One shouldn't be too hard on the premise for this entry into the Hitchcock library. Back in 1960, it was perfectly legitimate to portray an escapee from a mental institution as a murderous lunatic. Remember, this was years before the term "Politically Correct" came into being. The only real problem with this episode is that it's been done much better before by Hitchcock himself. The good news is that Beatrice Straight is in this story and I'm sure many viewers forgot how attractive she was in her younger days. Fay Spain co-stars as a wayward woman who may or may not be the aforementioned "lunatic." The plot is simple as can be. Recent widow Ms. Straight is staying at a secluded cabin for the weekend after being dropped off by her daughter (Patricia Hitchcock in a brief but effective role). Enter Ms. Spain, who somehow gets into the cabin when Beatrice leaves the front door open and unattended for ten seconds. The two players eye each other up and down and after some arguing, cajoling and twisted conversation, the audience is left to decide if good-looking but quirky Fay is the on-the-loose murderer. The "Cuckoo Clock" of the title alludes to this crazy person, whoever he or she may be. Despite what an earlier reviewer wrote, the acting is first-rate and this entry is directed with some flair for the macabre by veteran John Brahm. It may be "routine" Hitchcock, but this story and its sudden ending will satisfy most fans of this series and the genre, in general.
8 Reviews
Well done,
talonjensen28 March 2018
Do you review these for the times or using today's criteria which will, of course, be obsolete in the future?
Reviewing it for the times, it is well done, especially considering the short episode time frame. The acting is good, the plot well written and the ending twist good, if predictable (most Hitchcock twists are predictable, but still enjoyable).
Personally, I would have liked a more complete ending, a denouement or even Hitchcockian epilogue with the resolution, but perhaps that is just my hope that it didn't turn out as obviously as it was left.
Reviewing it for the current times, 2018, the acting is a bit much, not very subtle. The mentally ill is especially over the top. The writing is average and the plot is politically incorrect and not socially acceptable. It would never be written today, nor produced. The ending twist is still decent.
I find it arrogant to review it for the current times, the current sensibilities will soon be forgotten and replaced by smug, superior, self-righteous ideals (sarcasm intended). Productions should be reviewed relative to the times when they were produced. Many productions that are looked down on now were quite progressive in their own time, and certainly were part of the progression that lead to what we have today.
Reviewing it for the times, it is well done, especially considering the short episode time frame. The acting is good, the plot well written and the ending twist good, if predictable (most Hitchcock twists are predictable, but still enjoyable).
Personally, I would have liked a more complete ending, a denouement or even Hitchcockian epilogue with the resolution, but perhaps that is just my hope that it didn't turn out as obviously as it was left.
Reviewing it for the current times, 2018, the acting is a bit much, not very subtle. The mentally ill is especially over the top. The writing is average and the plot is politically incorrect and not socially acceptable. It would never be written today, nor produced. The ending twist is still decent.
I find it arrogant to review it for the current times, the current sensibilities will soon be forgotten and replaced by smug, superior, self-righteous ideals (sarcasm intended). Productions should be reviewed relative to the times when they were produced. Many productions that are looked down on now were quite progressive in their own time, and certainly were part of the progression that lead to what we have today.
"I just shouldn't push the panic button, that's all."
classicsoncall13 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I thought this episode tried just a little too hard to keep the viewer guessing as to the identity of the escaped mental patient from a nearby asylum. When Madeline Hall (Fay Spain) surreptitiously drops in at Ida Blythe's (Beatrice Straight) isolated cabin, one's first thought is that she's the escapee the radio announcer talked about. But a knock on the locked door of the cabin suggests that there might be someone else out there that might fit the bill. The problem with the Hall character is that she genuinely does seem like she has a mental disorder, evidenced by her speech and her actions. So much so, that Mrs. Blythe's insistence on opening the door might provide a measure of relief, especially if it was a cop or sheriff. But if Madeline Hall had a crazed look in her eye, the newly arrived guest (Donald Buka) takes it the rest of the way over the top. His off screen reaction to the cuckoo clock on the wall suggests a brutal ending for not only Blythe, but the other visitor as well. Not to mention the bird.
Cuckoo Crock
El Cine4 August 2012
When a series runs for 7 years -- even when it's the superb Alfred Hitchcock Presents -- we'll find a few duds along the way. I guess we shouldn't be surprised if a series starts recycling old material, either. This week's tale of an isolated housewife facing the prospect of an escaped asylum inmate retreads episodes like Fog Closing In and The Dangerous People. Not to mention, it relies on the outdated, potboiler cliché of mentally ill people as monsters to fear, icky psychos lurking in the shadows.
The cabin setting, and the uncertainty over an at-large villain's identity, echo the episode A Little Sleep as well. The distraught young Madeleine Hall has barged into housewife Ida Blythe's cabin, and is she or isn't she the escapee, whose gender is (awkwardly) kept secret? I can avoid spoiling that, and still say the ambiguity of the women's encounter would be more compelling if the episode didn't stack the deck against Hall. Fay Spain's acting isn't the problem. Last seen as the domineering screenwriter in The Last Dark Step, she's equally good here, but Hall is written as having an absurd penchant for disturbing rhetoric, and condemning doctors and others who don't understand it.
Perhaps a serious consideration of the mentally ill is too much to expect from this premise, although the series can do great drama. But this episode has no point other than cruelty and ugly violence, which it takes great pains to produce. It doesn't help that its characters often behave implausibly.
It's also one of the series' worst-made. The general store scene is like a rehearsal on stage. The actors shout their lines at each other -- when they don't outright forget them.
A cheapie, unworthy of its brilliant hosting scenes: surreal comedy in which Hitchcock takes the lid off some literally canned laughter (as well as screams).
The cabin setting, and the uncertainty over an at-large villain's identity, echo the episode A Little Sleep as well. The distraught young Madeleine Hall has barged into housewife Ida Blythe's cabin, and is she or isn't she the escapee, whose gender is (awkwardly) kept secret? I can avoid spoiling that, and still say the ambiguity of the women's encounter would be more compelling if the episode didn't stack the deck against Hall. Fay Spain's acting isn't the problem. Last seen as the domineering screenwriter in The Last Dark Step, she's equally good here, but Hall is written as having an absurd penchant for disturbing rhetoric, and condemning doctors and others who don't understand it.
Perhaps a serious consideration of the mentally ill is too much to expect from this premise, although the series can do great drama. But this episode has no point other than cruelty and ugly violence, which it takes great pains to produce. It doesn't help that its characters often behave implausibly.
It's also one of the series' worst-made. The general store scene is like a rehearsal on stage. The actors shout their lines at each other -- when they don't outright forget them.
A cheapie, unworthy of its brilliant hosting scenes: surreal comedy in which Hitchcock takes the lid off some literally canned laughter (as well as screams).
Old Horror Movie Cliche
Hitchcoc1 May 2023
To start with, we have a woman, alone, after being told there is an escaped mental patient, a violent one. She is careless and soon a young woman is in her house. We have the classic double switch that's been done a million times in various films and TV shows. There is a lot of overacting in this, particularly by the young woman who claims to be escaping from the murderer. This is a bit more violent than most of these episodes. The cuckoo clock is an interesting metaphor. First of all, there are a couple cuckoos around and then there is a story told by the young woman about a bird that has been decapitated. But it's just too formula overall.
THE CUCKOO CLOCK RULES!
tcchelsey2 December 2023
Everybodys favorite horror writer Robert Bloch, who wrote 10 episodes for Hitch, including PSYCHO, penned this neat claustrophobic tale.
You also have two dynamic actresses to make the case. Beatrice Straight plays a widow who returns to a secluded cabin, her home away from home, just to get away from it all. Little does she realize is that her surprise guest (played so well by Fay Spain) -- may be a maniac killer on the loose!
Just what everyone needs to hear.
The campy dialogue between the two is priceless as they spend a lot of time together. More over, this story is very similar to a previous season episode featuring fine character actor Robert H. Harris, stuck in an empty train station with another man, both suspecting the other of being an escaped lunactic. OMG.
Don't answer the door, and listen for the cuckoo clock! Please and thank you.
Robert Bloch is at his best in this one, who at the time was also writing some classic stories for Boris Karloff's tv show, THRILLER.
Watch this with the doors locked! From SEASON 5 EPISODE 27 remastered Universal dvd box set.
You also have two dynamic actresses to make the case. Beatrice Straight plays a widow who returns to a secluded cabin, her home away from home, just to get away from it all. Little does she realize is that her surprise guest (played so well by Fay Spain) -- may be a maniac killer on the loose!
Just what everyone needs to hear.
The campy dialogue between the two is priceless as they spend a lot of time together. More over, this story is very similar to a previous season episode featuring fine character actor Robert H. Harris, stuck in an empty train station with another man, both suspecting the other of being an escaped lunactic. OMG.
Don't answer the door, and listen for the cuckoo clock! Please and thank you.
Robert Bloch is at his best in this one, who at the time was also writing some classic stories for Boris Karloff's tv show, THRILLER.
Watch this with the doors locked! From SEASON 5 EPISODE 27 remastered Universal dvd box set.
Not exquisitely written
planktonrules12 April 2021
Warning: Spoilers
When the story begins, Ida is going to spend the weekend at the cabin...and it's the first time she's gone there following her husband's death. You also see her daughter doting over her (Pat Hitchcock...the director's daughter)...and she's worried about her mom since a mental patient has just escaped from a nearby hospital. But Ida insists her daughter go...and she just wants some alone time.
Soon, Ida's peace and quiet is interrupted when a strange and hysterical lady barges into the cabin. But is this the patient? Should she be afraid?
This could have been a lot better episode. While the situation was creepy, there's a HUGE problem....while it turns out the woman is NOT the mental patient, she clearly is pretty disturbed and being severely mentally ill would be the only way you'd expect this. So, when the real patient attacks, you can't help but think the story makes little sense...unless TWO patients escaped...which isn't the case. I just have no idea why they made this blonde lady so weird and unhinged...it really hinders the episode and muddles the whole thing.
By the way, it's not exactly subtle that often the cuckoo clock seems to be going off when folks act their strangest in the show!
Soon, Ida's peace and quiet is interrupted when a strange and hysterical lady barges into the cabin. But is this the patient? Should she be afraid?
This could have been a lot better episode. While the situation was creepy, there's a HUGE problem....while it turns out the woman is NOT the mental patient, she clearly is pretty disturbed and being severely mentally ill would be the only way you'd expect this. So, when the real patient attacks, you can't help but think the story makes little sense...unless TWO patients escaped...which isn't the case. I just have no idea why they made this blonde lady so weird and unhinged...it really hinders the episode and muddles the whole thing.
By the way, it's not exactly subtle that often the cuckoo clock seems to be going off when folks act their strangest in the show!
It's the Cuckoo Clock that did it
sol-kay19 December 2012
Warning: Spoilers
**SPOILERS** very uneven Alfred Hitchcock Presdents episode that has Beatrice Straight as Ida Blythe trying to play it straight nd keep herself from cracking up with the off the wall material she's got in the script. And in this case comes out looking ridicules as she's cut off from all communications in a country house that's in danger of being home invaded by an escaped psycho from a local mental institution for the criminally insane. Cooking up a pot of coffee Ida notices that she has an unexpected guest in her cabin young Madelenie Hall,Fay Spain, who seemed to have slipped in under the radar. With the news that and escaped lunatic is on the loose Ida of course suspect Madeleine as being that person. The very person she's now alone with in her cabin isolated for all humanity!
Claiming that she's the one being stalked by the escaped madman it soon should become apparent to Ida that Madeleine is telling the truth when someone unannounced comes violently knocking on the cabin door! With Ida later coming to the conclusion that Madeleine is the one that the both cops and men in the white suites are looking for she finally lets the person in! And it's then that the sh*t ends up hitting the fan or was it the cabin's antique cuckoo clock!
***SPOILERS*** Check out the creepy and wild eyed "The Man at the Door" Donald Buka who really ends up stealing the show or acting honors here. Buka who was so good as the knife wielding psycho "Shivvy" back in the 1948 movie 'Street with no name" even outdid himself,in the nut case department, here. It was the cuckoo clock that set the guy off in, what he thought, disrespecting him and in revenge he not only ended up doing a number on it but the two helpless women with him in the cabin as well.
Claiming that she's the one being stalked by the escaped madman it soon should become apparent to Ida that Madeleine is telling the truth when someone unannounced comes violently knocking on the cabin door! With Ida later coming to the conclusion that Madeleine is the one that the both cops and men in the white suites are looking for she finally lets the person in! And it's then that the sh*t ends up hitting the fan or was it the cabin's antique cuckoo clock!
***SPOILERS*** Check out the creepy and wild eyed "The Man at the Door" Donald Buka who really ends up stealing the show or acting honors here. Buka who was so good as the knife wielding psycho "Shivvy" back in the 1948 movie 'Street with no name" even outdid himself,in the nut case department, here. It was the cuckoo clock that set the guy off in, what he thought, disrespecting him and in revenge he not only ended up doing a number on it but the two helpless women with him in the cabin as well.
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