Shackled prisoner Stephen Fontaine tries to negotiate an escape from Sergeant Rockwell while en route to San Quentin.Shackled prisoner Stephen Fontaine tries to negotiate an escape from Sergeant Rockwell while en route to San Quentin.Shackled prisoner Stephen Fontaine tries to negotiate an escape from Sergeant Rockwell while en route to San Quentin.
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- GoofsAll entries contain spoilers
- Quotes
Sgt. Rockwell: You had it figured, huh?
Stephen Fontaine: Well, not exactly. I didn't know who the lucky man would be. I thought whoever it was would be wearing a ready-made suit off of a basement rack, his heels would be run down. Be the kind of man who was living on the installment plan. Doesn't really own anything, just pieces of things. A piece of a cheap car, a piece of an ice box, a piece of a bedroom set. And all the stuff he has pieces of is already falling to pieces. But he'll keep paying on it and paying on it, month after month because that's the kind of man he is. Just a piece of a man.
- SoundtracksFuneral March of a Marionette
Written by Charles Gounod
One of those episodes would definitely be "The Manacled" in my view, one of Stevens' best in a while and one of his better offerings of the series. It may not be one of very the best episodes of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' overall, but when talking about Season 2 it compares extremely favourably and one of not enough outings up to this stage of Season 2 that is recommended with no hesitation. "The Manacled" is a vast improvement over the very disappointing previous two episodes and succeeds in every area that they failed in.
Criticisms are very few actually, though it to me dragged a little in the middle when it became a little too talky.
However, so much is good. It is very well acted in a relatively two man show with some small parts, especially by William Redfield, who seems deceptively charming but does sinister so well. Gary Merrill also carries the episode with ease and the character tension is expertly done. Their characters are interesting too and really helps ensure that the suspense doesn't slip, especially Redfield's.
Stevens gives some of his more inspired direction in a while here and seems at ease with the material. It also helps that the material is of quality worthy of those involved, after seeing episodes where the quality nearly sunk them or did do. The script doesn't take itself over seriously while not treating things as too much of a joke, and provokes thought despite some over talkiness in the middle. The story always absorbs, doesn't feel rushed or draggy and it is one of the few episodes of Season 2 that didn't feel too long or too short. The ending is plausible and is both ironic and sad.
"The Manacled" looks solid on a visual level, with the photography and lighting having the right amount of atmosphere. Hitchcock delivers on his dry humour and the theme tune of the series still haunts.
Overall, great. 9/10.
- TheLittleSongbird
- May 31, 2022
Details
- Runtime30 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1