User Reviews

Notice that slimy philanderer Ben Nelson (Alda) heads up a plastics firm. I doubt plastics was accidental since he molds himself to each situation. Watch him finagle his way around kittenish paramour Sharon Trotter (Provine) and then his unsuspecting wife (Wray). At first we're unsure of his true feelings as he strings Sharon along with seemingly sincere promises of getting free of his wife. However, Sharon's very proper mom (Nolan) disapproves, suspecting Ben's true motives. So what will she do since Sharon appears sincerely in love.

It's a talky entry, but holds interest largely because of the well-acted characters. Also, Hitch's letter-reading prologue remains drolly hilarious. There is a moral to the story, however— whatever you do, don't mess with King Kong's girl !

This episode is about a very gullible young woman. She is dating a married man and believes all his promises to leave his wife and marry her...despite him promising to do this for a long time. When her mother confronts her about this and insists she cut off this sick relationship, the daughter tells her mom to butt out of it. So, seeing no alternative, momma goes to see the wife, as even mom believes that the wife knows about his philandering and he told her about a divorce...and it turns out he never did! So what's next? Just remember...momma knows best!

This is a very good episode. I love the twist at the end and the finale was very satisfying....and well worth your time.

Herschel Daugherty's 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' output was uneven, though it was not hard to see why he was one of the series' most regular directors as most of his previous episodes ranged between decent and outstanding. He directed some outstanding episodes, with "The Creeper" and "Little White Frock" being two of my favourite episodes of the series, but he was also responsible for one of the series worst and its oddest "Sylvia". Had no doubt that "The Morning After" would be at least good, with a premise this good and considering the cast.

And in terms of quality, "The Morning After" does not disappoint. It is towards being one of Season 4's best and one of Daugherty's best 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episodes. It may not be for those who are not fans of talk heavy episodes, which the series has been prone to executing not particularly well, but those that like constant intrigue, unsettlement and great acting should really see "The Morning After". It may not be a favourite, but it is extremely good nonetheless.

Maybe it is a little too talk heavy, especially early on, so it was a little draggy to begin with.

With everything else being so great though, that didn't come over as too much of a flaw and other significantly less interesting and less suspenseful episodes have done this aspect a lot worse. It is incredibly well acted, with top honours going to a moving Jeannette Nolan in her third and penultimate appearances of four 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episodes. Robert Alda is unsettling in his role and their chemistry is very strong and at its best dynamite throughout. Daugherty's direction never tries to do too much while keeping the drama tight and not letting the suspense levels drop.

The story is constantly intriguing and is incredibly atmospheric in a suspenseful way. The twist is a delight and one of the season's more satisfying ones, due to it being unexpected and because it isn't far fetched or over explained. The ending is tense and not melodramatic or silly. The characters are interesting and well written.

Furthermore, the production values are slick and atmospheric enough and Hitchcock's bookending is suitably droll. Gounod's "Funeral March of a Marionette" is a great choice for the theme music. Most of the writing is thought provoking and intrigues, nothing coming over as superfluous. Hitchcock's bookending is typically droll and fun, especially the hilarious prologue.

In summary, great. 9/10.

We have four main characters in this story. We have Sharon, Ben, Ben's wife and Sharon's mother.

I admire what Sharon's mother was trying to do. I realize it might be a divided opinion. Lot of people might watch this episode and say Sharon's mother should've minded her own business. Just be there when your daughter's shattered once she sees Ben's NOT going to leave his wife. Sharon's mother wasn't being malicious or even trying to stir things up. I think she was a good mom trying to help her daughter from getting hurt.

Sharon's mother is the one I felt most sympathetic towards, even more so during one particular scene. More on that later.

Sharon's mother attempts to reason with Sharon one more time and Sharon's not having it. She loves Ben and Ben's also been spreading it on thick when it concerns the lies he's telling Sharon. He tells Sharon he put everything he has in his wife's name. Turns out his wife is the rich one.

Sharon's mother goes off to Ben's office to try and reason with him about Sharon. He's not listening either. He drama queens to Sharon about it not being an easy experience having to deal with Sharon's mother talking about this subject. Robert Alda plays a perfect slimeball.

Sharon's mother makes the trek to Ben's house. Perhaps she could reason with Ben's wife? Jeanette Nolan really does a terrific job in this scene. She's talking to Ben's wife about Ben and Sharon and she realizes Ben's wife was in the dark about Ben's cheating. The camera is centered on Ben's wife but you can hear Sharon's mother crying in the background. I appreciate little touches like that tbh.

We have a scene that focuses on Ben and his wife. Ben's wife is sitting in the dark and pretty much looks like her world has been crushed to oblivion. Ben's wife lays it on the line and delivers a perfect smackdown when it concerns freedom. He'll be free of HER money as well.

Meanwhile Sharon's mom has been walking around and goes to Sharon's apartment. Sharon's not in the room when the phone rings. Sharon's mom picks it up and it's Ben. Ben's a slime ball to the very end. He's murdered his wife and expects Sharon to be his alibi. He just doesn't know he's talking to Sharon's mother. Sharon's mother purposely twists what Ben wanted to say around so her daughter would be spared more pain and trouble. Ben wanted Sharon to tell the police he was in her apartment the whole time. Sharon's mother tells Sharon he said to tell the police he wasn't with Sharon.

This is an excellent episode that I'd highly recommend.