Lamb to the Slaughter
- Episode aired Apr 13, 1958
- TV-14
- 30m
After Mary Maloney's police chief husband is murdered, the police investigate but have a hard time figuring out the murder weapon.After Mary Maloney's police chief husband is murdered, the police investigate but have a hard time figuring out the murder weapon.After Mary Maloney's police chief husband is murdered, the police investigate but have a hard time figuring out the murder weapon.
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaIn the following season's offering Cheap Is Cheap (1959), a hit man describes having seen this TV program, and thinks it was a good way to bump someone off.
- GoofsWhen Mary lifts the leg of lamb, she does it quite easily as if it doesn't weigh much although a murder club would be rather heavy.
- Quotes
[introduction, Hitchcock is in a supermarket where a cop gives him a ticket and walks off camera]
Alfred Hitchcock: He gave me this ticket for blocking an aisle during the rush hour. I don't understand. I was in the slow lane. I just stopped a moment at the condiment shelf where the store's have a get-acquainted sale on 'Low Calorie Calories'. Tonight's play is not unrelated to this milieu. It is called "Lamb to the Slaughter", but before we see it, the store has asked that I direct your attention to their very best bargain.
[commercial break]
- ConnectionsFeatured in TV Guide's Top 100 Episodes of All Time (2009)
- SoundtracksFuneral March of a Marionette
Written by Charles Gounod
Those that do so as well will not be disappointed by her performance here in "Lamb to the Slaughter". The episode is one of the most talked about of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' and it's no wonder. For me, "Lamb to the Slaughter" is absolutely fantastic and not just one of the best episodes of Season 3 (which had some great episodes) but also one of the best of the whole of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents'. Not to mention one of Hitchcock's best of the series as director.
First and foremost, Bel Geddes is a revelation in an example of how to showcase an actor's/actress' talents by playing to their strengths, stretching them or showing different sides to them. Bel Geddes' performance is a powerhouse in a complex role and one of my favourite individual performances of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents'. Harold J Stone is excellent too and his chemistry with Bel Geddes carries the episode beautifully.
Hitchcock demonstrates perfectly why he was coined the master of suspense for good reasons. His bookending is humorously ironic and gels with the story with ease, with no sense of jarring or disjointed-ness. It is more than solidly made visually, not looking cheap and boasting some nice atmosphere in the photography. "Funeral March of a Marionette" was an inspired and perfect choice for the series' main theme.
"Lamb to the Slaughter" is an extremely well written episode. Loved its ironic approach to the material that did amuse. Some of it is also darkly comic, that is a perfect mix of humorous and unsettling. While not as sinister as episodes like "Breakdown" or "The Creeper", there is suspense that gives the story an appropriate amount of unease. The story didn't to me feel padded or over-stuffed, while also being easy to follow without being simplistic, and Bel Geddes' character fascinates psychologically. The ending stayed with me for a long time after and is genius.
Wonderful episode all in all and not to be missed. 10/10.
- TheLittleSongbird
- Feb 13, 2023
Details
- Runtime30 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1