The Tender Poisoner

This episode is more late 1940's film noir vs series television. Brilliantly pieced together. Norman Lloyd directs. Dan Dailey gives a stellar performance.

This is a convoluted love triangle episode. Dan Dailey (who has a beautiful wife) has fallen in love with a much younger one. He introduces her to his friend, Howard Duff, who tries to get him to knock it off. But good old Howard wants her for himself. What follows is Dailey's inability to ask his wife for a divorce and enlists Duff's help in killing her. Of course there are lots of complications, particular those that have to do with the poison. The downfall of this episode has to do with Dailey, lying in his hospital bed, seemingly lucid and with it, deciding to have Duff help him kill himself. It just doesn't wash.

Very well done episode done with a film noir atmosphere with an excellent cast. Howard Duff well known for numerous movie roles as well as radio's Sam Spade along with veteran actor Dan Dailey who starred as Governor William Drinkwater along with Julie Sommers in the short lived 1970 CBS series, "The Governor and J. J." are particularly well cast in their respective roles. A recent reviewer noted a similarity between an interior set in this episode and one used in The Brady Bunch. They're not the same since this episode was filmed at Universal/Revue and The Brady Bunch was filmed at Paramount Studios.

An executive (Howard Duff) plans to end an associate's (Dan Dailey) love affair and save the man's career and marriage. How kind of Howard Duff to do this!! Well not really kind cause he wants Dailey's bit on the side on his side, if you know what I mean. Dailey, meanwhile, tries to poison his wife, then accidentally poison the dog, then tries to poison wife and then races back to stop her ... you could get the idea, the plot is quite intricate, keeping one watching. The finale is quite good. Most of the characters aren't exactly lovable characters, especially Howard Duff, but they're well-presented.

This strange story will remind you a bit of PEYTON PLACE, only more diabolical, and that's what Hitch was looking for.

The cast shines, everyone doing their best to put one over on the next guy. Howard Duff plays Peter, a gentleman of honorable qualities? -- who attempts to save his good friend's (Dan Dailey) faltering marriage and put an end to his affair. Quite a guy.

Now for the Hitch switch; Peter wants Dailey's secret love (played by Bettye Ackerman) all to himself.

Keep an eye on Jan Sterling, playing Beatrice, Dailey's wife -- who is ALSO having a fling on the side with handsome Philip Terry. What do ya think about that?

Guaranteed to keep you entertained if not in suspense -- did we mention poison? Stay tuned. You have to admit, interesting to see song and dance man Dan Dailey in this type of role. Both he and Jan Sterling were Oscar nominees in their careers.

Hitch had one of the best writers put this together, Lukas Heller, behind two Bette Davis films, WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE and HUSH, HUSH SWEET CHARLOTTE.

A gem, especially for how it all ends. Do not go anywhere.

SEASON 1 EPISODE 14. According to Amazon, some of the dvd box sets (Region 2) were produced in Europe and may not play on American made dvd players. Best to check with the seller. Thanks to METV for running all the episodes.