When you take two contrary personalities like the men in this episode, and they are played by good actors, the sparks that fly are well worth the effort. This is about integrity. Gary Merrill's character has been down this road countless times before. He knows that prisoners he is transporting are pretty desperate, not wanting to end up in the federal prison at San Quentin. This man is not a violent criminal, so he is diminished a bit in importance to the audience. He's not going to the gas chamber or anything. He sets in motion a series of incentives for Merrill to take the bate and allow him to escape. Merrill is haggard and tired and probably deserves something for all the time he has given to the state. But he heroically resists the efforts of his prisoner to dissuade him (or does he?) The strength of this story has to do with the close proximity of the two men. There are virtually no outside observers. It's just them. The conversation is believable. The con- man uses his silver tongue to near perfection as he angles for his fish. The deputy parries each move. Right up the the end we are left in doubt as to how this will all resolve itself. One of the best of the Hitchcock canon.
Review of The Manacled
