting, Merrill is perfectly cast and is suitably unsettling in an unnerving and oddly moving way. Mark Richmond is a sympathetic contrast and their chemistry is dynamite, with a large part of the suspense being whether the jumper would go through with it. Stevens' direction is some of his most accomplished and inspired, in full control of the material and with full understanding of it.
It helps too that the material is so good. The dialogue is thoughtful and haunting, not coming over as too rambling and it doesn't come over as melodramatic. The story is darkly suspenseful and has emotional impact, with great tension between Merrill and Richmond and a shocking mind-blower of a twist that was pull-the-rug-from-under-the-viewer quality. Personally didn't think it was far fetched. It is a well made episode, with some very stylish and haunting close ups standing out. It is suitably eerie audibly too and "Funeral March of a Marionette" continues to be an inspired choice for theme music.
Concluding, wonderful. 9/10.
"Man with a Problem" to me was an excellent episode with only one real problem. Even that one real problem wasn't enough to stop it from being one of the best episodes of Season 4's first half and one of Stevens' best Season 4 outings. When ranking it with his other 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episodes, "Man with a Problem" is in the top tier. Maybe not one of my very favourite 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episodes, but it is a very strong example of how good the series is when on form.
For me, the only issue with "Man with a Problem" is the epilogue, which felt too much like an unnecessary cop out and one of the epilogues to feel tacked on.
However, a lot is excellent. Everything else is absolutely splendid. Especially the acting, Merrill is perfectly cast and is suitably unsettling in an unnerving and oddly moving way. Mark Richmond is a sympathetic contrast and their chemistry is dynamite, with a large part of the suspense being whether the jumper would go through with it. Stevens' direction is some of his most accomplished and inspired, in full control of the material and with full understanding of it.
It helps too that the material is so good. The dialogue is thoughtful and haunting, not coming over as too rambling and it doesn't come over as melodramatic. The story is darkly suspenseful and has emotional impact, with great tension between Merrill and Richmond and a shocking mind-blower of a twist that was pull-the-rug-from-under-the-viewer quality. Personally didn't think it was far fetched. It is a well made episode, with some very stylish and haunting close ups standing out. It is suitably eerie audibly too and "Funeral March of a Marionette" continues to be an inspired choice for theme music.
Concluding, wonderful. 9/10.