When I was in junior high school, we had a party line. The number of rings indicated whom the call was for. I remember we were one long and two short. We actually experienced what's in this show. My father died when I was quite young. One time it was obvious we needed a doctor or an ambulance. My mother could not get the neighbors off the phone. He managed to survive this time, but it was terrifying nevertheless. People definitely listened to each other's calls and because a lot of them were lonely, they often spent all day on the phone. Of course, the cell phone is the same, although no one else can listen in. I felt great relief when we finally got a private line.
8 Reviews
Good, but predictable ending...
BobCanter78 December 2019
Missing the ending twist
talonjensen31 March 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Disappointed that the ending was pretty obvious, otherwise an average episode, acting is good.
A busy-body old maid won't get off the party phone line when a neighbor needs to call the doctor for his dying wife. This is partially due to her prior experience with the neighbor when he lied to her about his need of the phone.
After his wife dies he returns to his old life-in-crime ways and escapes from prison with the intent to kill the old maid as revenge for his wife's death and his poor choices. She is warned by a police officer.
When she finally thinks that the neighbor is in her house to kill her, she can't get her neighbors off the party line to call the police. They simply repeat to her, her catch phrase which is, "patience is a virtue". We then see a looming shadow come for her and the show ends.
There is a little more information, as there often was, when Hitchcock does his ending monologue, but I will leave that for the viewer.
I was a little excited to see the ending of this one because I couldn't figure out an ending twist, which I often can figure out. When there wasn't an ending twist I was disappointed. This might be just me, but the twists at the end of these type of shows are the most satisfying thing about the shows to me, especially when I haven't come up with the twist beforehand, or came up with the wrong twist.
A busy-body old maid won't get off the party phone line when a neighbor needs to call the doctor for his dying wife. This is partially due to her prior experience with the neighbor when he lied to her about his need of the phone.
After his wife dies he returns to his old life-in-crime ways and escapes from prison with the intent to kill the old maid as revenge for his wife's death and his poor choices. She is warned by a police officer.
When she finally thinks that the neighbor is in her house to kill her, she can't get her neighbors off the party line to call the police. They simply repeat to her, her catch phrase which is, "patience is a virtue". We then see a looming shadow come for her and the show ends.
There is a little more information, as there often was, when Hitchcock does his ending monologue, but I will leave that for the viewer.
I was a little excited to see the ending of this one because I couldn't figure out an ending twist, which I often can figure out. When there wasn't an ending twist I was disappointed. This might be just me, but the twists at the end of these type of shows are the most satisfying thing about the shows to me, especially when I haven't come up with the twist beforehand, or came up with the wrong twist.
I bet most folks who watch this today have no idea what a party line is!
planktonrules12 April 2021
Until the 1960s and 70s, many of the phones Americans used were 'party line' phones. This means that you shared a line with several other families and you'd have to take turns making and receiving phone calls. And, it also meant that since you were all using the same line, you could, if you were a jerk, pick up the phone and listen to others' conversations! "Party Line" is about Helen Parch (Judy Canova), a jerk who loves listening to others on the party line and who is pretty despicable.
A police detective arrives to talk to Miss Parch. A Mr. Miller has escaped from prison and he has ample reason to hate Helen. It seems that his wife was dying years ago and he tried to call for help...and Helen refused to get off the phone to allow him to make that call! So, she not only loves to listen in on others' conversations, but she has no empathy for anyone...none. And, if he is planning on killing Helen, you really are rooting for the guy!
This guest appearance was a real departure for Judy Canova. When she was younger, she was known for her 'hillbilly' act....in which she'd yodel, dance and tell corny jokes. I've seen her doing this in a few films and it's certainly an acquired taste that I never was able to acquire! Here, however, she is branching out and I appreciated this...and there's no trace of her usual persona. She's excellent as the god-awful Helen Parch!
So is this a good episode? Yes, because it manages something unusual....it has you rooting to see someone murdered! Your sympathies certainly aren't with Miss Parch and it's enjoyable seeing her get a taste of her own medicine! Not a big surprise here...but still very enjoyable!
A police detective arrives to talk to Miss Parch. A Mr. Miller has escaped from prison and he has ample reason to hate Helen. It seems that his wife was dying years ago and he tried to call for help...and Helen refused to get off the phone to allow him to make that call! So, she not only loves to listen in on others' conversations, but she has no empathy for anyone...none. And, if he is planning on killing Helen, you really are rooting for the guy!
This guest appearance was a real departure for Judy Canova. When she was younger, she was known for her 'hillbilly' act....in which she'd yodel, dance and tell corny jokes. I've seen her doing this in a few films and it's certainly an acquired taste that I never was able to acquire! Here, however, she is branching out and I appreciated this...and there's no trace of her usual persona. She's excellent as the god-awful Helen Parch!
So is this a good episode? Yes, because it manages something unusual....it has you rooting to see someone murdered! Your sympathies certainly aren't with Miss Parch and it's enjoyable seeing her get a taste of her own medicine! Not a big surprise here...but still very enjoyable!
I'm just looking for a well told story
glitterrose13 July 2022
I'm skimming reviews and seeing the discussion about no twist ending being a disappointment. I didn't mind. I feel like this is a well told story and the actresses and actors did a great job with their performances.
Our episode centers on Helen. She's a nasty piece of work. And I like how all the things she said/did got reflected right back at her.
Helen doesn't have much going on in her life. She loves to eavesdrop on the party line, talk badly about others and she loves to play Bingo. She's constantly bragging about the two games she won in a row.
Heywood Miller shares the party line with Helen. Needless to say, I imagine that man doesn't get to talk much on his telephone. He complains about the ladies yammering on the telephone. He says he has to make an important call. The ladies hang up but Helen picks the phone back up and eavesdrops while listening to Heywood placing a bet. Helen doubles down on the nastiness and makes a snide remark to Heywood while they're at the butcher shop together.
Time for tripling the nasty behavior. Helen's back on the phone again when Heywood picks up the phone and says his wife needs a doctor, it's an emergency! Does Helen get off the phone? Nope. Heywood's wife ends up dying and this backstory ends as we pick up in Helen's present day life. She's still the same as ever but now she's got a dog!
The Sheriff comes to Helen's place and tells her that Heywood Miller escaped from prison. It turns out the death of Heywood's wife really set him off in a bad direction. He's been in prison but he's (rightfully) been nursing that grudge against Helen. He's out looking for blood.
Helen doesn't have anywhere to go.. she told the Sheriff that she doesn't get along with her sister so it's not like she could go there to wait for Heywood to be recaptured. So she stays at home with her dog Nemo. But Nemo's ran out and left Helen by herself. Helen's freaked and this all is when her rotten behavior is mirrored back at her. The new phone line ladies are trash talking Helen while Helen overhears. Helen hilariously tries calling them out about them being busy bodies, do they ever get any work done since they're always on the phone? One of the ladies slams that hilarious argument down since Helen's calling the kettle black.
Remember how Helen wouldn't get off the phone when Heywood's wife was having an emergency? It's payback time for Helen because now these ladies won't get off the phone for Helen's emergency! Heywood's now in the house and he's truly about to finish Helen off. Truly couldn't have happened to a nicer person.
Our episode centers on Helen. She's a nasty piece of work. And I like how all the things she said/did got reflected right back at her.
Helen doesn't have much going on in her life. She loves to eavesdrop on the party line, talk badly about others and she loves to play Bingo. She's constantly bragging about the two games she won in a row.
Heywood Miller shares the party line with Helen. Needless to say, I imagine that man doesn't get to talk much on his telephone. He complains about the ladies yammering on the telephone. He says he has to make an important call. The ladies hang up but Helen picks the phone back up and eavesdrops while listening to Heywood placing a bet. Helen doubles down on the nastiness and makes a snide remark to Heywood while they're at the butcher shop together.
Time for tripling the nasty behavior. Helen's back on the phone again when Heywood picks up the phone and says his wife needs a doctor, it's an emergency! Does Helen get off the phone? Nope. Heywood's wife ends up dying and this backstory ends as we pick up in Helen's present day life. She's still the same as ever but now she's got a dog!
The Sheriff comes to Helen's place and tells her that Heywood Miller escaped from prison. It turns out the death of Heywood's wife really set him off in a bad direction. He's been in prison but he's (rightfully) been nursing that grudge against Helen. He's out looking for blood.
Helen doesn't have anywhere to go.. she told the Sheriff that she doesn't get along with her sister so it's not like she could go there to wait for Heywood to be recaptured. So she stays at home with her dog Nemo. But Nemo's ran out and left Helen by herself. Helen's freaked and this all is when her rotten behavior is mirrored back at her. The new phone line ladies are trash talking Helen while Helen overhears. Helen hilariously tries calling them out about them being busy bodies, do they ever get any work done since they're always on the phone? One of the ladies slams that hilarious argument down since Helen's calling the kettle black.
Remember how Helen wouldn't get off the phone when Heywood's wife was having an emergency? It's payback time for Helen because now these ladies won't get off the phone for Helen's emergency! Heywood's now in the house and he's truly about to finish Helen off. Truly couldn't have happened to a nicer person.
GET OFF THE DARN PHONE, WILL YA!
tcchelsey7 December 2023
No question here. I agree with the last reviewer... not too many folks today may know exactly what a "party line" is. Basically, you shared a phone line with other people, also allowing you to listen in on their conversations! How terrible!
Such is the case here for super snoop Helen (well played by comedian Judy Canova) who is alive and well on a party line! The police contact her to be on the lookout for Heywood Miller (noneother than menacing Arch Johnson), who blames her for the death of his wife! Helen is not a particularly popular woman --and will she be able to call the cops should anything unusual happen, hmmm?
Wait and see.
A fabulous cast of supporting actors, including Ellen Corby (the WALTONS) as one of Helen's neighbors, deadpan Royal Dano and the great Ted Knight (as Maynard), in a very early tv role. One thing many did not know is Ted also worked as a voice actor in the 60s and 70s for all the Superman and Batman cartoon series, which all of us kids idolized. And still do.
A tribute to Judy Canova, the mother of Diana Canova (SOAP), who was a radio star, later in movies playing hillbillies and goofy characters. She was outrageous. This was a rare dramatic role for her, and she is the whole show. The very best from writer Henry Slesar.
From SEASON 5 EPISODE 33 remastered Universal dvd box set.
Such is the case here for super snoop Helen (well played by comedian Judy Canova) who is alive and well on a party line! The police contact her to be on the lookout for Heywood Miller (noneother than menacing Arch Johnson), who blames her for the death of his wife! Helen is not a particularly popular woman --and will she be able to call the cops should anything unusual happen, hmmm?
Wait and see.
A fabulous cast of supporting actors, including Ellen Corby (the WALTONS) as one of Helen's neighbors, deadpan Royal Dano and the great Ted Knight (as Maynard), in a very early tv role. One thing many did not know is Ted also worked as a voice actor in the 60s and 70s for all the Superman and Batman cartoon series, which all of us kids idolized. And still do.
A tribute to Judy Canova, the mother of Diana Canova (SOAP), who was a radio star, later in movies playing hillbillies and goofy characters. She was outrageous. This was a rare dramatic role for her, and she is the whole show. The very best from writer Henry Slesar.
From SEASON 5 EPISODE 33 remastered Universal dvd box set.
Pretty good tale about the sad fate of a nosy busybody.
Sunflower00728 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
A few weeks ago I saw this Hitchcock episode. This center around an old lady named Mrs. Helen Parch that has a party line she shares with other people from her rural town. Mrs. Parch hardly had any friends accept for one older lady that would speak to her on the phone, but she passed away. Mrs. Parch fills her day by listening to other people's conversation in her party line. So one morning a sheriff of police from another county came to warn her that a man she once crossed years back that she used to share a party line with. His name was Haywood Miller. He wasn't a terrible man to begin with but sort of stern one time with Mrs. Parch who was speaking with her only friend over the phone. Mind you the ladies were only speaking random stuff and Haywood needed the phone briefly, but patiently waited until that afternoon he lost his patience and asked in a little harsh tone to let him use the phone. Old lady Parch did but didn't like his attitude. I am always the people that can't stand people with mean attitudes, but in this case Haywood Miller had a point to complain. Since that line isn't a private one and those that share it must be considerate about giving other folks a chance to use it. Well one time he bumps into Mrs. Parch in their local market and got in a little fit. He told her off and she took it to heart when that following night he needed to use the phone to call the doctor to help his pregnant wife. Mrs. Parch was speaking to her friend over share line & Mrs. Parch would fold for Mr. Miller even when he apologized and begged to use the phone for his emergency call, but Mrs. Parch didn't want to be fair or kind.
Years passed and Haywood Miller fall into hard times ever since he lost his beloved wife and blames the nosy old lady that didn't allow him to use the phone. So he escaped prison to seek his revenge. That's why the sheriff warns Mrs. Parch to leave town for awhile, but she get's afraid and request for police help to secure her home. Sadly the sheriff couldn't lend any of very few men he has. Mrs Parch admits that she doesn't have any friends to stay with and the only relative that she could go visit is her sister that lives in another state, but they don't get along. Mrs. Parch only lives with her dog and the rest of the neighborhood doesn't like her for being so nosy & obnoxious. While that night came and Mrs. Parch alone at her house and she hears noises and tries to call the cops but the ladies that she shares the party line with wont allow her to use her the phone. What she did to Mr. Haywood years back is now being done to her in her desperate time of need. So karma comes to bite her back.
Years passed and Haywood Miller fall into hard times ever since he lost his beloved wife and blames the nosy old lady that didn't allow him to use the phone. So he escaped prison to seek his revenge. That's why the sheriff warns Mrs. Parch to leave town for awhile, but she get's afraid and request for police help to secure her home. Sadly the sheriff couldn't lend any of very few men he has. Mrs Parch admits that she doesn't have any friends to stay with and the only relative that she could go visit is her sister that lives in another state, but they don't get along. Mrs. Parch only lives with her dog and the rest of the neighborhood doesn't like her for being so nosy & obnoxious. While that night came and Mrs. Parch alone at her house and she hears noises and tries to call the cops but the ladies that she shares the party line with wont allow her to use her the phone. What she did to Mr. Haywood years back is now being done to her in her desperate time of need. So karma comes to bite her back.
"You nasty old busybodies!"
classicsoncall20 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This is the kind of program that would have kept me in suspense when I was a kid, but today, it only manages a ho-hum reaction. The ending for this one is telegraphed so obviously that all you have to do is wait to see it coming. For anyone born say, after the Fifties, the major attraction here is learning what a party line was all about. My own family didn't get a telephone until after party lines were just about done away with in the Sixties, so I never experienced it myself. What a hoot that would have been, ripe for pranks any time of day! In any event, the shadow of Heyward Miller (Arch Johnson) looming into view at the end of the story tells you all you need to know about what happened to Mrs. Parch (Judy Canova). I can't say she deserved it, but you can make up your own mind on that. Once again, Hitch takes some of the sting out of the story when he wraps things up by saying the Sheriff (Royal Dano) was on that final party line call. Oops, excuse me, my cell phone's ringing.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
