User Reviews

Based on Robert Louis Stevenson's short story.

Markheim ends up needing some cash as he loses money on a stupid series of bets at a Mardi Gras party.

He goes to a pawnbroker who refuses to give him money without adequate collateral. Markheim kills him.

As he searches for the pawnbroker's money, a mysterious stranger (Anthony Dawson) turns up. He shows Markheim where the money is hidden and tells him that they are now partners.

The story is a combination of the supernatural and a moral drama. The stranger is heavily implied to be evil. Telling Markheim they could both make lots of money until the day he dies.

However the stanger's amoral attitude pushes Markhein to do the right thing. Give himself up rather than commit another murder. Maybe the stranger's intention was to send Markheim to the right path after all.

An effective short drama in this anthology series. Dawson was well known as a shifty professor Dent in Dr No.

A very satisying, self-resolving mystery of the type which regularly featured on TV in the 50s.

Based on a Robert Louis Stevenson short story, John Burden (Charles Drake) relates a dream to guest Carla (Kay Callard) in which he is the character Markheim and she is his girlfriend. It is Mardi Gras and they are in a nightclub with friend Larry (Ferdy Mayne) from whom Markheim is trying to obtain a loan. Larry declines but proposes a wager based on the gender of the next person to walk in the door. Markheim wins twice, but then gets greedy. He seems to have won again, betting on a woman but, it is a man in drag. Destitute and desperate he pays a late-night visit to pawnbroker Duclos and requests a loan. He can offer no security but says he is about to marry a very rich woman. Duclos is skeptical and refuses, so Markheim stabs him. While ransacking the shop a mysterious stranger suddenly walks into the room. He is charming, sophisticated and very helpful, even providing the safe key. As Markheim stuffs his pockets with money the stranger speaks of a "partnership", suggesting that by accepting his help a contract has been created. Markheim begins to wonder who the stranger is and attempts to leave the shop but, Duclos' daughter is outside the door. All Markheim has to do is kill her and make his escape. The stranger urges him on ....... There is a lot of drama packed into the 30 minutes of this episode. Markheim's character has just enough equivocation to keep you guessing as to what he will do. Anthony Dawson's hawkish looks and easy-going manner leaves the audience in no doubt as to who the stranger really is. However, since it was only a dream it doesn't seem to matter. But then, back in reality, the arrival of Carla's husband startles Burden since the man looks very familiar!