THE CREEPER -- "ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS" CLASSIC EPISODE

Hitch

"The Creeper." Alfred Hitchcock Presents, 1956. Season 1, episode 38. Written by James B. Cavanagh from the story by Joseph Ruscoll. Directed by Herschel Daugherty.

Ellen Grant (Constance Ford of Claudelle Inglish) a housewife married to the loving if grumpy, Steve (Steve Brodie), is constantly on edge because two women -- also blonds, also left alone at night when their husbands are working -- have been murdered by an unknown maniac known as the "Creeper." Ellen is suspicious of everyone: her old boyfriend, Ed (Harry Townes), who comes to keep an eye on her but reveals that he's carried a grudge since she left him; the weaselly, always-smiling new super, George (Percy Helton); the old shoemaker (Alfred Linder) down the block who wants her address; even her neighbor, Martha (Reta Shaw), who says "decent women don't get themselves murdered" and thinks Ellen is carrying on with Ed. The episode builds suspense with each character who appears, all of whom are expertly portrayed by the excellent cast. 

Constance Ford

Topping the cast list, of course, is Constance Ford, one of the very best actresses of the period who appeared in a great many shows and movies but never quite made it to the front rank of stardom but deserved to. She gives a very strong and sympathetic performance in this, and the episode -- while chilling -- is ultimately heartbreaking. I have never forgotten Ford's sad, life-weary, regretful and horrified final words. The poignancy of the ending isn't even washed away by Hitchcock's flippant closing remarks, which are somewhat at odds with the tone of the story. While one can't quite call "The Creeper" any kind of feminist tract, it does illustrate how women can be horribly mistreated by others even when they aren't being murdered.

Verdict: A strong episode of an excellent program. ***. 

SHE CRIED MURDER

Lynda Day George hides from Telly Savalas

SHE CRIED MURDER (1973 telefilm). Director: Herschel Daugherty.

Sarah Cornell (Lynda Day George) is riding the subway one night when she sees a man pushing a woman in front of the train. When she calls the police, one of the inspectors who shows up, Brody (Telly Savalas of Horror Express), turns out to be the very man she saw in the subway. She keeps her mouth shut, but a paranoid Brody kidnaps Sarah's young son, and tells her if she just says nothing to anybody the boy will be okay ... The excellent premise of this ABC "Movie of the Week" is Hitchcockian, but the movie quickly degenerates into a mere woman-in-jeopardy chase film when it could have been so much more. Day is fine, Savalas is reasonably compelling in a bad guy role, and Kate Reid and Mike Farrell are okay in supporting parts, but this needs much more development and tension. Some of the heroine's actions are incredibly stupid as well.

Verdict: Time-filler that wastes a great idea. **.