User Reviews

Gary Merrill plays a cop whose job it is to escort a convicted crook to prison. But Stephen (William Redfield) is a slippery guy and has arranged for $50,000 to be waiting for Sgt. Rockwell on the train...provided he let him go. Most of the show is very talky but eventually it comes down to whether or not the Sergeant is an honest man or not. Fortunately, at this point, there is a great twist at the end...sad but also very ironic. Well worth seeing, but also an episode where you could skip a bit in the middle and not miss anything. Worth your time.

When you take two contrary personalities like the men in this episode, and they are played by good actors, the sparks that fly are well worth the effort. This is about integrity. Gary Merrill's character has been down this road countless times before. He knows that prisoners he is transporting are pretty desperate, not wanting to end up in the federal prison at San Quentin. This man is not a violent criminal, so he is diminished a bit in importance to the audience. He's not going to the gas chamber or anything. He sets in motion a series of incentives for Merrill to take the bate and allow him to escape. Merrill is haggard and tired and probably deserves something for all the time he has given to the state. But he heroically resists the efforts of his prisoner to dissuade him (or does he?) The strength of this story has to do with the close proximity of the two men. There are virtually no outside observers. It's just them. The conversation is believable. The con- man uses his silver tongue to near perfection as he angles for his fish. The deputy parries each move. Right up the the end we are left in doubt as to how this will all resolve itself. One of the best of the Hitchcock canon.

Stephen Fontaine (Redfield) is a very smooth-talking, rather obnoxious con-man being transported by train to a prison in northern California. Guarding him is tough, no- nonsense Sgt. Rockwell (Merrill), a veteran cop. Fontaine has stolen a bunch of money some of which he's smuggled aboard the train in an effort to bribe the cop. The sergeant refuses, but Fontaine's insistent and very good at tempting offers. The conflict thus boils down to a contest of wills—can the cop continue to refuse the $50,000 bribe and keep the prisoner in manacles.

Much of the series success comes from first-rate acting, unusual for series TV of the day. Here the suspense depends upon bringing to life the opposing personalities and keeping us guessing who will prevail. Redfield and Merrill carry off the challenge beautifully, especially the young Redfield who's the last word in cocky self-assurance. Notice how smugly he establishes his superiority to the astonished waitress (Betty Harford in a fine non-speaking bit) who has noticed his manacles. Under-rated director Stevens comes up with a number of nice touches (the obnoxious kid) that overcome the tight train compartment. Note too that the teleplay is by Stirling Silliphant, soon to become one of TV's top, award-winning writers. All in all, it's a solid entry with an appropriately ironical ending.

Robert Stevens was the most prolific director of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' with 44 episodes under his belt. Not all his episodes are great, some not particularly good even (of the most frequent directors for the series he was also one of the more inconsistent), but the best of them are great (as far as the previous episodes go an example is "Our Cook's a Treasure"). Season 2 was very uneven, but some of the episodes are very highly recommended without hesitation.

One of those episodes would definitely be "The Manacled" in my view, one of Stevens' best in a while and one of his better offerings of the series. It may not be one of very the best episodes of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' overall, but when talking about Season 2 it compares extremely favourably and one of not enough outings up to this stage of Season 2 that is recommended with no hesitation. "The Manacled" is a vast improvement over the very disappointing previous two episodes and succeeds in every area that they failed in.

Criticisms are very few actually, though it to me dragged a little in the middle when it became a little too talky.

However, so much is good. It is very well acted in a relatively two man show with some small parts, especially by William Redfield, who seems deceptively charming but does sinister so well. Gary Merrill also carries the episode with ease and the character tension is expertly done. Their characters are interesting too and really helps ensure that the suspense doesn't slip, especially Redfield's.

Stevens gives some of his more inspired direction in a while here and seems at ease with the material. It also helps that the material is of quality worthy of those involved, after seeing episodes where the quality nearly sunk them or did do. The script doesn't take itself over seriously while not treating things as too much of a joke, and provokes thought despite some over talkiness in the middle. The story always absorbs, doesn't feel rushed or draggy and it is one of the few episodes of Season 2 that didn't feel too long or too short. The ending is plausible and is both ironic and sad.

"The Manacled" looks solid on a visual level, with the photography and lighting having the right amount of atmosphere. Hitchcock delivers on his dry humour and the theme tune of the series still haunts.

Overall, great. 9/10.

This episode gets highest marks from me for three reasons:

First, the performances and characters are just fantastic. This series often suffers from excessive overacting and watery-thin characterization; you'll find neither in this episode. Our two lead actors are skillful enough to let you know exactly who their characters are from the get-go, and every line delivery feels like a real person. It helps that they're both entertaining and have an "odd couple" thing happening that make them fun to watch.

Second, the story itself is simple, yet completely enthralling and builds in tension. It's mostly two men in a room together while one bargains for his future, and it is a thrill to watch.

Third, I had no idea how it would end, right up until the last second. That's rare for me when it comes to this show -- I'm too familiar with the Hitchcockian "twist ending" to be caught by surprise. The performances here give so much complexity to their characters that I honestly couldn't tell who could be trusted and what their decisions would be.

No spoilers here, so I'll just say that the ending actually made me gasp. It was perfect.

First. Let's do the math. The $50,000 dollars in question is worth over 500,000 smackers today.

Enough to temp ANY law abiding citizen and a small crowd!

Such is the predicament for straight-lace cop Gary Merrill, who is personally esorting tricky bad guy William Redfield on a train. Redfield, who spent a career playing a wide range of characters, makes him an appetizing offer in exchange for his freedom -- just look the other way.

True, this is a very familiar tale, but If you're a Hitchcock fan, you'll want to hang on for the ride as it gets very interesting. Credit Sterling Silliphant for writing this gem, who began his career with Walt Disney. And actually it was a blessing when Disney fired him because he went on to create two iconic tv shows, ROUTE 66 and NAKED CITY. Need we say more.

This is basically a two man show, replete with a claustrophobic setting (a train compartment), perfect ingredients for Hitch. Both actors shine, thanks to director Robert Stevens, long associated with the series for that very reason. Actually, watching both Merrill and Redfield trade barbs is similar to watching a poker game. Whose gonna' win, and in a way, you find yourself rooting for BOTH. Redfield is especially cunning and persuasive. Had his character gone straight, he would have made a fortune as a salesman!

The ending will give you the last laugh, guaranteed, and Sterling Silliphant wraps this up perfectly. A neat late night treat. FROM SEASON 2 remastered Universal dvd box set. 5 dvds. 2006. 16 hrs 52 min. Running time.

The Manacled is a neatly told tale of the Hitchcock series, one of a select group that features neither romance nor domestic troubles, and in which women scarcely figure or, if they do, play minor roles.

It's less of a story than an anecdote, and allowing for its "light psychology" it plays well. Lawman Gary Merrill is taking manacled prisoner William Redfield, in chains, to another prisoner, up north; and his chained companion begins to plays some mind games with him.

When the prisoner makes the lawman what sounds like an offer he can't refuse,--to release him for a huge sum of money in return, contained in a suitcase on the train--his intelligent and accurate sizing up of his captor's drab middle class life is spot on.

The question is: will he, the lawman, go for the bait or stick to his principles?

This is a perfect set-up for both men, however it's more perfect for the one in chains than the one who has the key that can set him free.

The actors in this basically two man show are both quite good, with Gary Merrill, as the law officer, weary and weathered looking, yet not a burnt-out case; and William Redfield, fey, playful and cheerfully amoral.

Throughout this episode, of the two men featured in it the police officer seems more a prisoner of the system than the criminal, who has a mind and a personality outside the system, any system, really, and who, even behind bars, would have more freedom, mentally, imaginatively, due to his high intelligence, than those whose job it is to keep him locked up.