Synopsis:
A stay-at-home wife (Vera Miles, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance) is brutally raped while her husband (Ralph Meeker, Kiss Me Deadly) is at work. There are no witnesses and the victim can’t provide the police with any solid clues. However, the enraged husband can’t let it go, so he takes it upon himself to find the perpetrator.
Reaction & Thoughts:
“There he is! That’s him! That’s him!”
Revenge is the episode that launched the CBS anthology TV series Alfred Hitchcock Presents, which debuted on October 2, 1955. Hitchcock himself introduces each episode and reappears at the end to bid viewers goodbye. French composer Charles Gounod’s kooky tune “Funeral March of a Marionette” serves as the program’s theme music (apparently, it was one of Hitchcock’s favorite pieces of music).
Revenge was directed by Hitchcock, and in a characteristically clever and economical manner, The Master of Suspense single-handedly established the style and tone for the highly popular program that lasted ten seasons, first as Alfred Hitchcock Presents, later as The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. The series was revived in 1985 (not all that surprising, an updated version of Revenge was the first episode of the reboot).
Written by Francis M. Cockrell (Rhubarb), Revenge is filled with deliciously edgy black humor. In that respect, the episode, and the series for that matter, gave TV viewers something new: an unsettling experience in the comfort of their own homes. Revenge is relentlessly downbeat, and the twist at the end is downright mean-spirited. Hitchcock’s closing comments are, well, charmingly sarcastic!
Vera Miles, who was under a personal contract with Hitchcock, does a fantastic job as the unbalanced young bride. It’s hard to create a complex characterization in such a small amount of time, but the talented Miles pulls it off splendidly well. She does a remarkably good job projecting the mental deterioration of her character.
Ralph Meeker is also great as Miles’s frustrated husband, a man bent on revenge. Although he is technically the good guy, Meeker’s laser-focused determination will give you the willies. Meeker also has great chemistry with Miles. The cast also includes character actress Frances Bavier (Aunt Bee, TV’s The Andy Griffith Show), who plays a sympathetic neighbor. All three actors are excellent.
Conclusions & Final Thoughts:
Alfred Hitchcock’s films characterize for having a morbid sense of humor, and this episode is no exception. Revenge sets the series off on a wonderfully dark path. I’m sure viewers who like Hitchcock movies will enjoy the TV show as well. Superbly shot by cameraman John L. Russell (Psycho). B&W, 25 minutes, Not Rated.
Diary of A Movie Maniac 
Revenge (certainly the reboot) is why I’m not a fan of Alfred Hitchcock Presents. In regards to dark and disturbing portraits of humanity, I’ve found the ways that The Twilight Zone and The Hitchhiker do it to be more visually tolerable.
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Hitchcock Presents isn’t as illuminating as Twilight Zone (I’m not familiar with Hitchhiker), but I like its naughty sense of humor.
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Now that you mention it, ‘naughty’ is an interestingly descriptive word for the humor in The Hitchhiker. It’s always interesting how each anthology series tries to set itself apart and thrive on its own identity. Tales Of The Unexpected and The Ray Bradbury Theatre gave me the best appreciation for that in the wake of finally getting into The Twilight Zone in the 80s. And I could still respect Hitchcock for the messages that he clearly wanted to give us via his anthology show. Understanding our darkness is the surest way to fully grasp our light.
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I’ve always liked anthology series, so thanks for recommending The Hitchhiker!
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You’re welcome. I’ve been a fan of quite a few in my time, including The Ray Bradbury Theatre, Thriller (the British series by Brian Clemens) and occasionally Black Mirror. I liked some elements, but not all, of Jorden Peele’s reworking of The Twilight Zone. The Outer Limits, when I finally got into that one after so long thanks to my pen-pals, was a particularly new experience. Much like how Sapphire & Steel was for me after a life of Doctor Who. It’s always interesting how old classics once you finally get to know them can refresh your taste in the best of TV and film.
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The Outer Limit! I like that one! I have the DVD set. Amazing Stories was a disappointment, though. I expected more from Steven Spielberg. Have you seen it? It has handful of good episode, but the rest is meah.
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The first episode I saw and liked. I didn’t bother with it afterwards. A director like Spielberg can have an opportunity for an anthology show and yet not be as qualified as some like Serling and Bradbury.
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Actually I also just now remember seeing the episode with Gregory Hines which was pretty good.
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My favorite Amazing Stories episode was “The Doll,” with John Lithgow.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0511120/reference/
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