tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6672923492889685727.post4350365776202000893..comments2024-03-27T05:54:38.797-07:00Comments on <i>bare</i>•bones e-zine: Robert Bloch on TV Part Sixteen-The Alfred Hitchcock Hour: The Second WifeJohn Scolerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14082147756474762000noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6672923492889685727.post-29581039944482985602023-07-04T10:15:46.159-07:002023-07-04T10:15:46.159-07:00I think the hours ended up being better than the h...I think the hours ended up being better than the half hours after a shaky start. My sense is that they began by thinking adapting novels was the way to go but gradually realized it worked better to expand short stories than to cut longer novels. The final season is often superb and I wonder if part of the reason it ended was because the networks were moving to color and this show would not have worked in color. Also, I looked up Harvey Chartrand online and it appears he died.Jack Seabrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02216640325305820140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6672923492889685727.post-8127273915428995482023-07-03T03:23:36.020-07:002023-07-03T03:23:36.020-07:00Thanks for responding, Jack. I'm a little late...Thanks for responding, Jack. I'm a little late to this feast, and I find myself agreeing more with the poster Harvey Chartrand. He was very perceptive in his critique of many later entries in the Hitchcock Hour. At its best it was brilliant, yet it featured too many stories that were simply not pleasant. This worked better in the show's half-hour format, such as The Woman Who Wanted To Live, full of negative vibes, and yet not overwhelmed by them. Lola Albright played her strong woman character with what felt like effortless professionalism, while Charles Bronson matched her in his fashion, with his naturalistic underplaying. Their interactions felt real, and they might even have worked well if they could have morphed into law abiding couple, though this was, of course, impossible. Had this tale been stretched to an hour it would have got bogged down in "incidentals", and too many diversions. As a half-hour, it was perfect; bittersweet at best in its resolution, yet morally satisfying.john kenrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00710666533854296630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6672923492889685727.post-85198735006267584052023-05-27T10:30:49.800-07:002023-05-27T10:30:49.800-07:00Thanks for your comment, John. I haven't watch...Thanks for your comment, John. I haven't watched this in over a decade, since I wrote this piece, but now that I have the DVD set I'll have to give it another look to appreciate the quality.Jack Seabrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02216640325305820140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6672923492889685727.post-7201296122075031072023-05-27T00:28:11.045-07:002023-05-27T00:28:11.045-07:00I saw The Second Wife first run, Jack, and I thoug...I saw The Second Wife first run, Jack, and I thought it was one of the best Hitchcock hours. Since revisiting it recently, I can understand other people's coolness toward it. This is not an episode to love. Respect, yes, but An Unlocked Window was vastly more engaging, and way more entertaining. The Second Wife is too sad to care for much. Its story develops in a way that doesn't build suspense so much as feelings of dreariness. The husband does seem like the villain of the piece, which doesn't really have a villain as such, as it's tale of tragic misunderstanding that plays out as melodrama. The "twist" at the end brought no feelings of relief for me the first time, just admiration for a tale well told. Now, it does nothing for me since I knew how it would end in the first place. <br /><br />At a technical level, it's handled brilliantly. It's the story itself that's difficult for me, as an adult, to fee drawn into. Another "downer" Hitchcock hour, To Catch A Butterfly, I also saw first run, and it scared me then and still does now. The acting is superb, with only Ed Asner's too nice guy of a bad father not working, or not for me anyway. That part needed a more subtle player. Yet the episode still pushes my buttons, and young Mickey Sholdar was brilliant as the troubled boy. The point of this digression is to make it clear that a television show need not entertain in a conventional way to work. Witness all the fine entries in the Naked City and Route 66 series, often with the focus on ruined and/or hopeless lives.john kenrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00710666533854296630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6672923492889685727.post-10103655427520295152018-05-29T15:02:27.890-07:002018-05-29T15:02:27.890-07:00Thanks, Frances! I agree that this episode is outs...Thanks, Frances! I agree that this episode is outstanding.Jack Seabrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02216640325305820140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6672923492889685727.post-30438267672464255382018-05-29T02:36:19.250-07:002018-05-29T02:36:19.250-07:00For me, "The Second Wife" is a standout ...For me, "The Second Wife" is a standout episode, as are so many in the Third Season. It's ultimately a sad story, about a husband who, while actually loving his "second" wife, is so taciturn and uncommunicative, that he is so incapable of conveying his feelings to the point of arousing her suspicions that he may have had an ulterior motive in marrying her. The ending is poignant to the point of heartbreaking. Both John Andersen and June Lockhart are pitch-perfect in their parts. And like any other movie or program, tastes are very personal, and asking someone to "take another look" is not going to change anything.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17777709182271893028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6672923492889685727.post-36655253496083777132012-06-14T20:49:40.402-07:002012-06-14T20:49:40.402-07:00THE SECOND WIFE is one of my favorite shows in the...THE SECOND WIFE is one of my favorite shows in the series. I'm with Peter and John on Jack Seabrook doing the entire series. If he manages to complete all the episodes, it will be an astounding piece of original research.Walker Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16089880902426182100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6672923492889685727.post-78934490037873397142012-06-12T17:31:31.202-07:002012-06-12T17:31:31.202-07:00Jack Seabrook!
You're such a tease!Jack Seabrook!<br />You're such a tease!Peter Enfantinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04317575598411394944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6672923492889685727.post-69329840811386070162012-06-12T07:44:50.882-07:002012-06-12T07:44:50.882-07:00Watch "Off Season" Wednesday night on En...Watch "Off Season" Wednesday night on Encore and read about it here on Thursday!Jack Seabrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02216640325305820140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6672923492889685727.post-27018166712193332622012-06-12T06:25:49.868-07:002012-06-12T06:25:49.868-07:00Caught only a part of this one last night, in the ...Caught only a part of this one last night, in the Encore Suspense play. I'm just going to have to set the dvr for the series, clearly.Todd Masonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01815516018079824802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6672923492889685727.post-9228461253267113512012-06-08T08:02:16.544-07:002012-06-08T08:02:16.544-07:00I'm sorry you still didn't like it. I thou...I'm sorry you still didn't like it. I thought it was very well done, especially the interior scenes with the flickering firelight. I'll be interested to read your comments on the next episode, which is the last one Bloch wrote. The post should be up late next week.Jack Seabrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02216640325305820140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6672923492889685727.post-5312672823166760852012-06-08T04:37:04.826-07:002012-06-08T04:37:04.826-07:00I watched THE SECOND WIFE a second time after almo...I watched THE SECOND WIFE a second time after almost half a century and still didn't like it, although John Anderson's performance was stellar. I was also impressed by how the production designers managed to convey a sense of approaching winter on the Universal Studios back lot in sunny southern California. The episode was very grey and dismal... sort of like Canada through most of the year.Harvey Chartrandnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6672923492889685727.post-6803982841783955082012-06-06T14:33:57.702-07:002012-06-06T14:33:57.702-07:00Sorry to disappoint you, but this would be the wor...Sorry to disappoint you, but this would be the world's first all-Unger Odd Couple. I bear about as much resemblance to Oscar as I do to Janet Van Dyne.Matthew Bradleyhttp://bradleyonfilm.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6672923492889685727.post-50876813536964057022012-06-05T18:41:10.311-07:002012-06-05T18:41:10.311-07:00Isn't that kind of obvious?Isn't that kind of obvious?Jack Seabrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02216640325305820140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6672923492889685727.post-29451283624409003722012-06-05T15:41:11.286-07:002012-06-05T15:41:11.286-07:00But between Jack and Matthew, which is Felix and w...But between Jack and Matthew, which is Felix and which is Oscar?John Scolerihttp://barebonesez.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6672923492889685727.post-21928882613872410192012-06-05T15:34:20.108-07:002012-06-05T15:34:20.108-07:00I intend to get Jack to do both of those projects....I intend to get Jack to do both of those projects. As far as The Odd Couple starring Seabrook and Bradley, I'd pay to read that blog.Peter Enfantinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04317575598411394944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6672923492889685727.post-12001778220738182332012-06-05T14:42:12.170-07:002012-06-05T14:42:12.170-07:00Jack can do 1970s Marvel or all ten years of Hitch...Jack can do 1970s Marvel or all ten years of Hitchcock. Totally up to him. But when he gets to THE ODD COUPLE, I'll take shotgun.Matthew Bradleyhttp://bradleyonfilm.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6672923492889685727.post-40374121084906766832012-06-02T06:47:37.995-07:002012-06-02T06:47:37.995-07:00Okay, Jack, I'll watch THE SECOND WIFE a secon...Okay, Jack, I'll watch THE SECOND WIFE a second time, if only to see California Charlie in action (or inaction, as the case may be).Harvey Chartrandnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6672923492889685727.post-14042069611839035672012-06-01T14:38:48.851-07:002012-06-01T14:38:48.851-07:00I'm with Matthew. I'm psyched for Jack'...I'm with Matthew. I'm psyched for Jack's look at the Angela Lansbury episodes.John Scolerihttp://barebonesez.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6672923492889685727.post-35875479838442016772012-06-01T14:26:15.802-07:002012-06-01T14:26:15.802-07:00Let's do a quick vote.
All in favor of Jack bi...Let's do a quick vote.<br />All in favor of Jack biting the bullet and covering all of Hitchcock from Episode One on, raise your hands.<br /><br />(Mine is raised way up)Peter Enfantinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04317575598411394944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6672923492889685727.post-27022112888402419652012-06-01T14:22:29.655-07:002012-06-01T14:22:29.655-07:00Psyched for Bradbury.Psyched for Bradbury.Matthew Bradleyhttp://bradleyonfilm.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6672923492889685727.post-60317450076329696932012-06-01T13:36:53.194-07:002012-06-01T13:36:53.194-07:00When I think of June Lockhart, I think of overpice...When I think of June Lockhart, I think of overpiced autographs.Peter Enfantinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04317575598411394944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6672923492889685727.post-17310214138945232542012-06-01T13:23:17.890-07:002012-06-01T13:23:17.890-07:00Harvey, you should give it another chance. After 4...Harvey, you should give it another chance. After 47 years, you may see things differently. By the way, The Life Work of Juan Diaz is one of my favorites and I will get to it when I tackle the Ray Bradbury episodes.<br /><br />Matthew: Thanks! I agree with your remark about knowing that we are watching a Hitchcock episode. When I see Anderson, I always think of the Twilight Zone. And I can't see June Lockhart without thinking of Lost In Space.Jack Seabrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02216640325305820140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6672923492889685727.post-7682323640251456882012-06-01T09:56:53.647-07:002012-06-01T09:56:53.647-07:00Nice work, Jack. Although my own experience with ...Nice work, Jack. Although my own experience with the series is limited, I think one of the things that adds to the effectiveness of this episode is that it plays on our expectations not only within the story itself, but also by virtue of the fact that we are watching an episode of THE ALFRED HITCHCOCK HOUR. Only after it is over do we realize that it is a tragic departure from the usual formula, in which the climactic death serves to punish some evildoer. I can't see Anderson (who also appeared in Richard Matheson's "Ride the Nightmare" on this series) without thinking of his role in PSYCHO.Matthew Bradleyhttp://bradleyonfilm.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6672923492889685727.post-26560998488470473062012-06-01T06:04:19.533-07:002012-06-01T06:04:19.533-07:00THE SECOND WIFE is one of my least favorite Hitchc...THE SECOND WIFE is one of my least favorite Hitchcock Hours. I saw it only once, 47 years ago, but found that the story was simply too morbid for my taste. The same excessive morbidity hobbles other episodes in the final season of THE ALFRED HITCHCOCK HOUR and may have led to the show's falling ratings and ultimate cancellation: TRIUMPH with Ed Begley; THE McGREGOR AFFAIR with Andrew Duggan and Elsa Lanchester; MISADVENTURE with Barry Nelson, Lola Albright and George Kennedy; THANATOS PALACE HOTEL with Steven Hill and Angie Dickinson; THOU STILL UNRAVISHED BRIDE with David Carradine, Sally Kellerman and Michael Pate; NIGHT FEVER with Colleen Dewhurst; and (although a haunting story) THE LIFE WORK OF JUAN DIAZ with Alejandro Rey and Frank Silvera.Harvey Chartrandnoreply@blogger.com