Mr. Waterbury believes he can get a good deal on some real estate because a murder occurred in the home. But he hasn't dealt with Sadie Grimes the owner who refuses to lower the price becaus... Read allMr. Waterbury believes he can get a good deal on some real estate because a murder occurred in the home. But he hasn't dealt with Sadie Grimes the owner who refuses to lower the price because of an emotional attachment.Mr. Waterbury believes he can get a good deal on some real estate because a murder occurred in the home. But he hasn't dealt with Sadie Grimes the owner who refuses to lower the price because of an emotional attachment.
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Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis episode takes place in 1953 and 1958.
- Quotes
[introduction]
Alfred Hitchcock: [Hitchcock is standing with his hands in his pockets] Good evening, fellow realtors and clients. I am very anxious to call your attention to the investment possibilities of our new subdivision, Pitted Hills.
[Hitchcock points to his left, and walks over to a presentation screen with a picture of the moon, and lot signs in front of it marked "Choice Acreage" and "View Lots"]
Alfred Hitchcock: Naturally, it lacks other certain luxuries, but this is the price one pays for getting it on the ground floor. The sewers are not yet in. However, there are enough craters to go around. As for its lack of atmosphere and water, I don't expect that to deter those of you with a real pioneer spirit. Those of you with vision can, I'm sure, imagine the beautiful sight of the moon completely covered with the well known inexpensive Hitchcock homes, all with picture windows, giving everyone an unobscured view of his neighbour's picture window. Naturally, each home will be individualised, for there are seven different models to choose from, seven, mind you. Red, green, blue, orange, lemon, lime and the ever-popular chartreuse. For those of you who are budget-minded, we do have cheaper lots in the upper area.
[points at top of picture]
Alfred Hitchcock: Very fine of course, if you like a lot that completely disappears at half-moon. Like our prologue, tonight's story touches on real estate. It begins immediately after this brief advertisement.
- SoundtracksFuneral March of a Marionette
Written by Charles Gounod
Luckily, this reviewer was not disappointed at all. "The Right Kind of House" is indeed superior to "The Deadly" and is a contender for Taylor's best episode. For me, it is also one of the best episodes of Season 3, with other standouts of the previous episodes being "The Glass Eye" and "Reward to Finder" and "Lamb to the Slaughter" standing out of the succeeding ones. As well as one of the most atmospheric in terms of creepiness and one of the best acted.
My only minor issue with "The Right Kind of House" was the ending, it is not a surprise really at all, actually thought it was fairly easy to figure out too early. It does have to be said though that it is still cleverly done and something that would be at home in a Hitchcock film.
Emhardt, in his penultimate appearance in the series, is excellent and brings all the qualities that made him consistently great in all his previous 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' entries. Nolan is every bit his equal in a moving performance that makes one feel for her situation, her character comes over as very real and not a caricature. Their chemistry absolutely blisters, one of the season's best lead chemistries.
Taylor's direction never tries to do too much while keeping the drama tight and not letting the suspense levels drop. Absolutely loved the storytelling, which is a very powerful and darkly tense one and is uncompromising in its approach to a sensitive subject while also movingly tragic. Which is what makes "The Right Kind of House" so scary, and the twists are well done, not expected and aren't obvious or far fetched.
Writing is compact and not talk heavy or melodramatic and has grit, with some occasional darkly funny moments that don't jar. 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. Sadie's backstory, told through flashback, intrigues and is emotional, really explaining very well how she came to be in a way that doesn't over explain. This kind of story structure has real danger of bogging down the momentum and over explaining, but neither is the case here.
Absolutely excellent and one of the season's best. 9/10.
- TheLittleSongbird
- Dec 25, 2022
Details
- Runtime30 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1