The title museum includes lots of neat stuff, but the skeletons are the main attraction. A grieving father runs the museum and is visited by a man who has an unusual occupation. The story is told of the son of the curator who innocently gets into serious trouble when he inadvertently shoots a person he knows. But there is more yet. A little confusing at times.
6 Reviews
Okay...but nothing to shout about one way or the other.
planktonrules15 April 2021
The episode begins in a strange private museum run by Mr. Hollister (Larry Gates). At the end of a particular day, he strikes up a conversation with a patron and as they share a drink, Hollister tells the story of how he obtained a skeleton he has on display. Hollister says it's his son...and he tells a long story about how his son was unjustly sent to prison for murder when it was simply an accident.
This is just an okay episode. It's not bad but has a pretty limp cliche as the young man (Bert Convey) yelling out in court repeatedly that he's innocent. This rarely, if ever, happens in real life...though on TV it's as common as pizza commercials!
This is just an okay episode. It's not bad but has a pretty limp cliche as the young man (Bert Convey) yelling out in court repeatedly that he's innocent. This rarely, if ever, happens in real life...though on TV it's as common as pizza commercials!
"No medicine could have saved this man."
classicsoncall2 February 2022
Warning: Spoilers
There's a puzzling question of credibility regarding this story. How does one secure a body to be a museum attraction, much less reduce it to a skeleton? I think another reviewer had it right when they described this as more of a human interest story than anything that could transpire in real life. No questioning the accidental death here, or the action of D. A. Henshaw (Edward Platt); he was merely doing his job to prosecute what looked like a murder. Unfortunate for son Ben (Bert Convy), but if there was one last hope, he threw it out the window by starving himself to death in prison. The story closes with the premise that two prominent men in their field simply vanished and no one ever bothered trying to find out what happened to them. Not realistic really, but offering shock value was something Hitchcock could be relied on.
Erratic
dougdoepke13 December 2009
We wonder how the story will play out—both Hollister (Larry Gates) and Clovis (Myron McCormick) are odd ducks, musing in flashback over a museum skeleton that Hollister says is that of his son (Bert Convy)! It's an interesting premise, but unfortunately the development is also shot full of holes—the barn scene is especially contrived, while the climax is almost wildly implausible when you think about it.
The story works best as an exercise in human interest. As the grieving father, 1950's veteran Larry Gates delivers an especially moving performance for half-hour TV. It's beautifully shaded, and notice how we're led to side with him no matter what he's done, a Hitchcock trademark-- (it's the ironic clash between justice on one side and the law on the other). Another note of interest is a question—is Ed Platt's DA acting out of political interest or the requirements of justice? Hollister suspects the former; however, in a really cagey performance, actor Platt gives no underlying hint either way.
All in all, it's an offbeat premise that unfortunately fails to gel.
The story works best as an exercise in human interest. As the grieving father, 1950's veteran Larry Gates delivers an especially moving performance for half-hour TV. It's beautifully shaded, and notice how we're led to side with him no matter what he's done, a Hitchcock trademark-- (it's the ironic clash between justice on one side and the law on the other). Another note of interest is a question—is Ed Platt's DA acting out of political interest or the requirements of justice? Hollister suspects the former; however, in a really cagey performance, actor Platt gives no underlying hint either way.
All in all, it's an offbeat premise that unfortunately fails to gel.
A rare misfire
petewood-599511 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
The only compelling thing about this episode is seeing Ed Platt, the Chief from Get Smart, with hair.
Nothing works otherwise. The characters are unlikable which admittedly is not unusual for the show, but poor writing a complete lack of logic sink the episode.
I've seen the episode twice and for the life of me I just don't see what the Dad's beef is with the D. A. As far as I can tell Ed Platt's character is just doing his job. He's professional from start to finish and doesn't seem to have any sort of political agenda. I don't know that he had a whole lot of choice but to prosecute the kid.
If anyone in the movie has a legitimate beef, it is the D. A.'s office who have to put up with incompetent law enforcement who can't seem to solve the mysterious disappearances of the head D. A. and the detective. Even after the Detective goes to the museum on behalf on an official investigation and nobody connects his disappearance with the sudden appearance of yet another skeleton.
And, who would want to go to that museum anyway?
Skip this episode.
Who exactly would go to Dad's creepy museum?
And.
Nothing works otherwise. The characters are unlikable which admittedly is not unusual for the show, but poor writing a complete lack of logic sink the episode.
I've seen the episode twice and for the life of me I just don't see what the Dad's beef is with the D. A. As far as I can tell Ed Platt's character is just doing his job. He's professional from start to finish and doesn't seem to have any sort of political agenda. I don't know that he had a whole lot of choice but to prosecute the kid.
If anyone in the movie has a legitimate beef, it is the D. A.'s office who have to put up with incompetent law enforcement who can't seem to solve the mysterious disappearances of the head D. A. and the detective. Even after the Detective goes to the museum on behalf on an official investigation and nobody connects his disappearance with the sudden appearance of yet another skeleton.
And, who would want to go to that museum anyway?
Skip this episode.
Who exactly would go to Dad's creepy museum?
And.
Museum piece
coltras3512 May 2022
A mildly diverting tale about Mr. Hollister who runs a small museum that is actually something of a shrine to his late son, Ben. He tells a visitor that the human skeleton in the museum is actually that of his son. There's some flashbacks of his son being harassed by a son of a wealthy man and how he accidentally shoots him. Despite his protestations that it was all an accident, he is convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. Once there, he loses all interest in life. But just who is this stranger Mr. Hollister is telling this story to and is he being completely upfront? There's some nice set-pieces of museum items. Not too remarkable of an episode, which lacks a bit of a punch, but leisurely moves along giving some enjoyment.
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